The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1899-03-10

take his old time adviser back into
his confidence 1t was said that Cleve-
land resented what he persisted in
believing was Germans antagonistic
attitude toward his nomination at
| the Chicago convention in 1892, al
though Mr.. Whitney did his utmost
to remove that erroneous impression.
When visited by the Senator at his
home in New York before his inaugu-
ration. Mr.. Cleveland lightly rejected
the protfered advice to call an extra
session of Congress in March to re-
peal the Mckinley law and readjust
the tariff, and issued his fiat that an
extra session would be called in Au-
gust to deal exclusively with the sill
yer question. After his inaugurati ton,
he was strongly inclined to give his
ear exclusively to the anti-Gorman
element in Maryland and give them
the full influence of his patronage,
and would have pursued this course
from the first had he not been admon-
! ished by Secretaries Carlisle and La
mont of the folly of making an open
rupture with so influential a Senator
as Mr.. German. AS it was, nearly the
whole great influence of the Admins
tration was thrown against MIR. Cor
man in his own State and the result
is known. This was regarded by i'm
! partial observers as a remarkable in
stance of ingratitude.
INTERSTATE COMMERCE.
At the beginning of Cleveland's first
Administration in March, 1885. at the
extra session of the Senate called by
| I l., Tn1 ~
and other early appointments, the
movement for the regulation of in
| terstate commerce was originated by
the Republicans of that body. appar-
emily for the purpose of forestalling
the prospective action of the Demo-
| cratic House on the same subject
when it should come together in reg
ular session in December following.
Accordingly, on motion of Mr.. Gull
lom. of Illinois, a committee consist
| ing of Senators Cullom, Pratt, Miller
| On. W. German and Harris was ap-
pointed with authority to sit during
the recess. to summon witnesses and
| to do whatever was necessary for
full investigation upon the subject
of the regulation of the transporta-
ton by railroad of freights and pas
|
with instructions to report to the
| Senate at the commencement of the
regular session of Congress in De-
cember following.
Mr.. German being thus placed at
the head of the Democratic minority
of the special committee. devoted
himself diligently to its sessions dur
| ing the summer. in which a vast
| Of 40 Or
subject of interstate transportation
was taken by the committee. He took
a conspicuous part in the investiga-
ton. and. when the report came be-
| fore the Senate. accompanied by the
bill reported by the committee
| (Which. with important amendments
became a law, took an equally con-
| spicuous part on the floor in its con-
! sideration and amendment. His prac-
teal knowledge of business affairs,
reinforced by the special information
acquired through the investigation,
served him to good purpose. and he
did much to make the work thorough
and effective. and not a halfway
measure as some of its projectors
proba bly desired. The chief conten-
ton over the bill arose over the
fourth section which as originally re-
ported read as follows.
, Section 4. That it shall be unlawful
fol- any common carrier to charge or
receive any greater compensation in
the aggregate for the transportation
of passengers or property subject to
the provisions of this article for a
shorter than a longer distance. over
the same line. IN the same direction and
from the same original point Of deDarture.
Mr. German had opposed the inser-
ton of the clause in italics. in which
he was supported by Mr.. Harris. his
Democratic colleague on the commit
tee. but they were overruled by the
Republican ma jority of the commit
tee. and the bill reported as given
above The question arose on an
amendment to strike out the objec-
| tionable clauses. and Mr.. German
made forcible speech in support OF
the amendment. He carried his point.
enough Republicans joining the solid
vote of the Democrats to adopt the
| amendment. and thus were the mn
portant provisions in relation to the
long and short haul made effective,
through which the greatest relief to
the people carried by that important
measure was secured. Mr.. German S
service in this capacity won high
commentator for him at the time
from the opponents throughout the
country of the rapacity of the trans
portation corporations.
He has ever since remained rank
ing member of the Committee on In
terstate Commerce. which has become
one of the standing committees OF the
Senate. and could have had its CHAIR
manship when the Democrats con-
trolled the Senate. had he not pre-
ferred the Committee on Printing.
A FRIEND OF THE NEW NAVY.
Although some preliminary steps
had been taken in the previous Ad-
ministration. the movement for the
upbuildng of the New Navy practi-
callv took systematic shape during
/ the first Cleveland Administration,
under the direction of Secretary
| Whitney. Mr.. German was then an
influential member of the committee
on Appropriations, and in committee
and on the floor was the trusted
friend and adviser of Mr.. Whitney IN
his enterprise. The result was liberal
appropriations for the Navy and the
inauguration of that system OF an
nuHl acceSSlOnS W otll uSCl VI ihoNANi Ii
steel battleships, cruisers and other
accessories of an up-to-date Navy
which has brought the United States
to her present standing among the
naval powers of the world.
When the Harrison Administration
came in, and Mr.. Tracy succeeded to
the Navy portfolio, Mr.. German con-
tinued his attitude of friendly cooper
hn Secretary
services in that behalf were relied
upon and fully appreciated. On the
occasion of banquet given to him in
Baltimore. during his term of office
Secretary Tracy took occasion in a
public speech TO acknowledge, in very
complimentary terms, the valuable
services of Senator German in behalf
of the Navy. The Senator continued
his good offices in that behalf down tC
the end of his public service, and al
WAYS exercised large and command