davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-02-25
BLAME THE EXAMINERS.

The recently discovered defalcation
of the cashier of a Great Falls nation
al tank has caused several newspa-
pers to make some decidedly pertinent
comments on the system of examina-
ton when the government is suppos-
ed to maintain for the protection Of
tne depositors and stockholders in
such banks. The stealings of Matte
son V a large amount and were
conducted for a period long enough
to have made possible their discovery
at a time far antedating the actual
discovery, had the books of the bank
been examined with the care and thor
oughness which are supposed to mark
the examinations of the men whom
the treasury department employs for
that purpose. 1t is barely possible
that the dishonest cashier was SO
| shrewd that he could deceive the eX-
aminers as we'll as the directors of the
bank, but this seems hardly probable
had the examiner for that district
been competent, or. admitting his com
potency. as careful as he should have
been. There was ~looseness some
where and no matter what plea he
| may put forth, the examiner will al
ways come in for a share OF blame.
and in the opinion Of some people
rightly so. In the opinion of those
same people the examination Of ma
tional banks has become a sort of
%perfunctory arrangements; men who
receive fair salaries for the work Of
Of those institutions seem to be too
willing to take things for granted and
lay themselves open to suspicion that
they prefer to ta*e the words and
statements of cashiers rather than
bring themselves to the probable la
borious task of making a personal in
may be forced, but it is also true that
a conscientious and painstaking eX-
animation of a set of books usually re-
suits in a discovery Of those forced
, balances.
The fact that so many national
| banks fail through the same cause
dishonesty OF cashiers-is singular, tC
say the least. in view of the govern
ment's efforts to make impossible
| failures due to that cause. 1t is be
coming very apparent that bank ex
aminers do not always examine.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-02-25

modern appliances and can produce
as cheaply, or more %cheaply, thar the
trust concerns. The natural conse-
quence is that tubing is already COM
ing down in price, and there bids fair
soon to be a more considerable de-
cline. Should there be a slackening
in the present great demand it would
mean nothing less than a rate war
between the trust and the outside
mills, in which case the consumers
would surely benefit.
The natural laws which regulate
trade are, after all, the best safeguard
against monopoly. Consultations
may flourish for a while, but capital
and experience are so easily found
that competition is 500 restored to
act as the effectual check on high
priceS.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-02-25
A SIMPLE

Omaha Bee: A simple solution of
the question of canal routes is in the
passage of the Spooner amendment
to the house canal bill. This amend
ment proposes to 'entrust to the presl-
den the duty of cutting a waterway
along the Panama route if a clear title
can be secured from the French COM
pany for the sum they ask for their
property and if the necessary con-
cessions can be obtained from Co.
lombia. Otherwise the canal shall be
constructed on the Nicaragua route.
It would seem that this should be
satisfactory to the Nicaragua .advo-
Gates. whose claims have been very
greatly weakened by the report of the
canal commission favorable to Pana-
ma. They assert that the French
company cannot give a clear title.
| Why not let this matter be Investigate
ed by President Roosevelt. who can
certainly be trusted to do so. as we'll
as to make terms with Colombia, IT
that government is disposed to be fair
and reasonable. and Of this there is
at least the assurance Of its minister
to this country. Regarding the ability
of the Panama company to give a clear
title Admiral Walker has expressed
the opinion that there can be no doubt
about it. It will not be very difficult
to ascertain whether or no a clear
title can be had and there is no reason
why the president should not be au'
thOrized to do this.
Colombia, it seems safe to assume
will not be unreasonably %eXacting IL
the matter Of concessions. In u re
Gently published statement the Co
l0mbian minister to the United States
said that his country would seek only
a fair equivalent for privileges grant
ed. He states that Colombia is de
sirous of Offering every possible ia
cility to the government Of the Unit
ed States for the completion of the
Panama canal, moi - only because
she fully appreciates h Importance
of this work to the commerce of tn
world, but because, following her ira
ditional policy, she is anxious to draw
closer the friendly relations that hav'
always existed between the Two cOun
tries"
Let this matter be left to the dc
termination of President Roosevelt
who can be depended upon to see tina
American interests are properly care
for. Such uncompromising Nicaragu
advocates as Senator Morgan. who i
7 by sufferanCe chairman of the senat
committee on interoceanic canals
should not be permitted to longer dc
lay this most important enterprise.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-02-25
CANNOT KILL COMPETITION.

