The Press., 1902-10-23
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Washington, october 20, 1902.

Crlumpn OF reason over brute fOfCe, OF
common sense over obstinacy, of arbitra-
tion over strike, lock out and boycott,
oppression and violence, Is the one sub
ject which held public attention In Wash
ington all last week. There is unani-
nous sentiment that great thanks are
due to the president for his timely, intel
ligent and dignified interference The
personnel of the commission Is regarded
with marked approval. Whether the In
dividual believes that the operators or
the miners are the injured parties, all
have confidence that the arbitration COM
mission will ascertain the facts, and that
It's findings will procure Justice to all con-
cerned for period of not less than three
years. Beyond the confident belief that
| the miners at their convention to-day will
accept the settlement agreed upon by
President Mitchell, and that all the arbi-
traitors will accept the responsibility laid
upon them by the president, no details
are obtainable. 1t is presumed that the
commission will hold sessions In WASH
ington, New York and In some city in the
coal regions. 1t is also known that it
will require two-thirds vote on all ques
| tions at ISSUE
1t Is generally accepted that the miners
will return to work not later than We'd
nesday Of this week. Some apprehension
Is felt over the situation resulting from
the employment of new men to take the
place of the strikers. 1t is estimated
that about 1,7O0 such men are now at
work, and, unless the operators make a
special effort, they will be compelled to
| leave similar number of the strikers
without employment.
Prof. David T. Day, chief of the divis-
ion of mineral resources of the geological
survey, said yesterday that he did not be-
lieve 1t would be possible for the coal out
put during the first two weeks to exceed
GO, 900 tons, and the supply would not be
normal before February.
| AS II to mitigate the relief occasioned
by the settlement of the coal strike, the
news comes from New Jersey of the in
corporation, under the laws of that state,
Of the beef trust, under the name of the
United States Packing company, with
capital of 81 100000, which amount, it
Is anticipated, will be shortly increased
to So 5,00O,OOO. The articles of incorpora-
tion provide for the adoption OF all the
methods usual with similar corporations,
including the purchase and maintenance
OF retail butcher shops. AS usual, the
L of00H hn1dorc - al
the office Of the trust company which pro-
cures the charter.
The secretary Of the treasury has final
| " resorted to the purchase OF bonds with
view to relieving the money stringency.
Only week ago the secretary was de-
ploring the scarcity of bonds on which the
banks could base an extensive Issue of
currency. Now he Is buying them up and
thus further diminishing the supply. His
course Is similar to that pursued by Sec-
retary Gage and others of his predeces-
sors, and is doubtless rendered necessary
by the exigencies of the situation, but it
serves to again emphasize the deplorable
incongrulties of our financial system, in
congruit1es which, In country of fewer
natural resources, must have resulted In
serious panics and loss ere now.
President Roosevelt recently issued a
timely warning to the members of his
cabinet, in the form of circular letter,
calling their attention to the lavish use
OF money and printers ink In the prepara-
tion of government publications. He
EoAn DO, hDl1 90 khcA
less matter and a large number of unnec-
essary and expensive illustrations includ-
ed In many of the reports and documents
published" While all that Mr.. Roose-
velt says is true, he fails 10 call attention
to the root of the evil, which Is found In
congressional orders for the printing of
large editions of handsomely printed pub
lications so that members of congress may
have abundant handsome mementoes to
send to their constituents. This whole
practice has degenerated into dishonest
scheme for making the government pay a
large share Of the campaign expenses OF
aspirants for reelection.
AS result of the combined army and
l A&sy A40ASONVAO0S eAO OAsSA SAuCOI . OuLOdu
Of the war department will now turn ite
attention to the development of more
adequate system of coast defense. The
maneuvres demonstrated the fact that,
while it would be impossible for an enemy
to approach any important point along
the northern Atlantic coast by daylight,
, without the knowledge of the military
forces charged with the coast defence, at
night the feat Is possible of accomplish.
ment. Every effort will now be made to
establish a system of search lights, cleo.
trio signals and batteries which will make
such night attack impossible. Such q
system Is now installed, but the recent
: manBuvres demonstrated that 1t con.
tanned many defects which the engineers
will seek to remedy.
d Those school children who have te
wrestle with the old rule, "the sum of the
squares OF the two sides Of a right angled
triangle will equal the square of the by
| pothenuse," and, as they struggle with
the intricacies of square root, are inclined
to question the use of such apparently alb
stract propositions, may be Interested te
know that the whole system of the mod
: ern range-fnder, by which the distance o.
4 vessels at sea is accurately ascertained
, is based on that single proposition. A
small telescope on a mount provided will
spirit levels, etc., is levelled at the water
line Of the ship. The exact height of tn,
D small end of the telescope above the se.
2 level Is known and furnishes the perpen
dioular, the angle of the telescope fur
nishes the hypothenuse, and tables care
fully calculated beforehand supply tn,
base or the actual distance from the ship
Another table supplies the Trajectory,
t the circle which the shell will describe
a when shot up into the air, and with thee,
figures the gun can be aimed with me