The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-12-14
Events Of the Meek
Briefly Relieved.

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The past week brought the first real
touch of winter and the extent OF the
coal famine was thereby brought more
prominently to view. Il cold wave struck
the country early in the week AT many
points IN the northern section II was
colder than it has been in any December
for many years. In the neignporhoou Oh
Saratoga, n. T.. it was the coolest De
cember weather they have had s-nce E5l
and in New England the mercury went
lower than it mas been at any uine
since 1856 There was snow Seherahy
throughout the North. In Virginia II
was quite cold for two days. out sooi'
turned warm again, and we had no sno"
except in the mountains.
Now comes the story that ]. Plerpont
Morgan has plan under way for the
consolidation Of all the anthracite coal
properties, including the coal-carryinS
roads. The plan is said to be to buy out
the independent miners and consolidate
| their properties with the organization
operators and their roads. thus forming
| a combine that will astoaish the world
and throw the shipping combine complete
y, IN the shade. it is said that Mr.. Nor
gan stands ready to put four hundred
million dollars behind this scheme.
The day after Mr.. Thomas 3. Reeds
| death The Times said editoriaiiy mat
he left politics a poor man anu III t1is
short time he lived in New ork ne pe-
came compal atively rich. This statement
va. questioned at the time, but it now
| develops that Mr.. Reeds estate IS Fat"e1
/ at 100000 and that he saved this out OF
his earnings in Wall Street His income
| from his law practice was $4,000 per year,
but it is said that be lived on that ana
put aside his Wall Street earnings Tor the
| irevitabie rainy day. His reputation LOT
holiness and nerve was the capital he
| operated on.
The news comes from Washington that tn.
Senate will not take SO kindly TO the BILL
which the House hurriedly passed. appro-
rria ting $4,000 for the expenses or the An
ttracite Commission. Some very import
ant amendments will doubtless be MADE
10 the bill before is gets through the
Senate: The leading members or thac
i body have expressed the opinion that as
Judge Grey, General Wilson and Colonel
Wright already receive salaries from the
government they should receive nothing
, additional except their actual expenses.
AS for the other members of the conHls-
sion. their compensation the Senate
thinks, should be very moderate, ana
without pay, in view of the prestige when
appointment as members OF the commits
sion has given TO them.
The Federal courts are trying TO make
it plain that the United States mans
must not be interfered with in any man
ner whatsoever and that he who pre-
sumes to retard or in any way hinder
the carrying OF the same viii be quick
X punished On Tuesday last in New
Orleans the grand jury Of the tnifeu
States Court. acting under the lnstruc-
lions Of the judge. indicted Ben Com
| mons. president OF the street-car men
union, and sixteen other members Tor
Interfering with the mail and 10 ca
riers while the late street-car strike was
on in that city. During the early part
of the strike the men by violence pre-
vented the United States mail car from
leaving the railway COMPANY tarn
Afterward the mail cars were permit
ted to run. although the other cars were
tied up for two weeks.
The Japanese Minister at Washington
has informed our government that he
has heard some things ABOUT Mr. John
Barrett recently appointed United
States Minister to Japan, that lead him
to believe that Mr. Barrett viii De per
Sonia non grata al the japanese cap al
1t seems lIdl NIL beIIi Stt - d pJi -
clan of the boisterous and lord-taik rg
kind. one who believes. or thinks he be-
lieves. that the United States viii! ere
long gobble up the whole world. inc'ud-
ing Japan The trouble seems to be hat
he has been expressing himself oug
these lines 50 freely that his remarks
have reached sensitive japanese ears.
and hence the trouble he finds hinse'f
in. Mr.. Barrett seems to have IA led
to note the career Of Gueral Bragg.
The annual meeting of the National
American Red Cross Association. with
was held in Washington in the early
part Of the week. was so quiet and com
plete,7 its wori. in such short order it failed
to attract the attention on the part of
the public its good work in TIE il crest
of humanity entities the association TO
p all times. Miss Clara Parton presided
The bylaws were amended with view
to the lorna ton of State organiza ions
and enlargement Of the nembersh p.
Miss Barton was elected president for
life. and Mrs. John y. Logan vie
Counselor. eX-Secretary Of S ate Rich
ard Olney; Treasurer. Wi lam J.
Flather; Secretary. Samuel W. Briggs.
During the past week the stock market
has been in disturbed state The bottom
seems to have just dToppe0 out OF every
thing. and in many instances prices went
almost as low as they did in the long
! to be remembered May panic OF 1891.
There was almost a panic as serious as
the one mentioned It is a most
remarkable fact that this panic for
panic it really is. and may become yet
more serious to many holders OF secvri-
ties. is a prosperity panic. and due solely
to good times. 1t is. Of course. directly
due TO the money squeeze. but what
causes the tightness Of money? Simply
that is has gone out of the banks TO be
used in moving the immense crops, and
in business to such an extent that there
is none left for the use OF spectators.