The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1900-06-23
NOTES FROM washington
What Is Going On in the Political
Arena of the National
Capital.
REPUBLICAN BLUFF ON TRUST ISSUE,
by Unnecessnry Taxation-Repub-
iicans Trying to Dodge RESPONSE
bitity for Cuban Scandal - Trusts
Arc Being nvored.

lopetldi 1plItSpoNuenCe.l
With 100000, 900 of appropriations
staring the country in the face the Eff
ty-sixth congress adjourns to face its
constituencies in a presidential cleo
ton. This enormous sum, so vast that
the mind refuses TO grasp its signif-
canoe, represents taxes to be wrung
from the sweat of labor. Somewhere
within the limits of the United States
men, women and children toiling with
their hands must produce the wealth
from which this sum is to be taken.
Whether the taxes are to be paid di-
rectly or indirectly matters but little
so long as the fact is borne in mind
that labor in the end pays it all.
Were these taxes to be returned. to
the people who pay them, in public ben
etits there might be reasonable acqui-
essence in bearing such a burden. I'm
fortunately not II dollar in ten ever
really gets back to the taxpayers. The
public funds are consumed by tax
eaters, a hungry swarm ranging from
the smallest place holder disconnected
with wages far in excess of what he
could earn in private employment. up
to the mighty specialized interests
which look upon the government as a
proper victim for their exploitation to
the extent of millions.
When it is considered hat congress
adjourns with some of the greatest
schemes of republican grab still hung
up between the house and senate the
! oat,ptrt - tri11 u+a nj "a rI,r. &, . ~ "a . -, , -
yet befall unless a check be given to
this reign of prodigality by democratic
success next November.
Republican Pretense.
Thehollowness of the republican pre-
tense of opposition TO trusts was illus
trated by the action ofthe majority on
the proposed constitutional amend
ment followed by the almost unani-
nous vote of the house passing amend
ments to strengthen the Sherman anti
trust law.
The republicans refused to permit
the democrats 10 have either voice or
hand in shaping the constitutional
amendment. Its defects, its antiquities
and its weakness were properly shown
up by the democratic speakers, yet the
republicans were obdurate and pre-
ferred to have il considered as a parti-
san proposition. As a result the
amendment was badly defeated. as the
republicans intended il should be. La
Dor leaders went 10 Chairman Ray, of
the judiciary committee. and TO Repre-
sentative Littletield. Of Maine. the au-
thor Of the amendment. and proposed
that labor unions be specifically ex-
cepted from its operation. But they
were refused. though it was plainly
demonstrated that INSCRIPTIONS
judges could take advantage Of the Ian
guage of the amendment 10 suppress
every labor organization in the coun-
try. 1t was also pointed out that a
farmers alliance or a benevolent asso-
citation could be equally brought under
the ban of judicial construction.
The republicans showed a surprising
willingness to allow the Ray bill.
amending the Sherman act. TO come to
4 vote in the house. They were finally
coerced into accepting an amendment
proposed by the democrats excepting
| llQuSNlltA VI dllLdklOuS iIOlh lis OptAdN
ton. Thus amended il went through
with a practically unanimous vote. al
though several of the republican lead
ers made themselves conspicuous by
opposing the amendment referred TO.
The necessity is manifest when it is
explained that the Sherman antitrust
law had been twisted by INSCRIPTIONS
| iuInaS in numerous IN 70 ann1y
to labor unions. while the trusts at
which it was aimed were permitted to
go scot-free.
But the republican willingness to
pass the bin through the house found
its adequate explanation when il
reached the senate. where Senator Pet
tigrew moved that il be placed upon
the calendar for immediate action, but
Senator Gallinger. of New Hampshire,
a republican, moved its reference to
the judiciary committee for the sole
purpose of burying it forever.
The Cuban Affair.
Postmaster General Smith is now
squirming to dodge responsibility for
the Cuban postal scandals. After four
weeks of pubic discussion of that
nauseating affair he comes to the front
with a claim that he recommended re-
t%renchment and a reduction of expendi-
lures as far back as last January. AL
though this is evidently an after
thought on the part of Mr.. Smith, it
might be accepted with better grace
were he not guilty of an outrageous at
tempt TO mislead the public as to the
extent of the Cuban defalcations. In
an authorized interview he states hat
these defalcations will be found to be
less than 100000. In making this
statement he knowingly and purpose
ly ignores the fact that Nicely and his
confederates stole S40o, 900 worth of