The Springfield herald., 1900-03-02

regular army ana track kept OF the
graduates when they go into civil life,
especially II the join the National
Guard. President Wheeler of the Uni
versity of California was at the War
Department recently and talked over
the college phase of the project with
Secretary Root. The result is expect
ed to be that in time of war or emer-
gency necessitating the sudden in
crease of the army there will be roll
of available men for appointment.
Mr.. Macrum, in his published state
ment, declares that his '.one object lin
coming to Washington was to lay be-
fore the department information as to
the true state of affairs in South Afri-
Ca" but h.. has been here for three
weeks without even calling upon Sec
retary Hay or saying word on the
subject to anybody in authority. When
Assistant Secretary Hill and Assistant
Secretary Cridler have several times
requested n report from Mr.. Macrum
he has asked for time. but he has nev-
er found an opportunity to make one,
although he was able to write n state
mcnt filling column and half for
the newspapers. None of the officials
of the Department of State ever heard
that Mr.. Macrum's mail had been tam.
pered with until they read it in the pa
pers. He once complained that his
mail did not reach him punctually. but
never reported anything more serious,
nor do they believe that any of his
correspondence. official or otherwise.
was ever opened, examined or inten-
tionally delayed. This is very seri-
Gus matter and 1t is remarkable that
Mr.. Macrum should have kept silent on
the subject for so many months and
then given the first information to
newspaper instead of to the govern
ment. That the correspondence of an
official of n foreign power shall be held
inviolate is one of the most sacred
points of international law. and il Mr..
Macrum had reported to the State De-
partment that his mail was being tam
pered with an emphatic demonstration
would have been made on the subject.
The plan of government for Puerto
Rico which will probably be adopted
by the House also, provides for civil
governor to be appointed by the Presi-
dent for four years, and to be confirmed
by the Senate. Such n governor Is to
have all the power usually exercised
by the governors Of territories, and is
to be assisted by an executive council,
consisting of secretary, an attorney
general, treasurer, an auditor, COM
missioner Of the interior, commission
er of education, and five other persons
of good repute who shall be native In
habitants of Puerto Rico, appointed by
the President and confirmed by the
Senate. These officials shall perform
such duties as are usually assigned to
similar officials in the United States,
the commissioner Of the interior having
charge of public works. There Is to be
1ty Of M tr~fv f1yya
members, elected biennIally, to be
caned a House of Delegates, to be voted
for by such persons as possess the
qualifications of voters under the laws
and military orders in force on Febru-
ary 1st last No person, however, shall
be eligible unless he can read and write
the Spanish and the English languages
and Is possessed Of taxable property
situated in Puerto Rico. The COVER
nor has veto. which may be over
come by vote of two-thirds of the
House of Delegates and the Executive
Council, but Congress reserves the
power, If deemed advisable, to revoke
and annul all laws and acts passed by
the Legislative Assembly. The island
of Puerto Rico is made judicial dis
trict and attached to the Second judi
cial circuit of the United States. The
present local courts are to remain as
they nre but the President is empOw-
cred to appoint district judge, n dis
trict attorney, n marshal, clerk and
such commissioners as may be neces-
snry. lust as in the United States, and
all proceedings in the courts shall be
conducted in the English language.
The right of appeal is to be the same
as in the territories Of the United
States.
For several weeks skillful attorneys
have been engaged in drafting law
for the American Federation of Labor
TO be introduced into Congress to pre-
vent future interference by United
States courts with strikes and other Ia
Dor movements. The purpose OF the
proposed law is TO prevent employers
of labor from appealing to the courts
for iniunctons and other orders, for
their own protection and the protection
of pon-union labor which they may EN-
ploy. This is not new subject. II
has been under discussion for many
wears. and II number of bills have been
introduced into both houses of Con-
cress from time to time to exclude Or
raniZed labor from the jurisdiction OF
the courts, but no bill yet drafted has
commanded the support and approval
of any committee In Congress. Inc
American Federation of Labor TOOK
the matter up last fall and employed
some of the ablest attorneys in the
country. The result of their work, In
the form of bill, has been submitted
to the executive council of the fedora
tion, consisting of President Gompers,
vice Presidents Mcclure. James Dun
can. james O'Connell, John Mitchell,
Max Morris and Thomas /. Kidd,
Treasurer John B. Lennon and Secre-
tary Frank Morrison, which now has II
under consideration. As soon as 1t re.
ceiyes the committees approval 1t VIII
be introduced in both houses of Con
gress and is awaited with great inter-
est by labor men. There Us Amos. uii,
yersnl doubt on the part of lawyers In