Louisville Courier-Journa': The IL
evitable growth OF competition where
any particular line OF business is made
to show large profits is illustrated by
coming into productions. The tube
industry is one which was more thor
oughly monopoliDed than almost any
other branch of the steel trade by the
big consolidation known as the Ma
tional Steel company, afterward TAX
en- over by the United States Steel
cate was organized in May, 1899, it
secured sixteen pipe mills, leaving out
side only a very few Independent con
Germs. It then had things very much
is own way, and as there was a great
demand for piping, its business was
enormously profitable. The Nationa
Tube company has made nearly 81,
600. 900 a month since it's organization
The field, in fact, has become such
an inviting that there has been
rush Of capital into it and large
building of Independent mills. The
significant competition at the start ha:
increased so rapidly, according to thu
Pittsburg correspondent of the New
York Journal of Commerce. that thu
output of the four largest concerns j!
now 1900 tons a day or One-half O
the total output Of the trust concerns
Moreover, a number of new plants ar
about to come into the producing field
How rapidly the large profits of tn
business has stirred up competition
is shown by the fact that the Sharon
Steel company, now getting ready t.
go into the pipe business, started on
with a capital of only $%1,500,OOO t.
make steel; now they are spending
81. 500, 900 on their pipe plant ant
their total investment in the various
branches of the steel business is abou
SIS, 000, 900. These and other new
plants are equipped with the mos
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-02-25
LAST SATURDAYS MILL.

Although so rare as to excite I'M
usual comment, scenes Of personal
violence in the senate Of the United
States have occurred in the past and
will probably occur in the future. for
senators are only men, some Of them
very ordinary ones at that, and some
men will fight when they consider the
p~rovocation justifies resort to per-
sonal violence.
While the senate seems to consider
both participants in the disgraceful
affair Of last Saturday equally guilty,
yet to an outsider it would appear as
though NcLaurin has a shade the bet
ter of it. 1t is rue that he used Ian
guage calculated to provoke an as.
he had been driven to it. Tillman has
persistently goaded him and under
the cloak Of senatorial protection has
attacked his colleague in a cowardly
and bullying n whenever he
found a preteXt for SO doing. He ha!
gloried in the appelation of the pitch
fork senator" and seemingly has con
sidered himself privileged to insul
and broWbeat not only McLaurin bu
every other member of the bod,
which he disgraces by his member
ship. That McLaurin should have re
sponded in kind was more than tn
swashbuckler could stand. 1t surpris
ed and dazed him that the worn
should turn, but having turned hi
first impulse was to crush it by physi
cal force. He made the first assault
and in meeting him McLaurin did onl,
what any other man would have dom
under the same circumstances-pre
pared. to defend himself, and did de
fend himself.
Both may have outraged the higl
sense of decorum and dignity suppos
ed to prevail in the senate at al
times, but of the two offenders Nc
Laurin is certainly the less guilty.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-02-25
A LESSON.

