Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1901-11-07

Of the last Congress. which will nee
essitate the presentation Of his name
TO the Senate, for confirmation. at
the coming session Mr.. Rodenburg
was not a Civil Service reforiner
when he was appointed BY the late
President, and his appointment was
a concession to the spoilsmen Of the
republican party, who desired a
friend at court. The appointment
was deplored by many republicans
at the time. who believed that how
ever much the President might sec C
" restrict the authority Of the Com
mission, the Commission itself ought
to be kept free from anyone not in
entire sympathy with the purpose
for which il was created. Since his
appointment, Mr.. Rodenburg has
not demonstrated any particular
hostility, although the Commission
has permitted some wide deviations
from the spirit of the law, and in
favor of the spoilsmen. Mr.. Roden-
burg has a powerful republican fac
tkan back Of him and il viii require
the utmost courage for the President
to signify a desire for his resigna-
ton.
Although the address Of Secretary
Wilson, delivered at Dysart, Iowa,
on Saturday, has been heralded as
coming pretty straight from the
White House, il is very weak pro-
duction. 1t goes back to the old
fashioned Republican doctrine, that
the United States ought to practi-
cally build q wall about its shores
and conduct its international affairs
along lines that the Chinese boxers
would adopt if they could. The Sec
rotary holds up as sort of econom-
millennium the time when, econom-
ically or otherwise, the United States
will produce everything it uses in
it's own territory and appears TO for
get completely that only few months
ago, the late President made the
sage remark that . we must not ex-
pect TO sell everything and buy
nothing "
1t is thought here that Mr.. Wash
burn, of Minneapolis, is rather COM
ing to the support of Representative
Babcock, of Wisconsin, in his fight
against the steel trust. In a recent
interview, Mr.. Washburn says that
steel rails can be made and sold in
this country at $3.50 per ton, and
that that figure would give larger
percentage of profit than the millers
can make on their -four; but they
ere sold at $2S per ton, and that the
trust pays handsome profit ON a
capital stock that is more than half
water, and in order to enable the
trust to do this, Congress maintains
the duty of $3.50 per ton. In con-
clusion, he says IF this is not roh-
berry, / would like to find stronger
word to characterize it.
There are rumors afioat that the
democrats will invite Admiral Schley
to head their next Presidential ticket,
but they are regarded as mere rum
ors by all of the democrats / have
met in Washington. AS a matter oil
fact, no one knows what Admiral
Schley's politics are, nor if he is in
sympathy with any of the traditions
of the party beyond what may be
inferred from the fact that he is a
Marylander. 1t is even intimated
that the rumors have been started
to hurt Schley, as it is well-known
that the insignificant little presi-
dental bee that got into Admiral
Dewey's bonnet, injured him. The
indications are that Admiral Schley
has too much good sense to even
listen to the siren voice of political
ambition.
A prominent Democratic Senator
recently called my attention to the
fact that the old law which prohibits
/ anyone from sailing, as an American
ship, any vessel which was not built
in the United States, is still in vogue.
He claims that were this law repeal
ed most of the alleged necessity for
q Ship Subsidy bill, would disappear
and that American Commerce will
resume its normal proportions,
proportions which have absolutely
atrophied under law enacted i'm a
vain attempt to divert unearned pro-
fits to few Maine shipbuilders.
When Rear-Admiral Crownin-
shield retires from the head of the
Bureau of Navigation. he will also
retire from his Rear-Admiralty and
become once more simple Captain.
His appointment to the European
station will necessitate his promo
ton to the rank of Admiral by the
President and the confirmation of
his appointment by the Senate. II
is by no means impossible that he