Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1893-02-09
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Washington, D. C. Feb. Z. Is

Washington, ID. G. Feb. Z, 1898.
The majority report of the house judi
ciary committee, which investigated the
Homestead labor troubles, has attracted
wide attention. 1t was written by
Representative Boatner, of Louisiana,
who says therein that he finds nothing
in the constitution which authorizes con-
gress to interfere with, regulate, or pro-
hibit the employment of Pinkerton or
other detectives, by persons or corpora
tions, except so far as they may be en-.
gagged in interstate commerce. "The
trouble at Homestead" continues the
report, twas beyond federal or congress
sional jurisdiction. To permit interfer-
ence by the federal authorities, without
demand of the states, or to make laws
which would control or effect the rela-
tions of employer and employe in the
states, would be to undermine the just
authority of the states and to interpose
federal authority upon subject of which
the states have, and ought to have, SUI
preme control.
Representative Fellows, of New York,
is chairman of the committee that will
investigate the spending of Panama
Canal money in the United States. Col.
Fellows is a shrewd lawyer and as a
skillful cross-examiner has few equals
Furthermore, he is deeply interested in
the subject he is investigating. All of
which increases the chances for the ex-
posure of somebody, if there is any
truth in the charges that have been
from time to time made, both in this
country and in France, of the bribery of
Americans of prominence. Ex-Secre-
tary Thompson will be one of the wit
nesses heard. He was president of the
American end of the company.
The senate, which has only passed two
of the appropriation bills, seems at last
to realize that it is in hole. Beginning
today, it will meet at IL o'clock.
Senator Sherman's ability to look Out
for number one has made him very
rich man, and not small part of his
wealth was made out of Washington
real estate. Several years ago he bought
on speculation large piece of unim-
proved ground on the outskirts of the
city, and recently a Waterman was laid
along the front of that property and Il
bill amounting to about 500 for the
special tax provided by law was sent to
Senator Sherman. Instead OF paying the
bill as a private citizen without an Off
cial pulp would have done, he appeal
ed TO the local officials to remit the tax,
on the ground that the land was unim-
proved and would remain so, as it was
his intention when he purchased it, and
still is his intention, to sell it to the
government to be used as park. If
the senator proposed giving this ground
to the government there might be some
justice in his not paying this water tax,
but as he expects to sell it lat big profit
presumably he should be made to pay
all the legal taxes on it, just as the most
obscure individual would have to do.
President Harrison caused consider
able comment at the capitol by his ap-
pointment of Judge Jackson, Demo-
crat, as the successor of Justice Lamar
on the supreme bench. Just why he
performed an act so contrary to his past
record cannot be understood by either of
the great parties, but none doubt that he
had deep reason for it. Whether or
not it was done to spite the Republicans
for failing to re-elect him cannot be posi-
lively stated and will probably never be
known. Perhaps the old adage, 1T is
never too late to mend" occurred to the
president and caused him to commit the
gracious act that has thrown the Repub-
licans into spasm. S.