butte lllICl NlOullldlu. Sllll>o Va
the administrations Philippine policy
received a lesson yesterday at the
hands of Secretary Root of the war de-
partment, which they may use with
profit. 1t has been the fashion in GER
tain quarters since the trouble in the
Philippines began to magnify every
measure of war adopted by ctr army
into a barbarous and indeeensible
practice. and distort the news Of bat
! ties with armed forces INTO accounts
| of unprovoked massacres No syila-
BILE of evidence has beer adduced TO
prove the charges laid at the door OF
American soldiers, although repeated
challenges of the truth Of the allega-
tons have beer made. Now comes
Secretary Root 2nl i'll reply to an in
curry by Senator Lodge takes occa-
sion to deny the ISLANDERS. He also
held up to the public view a picture
of the native soldiers. He made men
ton of the fact hat atrocious prac-
tees on the part of F%ilipinos were of
appallingly frequent occurrence The
FilipinOs have deliberately adopted
the practice of killing all natives, how
ever peaceful, who were friendly to
our government" said the secretary
Of war.
Continuing his remarks Hnon the
cruel and t~reacherOus character OF
the natives. the head of thA war de-
partment said the Filipinn5 have fire.
quentiy fired upon flags Of truce, tor
who have fallen into Their hands. and
horribly mutuliated the dead. That
soldiers fighting against such an en-
envy, aid with their own eyes witness
ing such> deeds should occasionally
act regardless of their orders and re
taliatc. is not i~ncredible,' is the con
clusion the secretary Of war ad
yances.
What a lesson this is for the un
patriotic! The secretary Of war stand:
= ready to prove his assertions regard
. ing the Filipinos. The list Of thei1
: barharous acts is a long one. On the
other hand. the three years Of mill
! tary operations in the islands have
j. been marked by a strict adherence Il
the rules of wal on the part of tn
United States troops. Thu rights 0
property have been respected, and con
siderate treatment given prisoners tar
+ en- in battle. or who have ~vOluntatll,
c surrendered. The only stain upon tn
i record of the Philippine p'licy is tn
blot upon the record of American pc
triotism left by men who have tradut
h ed the character Of the United State
q soldier. The only t~reachery exceed
q ing that of the Filipino has been tina
q of the men who have attacked OF
G army in the rear.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-02-25

was increased to $4,000 men through
the absolute necessity of holding the
insular acquisitions of the war and for
maintaining order in Cuba until we
had laid the foundations of the insular
independence.
The attack on the Root bill will
probably not deter congress from eff,
fecting one of the greatest and most
sorely needed national reforms. The
absences Of the var department in
1898, when we embarked into a seri-
GUS war without our war machinery
in working order and supply depart
ments at loggerheads and under in
efficient direction, equivalent to no
direction, was a sufficient object les
son to stimulate reform. What the
new measure calls for is definite sys-
tenn and order and an intelligent gem
eral staff and head, which shall plan
defensive service and see that every
department is fully prepared for any
emergency. Such absurdities as
CLASHES w lue secretary Ol Wal
and the commanding general and the
assumption by the adjutant generals
departmental d%ictatorial powerandthe
tagonizing the commanding general
will have to go. Military clerks will
have to take back seats as military
clerks and perform the duties of mil
itary clerks. The chief of the pro-
posed general staff will perform the
duties of commanding general. A po-
such honor attached to it that every
officer devoted to his profession will
have an ambition to enter it. OBJ
%jectors to the proposition for a general
staff urge hat general staffs are
dangerous. because Germany and
France have them. That is a very
childish reason. Might as well plead
that we ought not to have a postal
service because Germany and France
have such service. The general staff
means efficiency of our military serv-
ice and preparation for every emerg-
ency 1t means that crude and un-
business-like methods and conditions
will yield to strictly scientific and bus
iness-like methods. If anybody can
present a valid argument against the
proposed change it has not been forth
coming as yet.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-02-25
AN IMPRUDENT DEMOCRAT.

