Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1897-09-30

L.
The Government of the United States
like the neurological mills of the GODS
grinds exceedingly slow, but. like them
also it grinds exceedingly fine. Men
may use the cloak OF the government
for questionable business transactions
for time, but sooner or later, their
career Is officially stopped. Mr.. John
Wedderburn, the originator OF the Elk
aminer Claims Bureau, The Press Claims
Company, both defunct, and the head
of the extensively advertised business
of John Wedderburn h Co., Solicitors
of Patents, refused to believe this until
confronted with the decision of the
Commissioner of Patents to disbar John
Wedderburn g. Co. from practice before
the United States Patent Office, tor
fraudulent practices in the conduct OF
their business. The order of disbar,
ment will be officially announced next
week. This is no more than John
Wedderburn & Co. deserve, but it is
little hard on a great many newspaper
men who allowed themselves to be in
weighed into exchanging advertising
space for certificates Of stock in that
concern: it is also hard upon those in
yentors who have paid the soon to be
disbarred concern advance fees, but all
gold brick and confidence schemes are
hard on their victims. John Wedder-
burn 4 Go. also publish the National
Recorder, which the Post Office author
tiles have been asked to place upon the
fraud list AMI shut out Of the mails.
Mr.. John G. Woods, the Kentucky
man who was denied an injunction to
prevent his removal from the Louisville
post office, by Judge Cox, has aban-
doued the idea of carrying the case to
the Supreme Court, but will make a
personal appeal to President Mckinley.
Just what he can expect from such an
appeal is not altogether clear. The
President might think just as Mr..
Woods does, but that wouldn't help
his case any, as the President, as we'll
as the humblest citizen, must obey the
decision of court, until it is upset by
the decision of higher court.
Having sent company of U. s. SOL
diers to St. Michaels, Alaska, to help
guard the property of gold hunters
there and to assist in maintaining law
and order, the administration is now
considering a request to establish a
permanent Naval patrol On the Yukon
river. These things together with or
dering reindeer owned by the govern.
ment to be taken to St. Mchaels to be
taken to st. Mcha, Is to be used, if
necessary during the winter to trans
port food to Da yson City, reminds one
that upon occasion ours is a very rater
nal sort Of government.
There has been so much talk about
the monetary conference, now IN session
in Washington, as a result of authority
conferred by the convention which met
in indianapolis. last January, and be
cause Congress did not see fit to adopt
the Presidents recommendation that
he be authorized to appoint an official
commission to report to Congress needed
changes in our monetary system, and
its objects and intentions, that tx Sen
ator Edmonds, the chairman Of the
Commission has made statement on
the subject. He says the Commission
has no authority and purposes to exer.
else none; that it is composed of pri-
waite citizens, who of their own will and
at their own expense have come to-
gether for the purpose Of discussing our
currency system and the laws bearing
thereon, with a view to suggesting to
Congress, through their right of petl.
ton, any changes which they may, af.
ter careful consideration, think would
be beneficial. Notwithstanding this
explanation, the Commission is still
criticized, especially by the silver men,
who declare that it exists for no other
purpose than to keep silver down. Its
meetings are held behind closed doors.
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