Middletown transcript., 1903-04-18
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WAsH1NcroN. April lStll, 1903


i THERE is the utmost qualification in
! Republican circles in Washington
over the Northern Securities Company
decision which is regarded as not only
a great victory for the Attorney General,
but as proving indubitably that the Pre-
sident and his Cabinet are correct in the
proposition that combinations Of capital,
effected either for the restraint OF trade
or having it within their power to pre-
vent competition, can be reached and
controlled through the courts rather than
! by any reduction of the tariff which
would inevitably operate to the adyan-
tage of the trusts by removing all domes-
i tic competition, that is by destroying the
smaller concerns in the same classes OF
industry. The haste with which this
decision was reached was due to the So
called "hurry up" law which was drafted
by Attorney-General Knox and enacted
: by Congress at the request of the Attor-
ney General and the President. More
over, as a result of this law it is expected
that the Supreme Court will give preced-
ence to the case at the beginning of its
fall term, next October, and that deci.
sion will be reached early IN the fall
That the Supreme Court will confirm the
decision Of the lower court is regarded as
foregone conclusion in view of the fact
that the four judges who tried the case
in the Circuit Court of Appeals were
unanimous in their opinion.
~
Coming Immediately after the an
nounced purpose of the Administration
to "stand pat" on the tariff schedules,
at least until after election, the Northern
Securities decision is regarded as parti-
cularly timely and it is predicted by
those statesmen in Washington who are
in touch with the Iowa situation that
this sounds the death knell of the iowa
idea" The Iowa situation has been the
occasion of no little anxiety recently to
the President and his advisors. Gov
ernor Cummins' hearty espousal of the
Iowa idea, the immediate revision of the
tariff, has, it has been feared, threatened
rupture in the party in that stronghold
of Republicanism and the approaching
convention, which will be called for the
last of July or the first of August, was
looked forward to with apprehension.
Governor Cummins' control Of the state
was appreciated and it was not known
whether he would insist on tariff revi-
sion plank in the state platform. Now
that the correctness of the Presidents
position regarding the trusts has been
demonstrated it is believed that the Cow
ernor, who is staunch Republican, and
a protectionist as well, will appreciate
that the time has not arrived when re-
vision of the tariff is necessary and will
seek to avoid rather than to precipitate
questions which might occasion a colli=
sion of divergent factions in the eonyen-
ton.
~
The news of the recent disaster on the |
battleship Iowa has been received at the |
Navy Department with great concern
and it is regarded as probable that the |
Secretary of the Navy will, on his return |
to Washington, order court of inquiry
to investigate the causes. There are |
grave reflections to be heard in inner
circles with regard to the ammunition in
use by the navy and it is possible that
this subject will receive particular atten-
tion. There have been too many acci-
dents on naval vessels in the past year
and Officers high in the service are con-
vinced that there is some underlying
cause which requires prompt and dras.
tic remedy.
~
The Post Office investigations still con-
tinue, although it is, in view OF the reti-
cence of the officials, difficult to obtain
the results. The Postmaster General is
still out of the city and his subordinates
say they have positive orders net to talk,
1t is known, however, that people all
over the country are taking advantage of
The investigations now going OH to pre-
ient evidence which they have evidently
would, in the past, hare been
The latest communication re-
;eived is anonymous but is SO nearly in
inc with what has been suspected that
t has received more attention than is or.
iinarily accorded an anonymous COM
1t states that there has for
ONE time existed ring to which it was
lecessary for employees to pay tribute in
rider to secure promotion. While this
ing is said to have been operated all
yer the country, it was in the New
,ork office that it was particularly ac-
i've and the name of New York EN-. 9
loye, claimed to have represented the ?
onspirators is furnished. This employe 8
now being investigated but his name is
OF likely to appear in the public prints 2
ntil more definite information has been y
'eured because editors fear laying them 81
lives open to libel suits. c.
~ T"
The Secretary of Agriculture, who has
ng been recognized as the leading ex- a
onent of the theory of teaching the el
ementary principles of agriculture in 81
'e primary schools, particularly those in p
'e rural districts, has organized class p
ON the District of Columbia Normal II
'hool and has placed at its disposal d'
nall greenhouse for the purpose of ex- al
The class now numbers ID
'arly one hundred young men and 81
omen and Secretary Wilson often finds CO
ne, notwithstanding his active labors, at
60 out himself and lecture to the class
lis is only small beginning but it is ia
hat the Secretary hopes to see estab. m
he'd in every normal school in the DC
untry in the not distant future. is
->e>- tic
HERE'S A PUZZLRR ou