Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1902-08-28
Our Washington Letter.
WAsHINaroN. August q, l9O


merger. This time it is. the Phila-
Baltimore and Washington
Railroad that has absorbed the
Philadelphia, Wilmington and Balti-
more and the Baltimore and Poto-
mac railroads and will be merged
with the Baltimore and Ohio bring
ing the Pennsylvania and the Balti-
more and Ohio railroads under one
corporate management. With such
a merger taking place in his immme-
diate neighborhood it is difficult to
what glory the Presi-
dent can take unto himself by vir-
tue of his suit against the Northern
Company The virtual
consolidation Of the b. a. o. and the
Pennsylvania systems has been ef
fected for some time and still the
attorney general makes no move to
enjoin the mergers Another phrase
of the new organization will consist
of the issue of bonds to the extent
of $40, 900, 600. This issue it is al
legged is to cover the expense of the
proposed union station in Wash
ington. but as is well known Con
gress by the provisions of the bill
now resting in the House commit
tee on the district of Columbia, will
donate land and privileges to the
merged company which are valued
at nearly that sum and it is predict
ed by persons familiar with the
methods Of procedure followed by
great corporations that the time is
not far distant when the bonds will
be taken up by an increased issue
Of stock which will represent the
value OF the donation Congress will
make to the Pennsylvania Railroad
If there is any sincerity about Mr..
Roosevelt protestations that he Is
opposed to great railroad monopo.
lies, he will turn his attention 10
the peiarious bill which Congress-
proposes TO pass aud to the Penn
sylvania Railroad trust, the organi-
ation Of which is being perfected
almost before his eyes.
-.
Probably no more difficult situa-
ton ever confronted an aspirant for
election to the highest Office IN the
land than that which now ccntronts
Mr. Roosevelt. Although he detily
refrained fyom melting the last
Congress toaction against the trusts,
beyond a few pcrfunctory recon
mendations in his first message, his
independence Day speech startled
the proprictors Of the octopi aud
they quickly made it known that a
campaign conducted along the lines
laid down on that occasion would
receive no support from them Re
publican politicians promptly mott
fed the President that he must
adopt a more conservative tone ia
dealing with the trusts, and she al
legged plans formulated by the Pres
ideut aud Representative Littletcld,
Of Maine, were Immediately hushcd
and little more was heard in regard
10 the trusts or the modification Of
the tariff with view 80 their sup
preston until the Iowa Republicans
met and adopted platform iuimical
to the interests Of the trust mag
mates Secretary Shaw then went
to Oyster Bay and conferred with
the President and il was given out
after his visit that he would voice
the sentiments OF the President on
the trust aud tariff question during
the campaign Consequently Mr..
Shaw S first speech made at Nor
risyillo, Vt, was awaited with in
tercst. The Secretary defended
the trusts and the Dinglcy tariff till,
INDUCED in a number Of general
statements in regard 10 the great
interest his party took in the wei
fare of the workingman and prob
ably pleased the trust magnates and
the capitalists but wocfully disap-
pointed the advocates OF tariff re-
form of which there is an immense
number in the Republican party
throughout the west.
~
Now Mr. Roosevelt is ON a tour Of
the country. He win not, 1t is
stated take up partzan questions
which would be unbecoming in the
President of all the people. Under
this specious plea he will avoid the
trust and tariff questions, ut least
so his friends hope On the other
hand, he has already given a fore
cast Of his addresses to the, people.
Judging by his New Haven effort
HE limo of n,sc,ttpnapt &c 20 ,o,,gt-4 ,F