Minneapolis Journal: Mr.. Burleson
of Texas yesterday followed Mr..
Wheeler of Kentucky in an expfoita-
ton of his ability to misrepresent and
abuse the administration. He charg-
ed the president with changing his
views on the subject OF trusts since
he became president, when, according
to Burleson, he came under the con-
troll of the forces in the republican
party which in the past had protected
trusts
When the president accepted the
nomination of the republican national
convention to the vice presidency, he
gave the largest consideration to the
subject of trusts and declared that
the abuses of such interpretations,
which are real, should be removed
and recommended the requirement OF
the utmost publicity Of trust records.
and close supervision and action by
the national government, if state con
| troll will not accomplish the regulation
desired for the protection of the pub
lie. After he became president he
took the same ground, only charging
upon the views expressed in his let
ter of acceptance, that corporations
engaged in interstate commerce should
be regulated if they are found to ex-
ercise a license working to public in
Jury. In his Minneapolis speech Roose-
Welt advocated as to trusts publicity
and close supervision and every "a
tional form of regulation which he
as governor of New York state had
so earnestly ADVOCATED. The presi-
dent has been absolutely consistent
in his position as to trusts, and his
party is on record as leading in the
matter of legislation to regulate trusts.
The first antitrust plank put in a
national platform was that in the re-
publican platform adopted by the ma
tional convention in Chicago in 1888,
and. in his first message to congress
in 1889. President Harrison earnestly
urged regulative legislation on the
subject. The Sherman antitrust law
was enacted in 1890 as a republican
measure, and it was violently oppos-
ed in the senate by Senator Vest and
his brother democrats. In 1887 the
interstate commerce bill vas enact
ed and it was introduced by Senator
Cullom and was a republican meas
ure. The republican party originated
the whole movement to regulate in
dustrial corporations and Transports
ton companies. The period of Cleve
lands first administration was the
, planting and blossoming time for
trusts. The cotton seed oil trust, the
| ~envelop trust, the whisky trust, the
: oil-cloth trust and many others took
: their start then and nothing was done
/ to regulate them. 1t was not until
1892 that the democrats thought it
r worth while to put an antitrust plank
: ords of the two parties are well known,
The federal court decisions have re
: stricted the right of congress to reg.
ulate or repress combines and MT
nopolies to Interstate commerce, and
the late President Mckinley advised
in his last annual message, proposing
t a constitutional amendment authoriz
: ing congress to assume all control and
restraint of trade combines. The re
f publican party certainly does not seem
to have protected any trusts.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-02-25
DEMOCRATIC UNFAIRNESS.

Men intelligent enough TO occupy
the responsible positions of editors of
newspapers can hardly be accused of
such Grass ignorance of the laws of
the land as at first glance it would ap-
pear some are possessed of. Conse-
quently what would pass for lack of
knowledge in others must necessarily
be set down in their case as down
right dishonesty and intent to prac-
tice deceit and mislead those less well
informed than themselves. For demo-
cratic newspapers to assert that there
is " a secret understanding between
this country and Japan and England
that has made all three practically
parties to the treaty entered into be-
tween the Jap and the Briton is moth
ing more thar an intimation that ev-
cry citizen of the country is an ig-
nOramus and without the least cOncep-
tion of the laws under which he lives.
No matter what the president or
secretary of state may desire in the
way of treaties with foreign nations.
they are pOwerless 10 enter into a
treaty or wen understanding without
the consent of the senate. No treaty
that is binding can be made unless
ratified by the upper house of con-
gress and all talk to the contrary is
only bosh and political venom. The
$1,000. rz-4 H. 49,. -.ll,o+D--- 80 ctrJ>
has addressed a joint note to Russia
and China in regard to the main.
~tenance Of The open door is no evil
derce Of a "secret" or other under
standing. neither is it to be construed
as making this nation a party to any
compact the japanese and English
may have entered into. Mr.. Hays note
to the two powers vas only in line
with the policy outlined by him as the
one this nation had adopted at the
beginning of the trouble in the Orient
That policy, as everybody knows, ha:
:; for it's object the preservation of what
even rights we had acquired in Chin;
and the conservation to all nations 0
: the commercial rights and privilege
guaranteed them under their treatie
5 with the Chinese empire. Becaus
r of the entente said to have bee
s brought about between China and Rus
STA by reason of a later treaty in rel
erence to Manchuria the secretary O
S state considered it proper that the
should be reminded of the fact tha
the United States had not seen fit t
It recede in any manner from it's origina
It position but still adhered to it an
y proposed that its rights and privilege
r be respected in every particular. TIL
language employed may have been
e little stronger than that which usual
figures in diplomatic correspondence,
but even this is no sign of any "s'
S cret agreement" with any other powe
j. The occasion was one. in the estim;
It ton of the secretary, that called fC
y plain words and he used them so thu
e there might be no misunderstandin
of his meaning.
= This nation is committed to the pc
icy of the 'open door" and will do e.
h erything that is fair and reasonabl
s. to maintain it. Even the democrat
IL are in accord with the administratio
c. on this proposition, but democrat
animosity is too great and democrat
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-02-25
THE BILLINGS GAZETTE.

