Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-04-22
REITER Is REINSTATED.
Secretary Tracy Backs Down From the
Position He Took short While Ago
He Realized That His Letter to the Com

secretary Tracy Backs Down From the
Position He Took Short While Ago
He Realized That His Letter to the Com
mander Was a Grave Mistake.
lFRoM STAFF CORRESPONDENT
WASHINGTON. April 2l.-Late last evening
Secretary Tracy signed an order renstating
Commander Reiter to his position in the navy.
from which he was dismissed about six months
ago on account of the dissatisfaction of the de-
partment with his conduct in the Barfundia
affair. Commander Reiter was then in charge
OF the Ranger. He is now assigned to the
Thetls. which is in every way a more desirable
and comfortable vessel.
Readers of The DISPATCH will well remem-
Der all the details of the controversy. The
savage letter of the Secretary, the protest of
Commander Reiter. claiming at least a hearing.
and how finally Hon. John Dalzell took up the
matter. used every means to effect Reiter's re-
instatement, and failing to accomplish his aim
quietly brought the matter before Congress in
what was pronounced one Of the most mas
terly pleas ever heard on the floor ot the
House. The reinstatement Is almost wholly
due to the persistent work of Mr.. Dalzell,
though the authorities Of the Navy Depart
ment and the President himself admitted that
mistake had been made.
The Talk at the Departments.
1t is whispered about the department that
Assistant Secretary Soley wrote the letter and
Secretary Tracy, still partially untitled for
work by the terrible catastrophe of his house,
hold, signed the act of dismissal without due
consideration. A little later he realized that
the letter was not only q mistake, but that it
was absolutely and outrageously brutal, such
as one gentleman should not write TO another.
but 1t had been published broadcast and could
wi hnr 1infun In
view of these feelings and of the onslaughts Of
Mr.. Dalzell, which were recognized as wholly
Just and logical reinstatement waited only
upon opportunity to assign Mr.. Reiter to
command.
Commissioner Stockton has had command of
the Ihetls for upward Of two years and wants
rest from seafaring life for time. At his own
request he has been detachedand Commissioner
Reiter assigned to succeed him. The ThetIs
mas been for some time at San Francisco, pre-
par1ng for survey OF the coast of Lower Cali
torn1a, and in this work she will engage under
direction OF Commander Reiter. She Is a ves-
sci htsed specially for Arctic exploration and
was the vessel which rescued the Greedy
party.
Under Commander Stockton she has made
several voyages around the coast of Northern
Alaska to watch the flow of the ice, and take
other observations on the course of the jean
nette expedition. OF course, 1t goes without
saying that both Representative Dalzell and
Commissioner Reiter are highly delighted with
Lno iaLloT IeluSlaLement DaiZell Is very
modest about the matter however and will
merely say that what the Department recog-
nized as terrible mistake had been corrected
as gracefullyand completely as was possible
under the circumstances.
Quite a number of gentlemen will 20 from
tine capital to attend the Americus Club
banquet next Monday evening, among them
Hon. 5. V. Holiday. Commissioner of Customs,
Judge Gllkeson. Second Controller, and Chief
Henry. of the Bureau OF Indian Accounts
Railroad Rafes cn Live Stock
The Interstate Commerce Commission to-
day, In an opinion by Commissioner Veazey,
decided the case of John P. Squire & Co.,
against the Michigan Central and Hudson
River Railroad Company and the Boston and
Albany Company involving the rates Of trans
portation on live hogs, cattle and meat products
in favor of the complaInants.
The points decided are briefly as follows:
=. First.Ihe provision of the third section of
the act to regulate commerce prohibiting car
riers from making or giving any undue or un-
reasonable preference or advantage to any
particular person, firm, company, corporation
or locality, or any particular description of
trafnc, In any respect whatsoever not only ap-
plies to relative rates on description Of traffic
shipped to and from competing localities, but
also to relative rates on differently described
articles which are competitive in the same
markets. and when carriers have established
rates on articles of competitive traffic which
are relatively reasonable and fair, they cannot
dfUIlrdruy SeleCL particular articles OF such
trafhc and materially raise or lower rates so
established thereon without violating that pro-
vision of the statute
secondIRates for ine transportation of prop
erty should De based upon existing fixed facts
and permanently continuing conditions. among
Wnlcn are bulk weight and general value of
tne Commodity and expense Of carriage. purely
commercial considerations, as costs of rents
and labor, rates of taxation, fuctuating market
prices. and generally geographical advantages
or disadvantages Of business location. are
neither legitimate factors nor fixed and stable
conditions which can lawfully be considered
the adjusting relative rates. The proper rela-
ton of rates on strictly competitive articles
should be determined by reference to re-
spective' costs of service, ascertained with all
possible accuracy.
Third-Violation by one carrier of principles
laid down in this case as governing relative
rates ON competitive articles does not Justify
similar violations by its competitors.
Fourth-The rates involved in this case are
those on live hogs live cattle and the dressed
products of each. These are found to be com.
petitiye commodities, and therefore entitled to
relatively reasonable rates for transportation
proportioned to each other, according to the
respective costs of service. LIGHTNER.