hatred too deep to permit newspapers
OF that creed to be fair and honest
with those whose duty it is to. e that
that policy is carried out. Hence the
inuendos and in%sinuations thrown out
concerning "secret treaties and "se-
cret negotiations the purpose of
which is plain and apparent to every.
body.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-02-25

Of course, Tillman had not conclud-
ed his arraignment of the ~administra-
ton and republican party when the
hour for adjourning arrived. That
happy event need not be looked for
until the adjournment Of Mr.. Tillman
himself.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-02-25

However. Mr.. Wheeler has probably
standing his vehement protests. the
little Dutchman' was accorded a
cordial reception and that in the es-
timation of some people he is a few
sizes larger than my congressman
Paducah has ever produced.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-02-25

While he may have known nor
cussion with Minister WI than he did
before that event occurred. it is safe
to say that Mayor Phelan's mind had
counts and that he is still favorable
to exclusion.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-02-25

The Gazette bids Henry a cordial
welcome to these hospitable shores
and begs to inform him that the beer
belt extends much further west thar
the circumscribed territory marked
by the boundaries of his itinerary.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-02-25

All the same, the boquets Mr.. Presi-
dent handed Clark and wainwright are
appreciated by a large and admiring
constituency, Notwithstanding that
their presentation has been unduly de-
ferred.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-02-25

As an opponent Of mergers Uncle
Sam seems to be giving a correct imi:-
tation in the far east of Governor Van
SAINT.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-02-25

Before the next missionary permits
herself to be abducted it might be
we'll for her to insist that the brigands
give a good and sufficient bond for her
return upon payment of the ransom.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-02-25

Unfortunately for Mr.. Wellington
he withheld his announcement of re
tirement from the republican party
too long. The party did the job for
him months agO.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-02-25

No matter what some of Il demo
cratic friends may think about it, to-
dav is still held in reverence because
it is the anniversary of the birth of
the original father of his country and
has nothing whatever to do with the
birth of Aguinaldo. Consequently
none of the ceremonies of the day
will be in honor of the distinguished
Tagalo, much as it may grieve them.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-02-25

But then the magazines will pay just
as literally ven though the liberation
is postponed a few days longer.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-02-25

If Mr.. Hill will only contain himself
in patience he will probably speed
lily ascertain that it is no grandstand
play Washington is preparing to make.
and as to the question of regret at the
accident of birth he may find that
there are others beside the gentlemen
whom he now seems to think billed for
a course along that line.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-02-25

Still, peerless "hOChs" will never
become as popular as wireless greet
ingS.
The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1902-02-25
The Federal Jurors.

Judge Estee excused the Federal
jurors this morning until tomorrow
morning, when ,they will enter in
earnest upontheir duty. sds ,Oe
Ten Federal jurors were excused
this morning by Judge Estee for the
term. F. B. McStocker had doe
tors certificate and did not come,
but he was excused, anyway from
serving during this term. A. Barnes
also showed a doctors certificate,
but he was excused only till Thurs
day. bs.s