Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1903-02-19

WAsHTNaroN, Feb. Dbl. lgtI3.

Our Washington Letter.
WAsHISaros, Feb. is, 1903.
The action Of the Senate, through
It's committee 90 Commerce, in re-
fusing to recommend the confirTna-
ton of DR.. ," Crnm, a negro, as
Collector Of the Port Of Charleston,
S. c., is regarded as a remarkable
celebration of Lincoln's birthday by
the republican majority. Following
closely on the public utterance OF
Secretary Root, that negro suffrage
has proven a failure. the action OF
the Senate Is regarded as OF pecu-
liar significance. The trIimped up
charges, that Crum proved traitor
to General Harrison in the Minneap-
oils convention. were never proved
and the refusal of the Senate TO con-
firm the nomination of the Presi
dent was based solely on the APP
pointee's color. Or, TO state the
matter more correctly, on the belief
by a majority Of the committee, that
the appointment OF a federal officer
obnC xious to a majority of the people
with whom he would have to do bus
mess was ill-advised. The point
was made that o Collector of customs
differed from a postmaster in that,
even in a community largely colored
the former would have to transact
his business wholly with the whites
while in such a community the ma
jority Of the patrons of the postoffice
might be black. Much has been
made Of the fact that Senator Nelson
was absent from the committee when
the vote was taken, but the fact is
known TO your correspondent that
Mr.. Nelson knew the vote was to
occur and he deliberately remained
away as he did not wish to vote for
Crum and yet hesitated to vote
against him. Had his vote been
necessary TO insure Crum defeat
he would have been present and
voted nay.
Great credit is being claimed for
the President and his party for the
antitrust Legislation accomplished
at this session OF Congress and yet,
TO those acquainted with the inside
history of the session, it is known
that the President has receded from
the strong position he assumed about
the first OF the year and has attempt
ed TO make the best O. wholly made
quate and unsatisfactory Legislation.
Like the razors which were made 10
sell and not Io shave, the antitrust
Legislation passed at the short ses-
sion OF the F'ifty-seventh Congress
has been enacted for political effect
and not for the control of the trusts.
The publicity provisions of the Mel
son amendment are iarcical and will
in no way effect the trusts already
in existence. Their only possible
usefulness will be To demonstrate
the unreliability OF some of the get
rich quick schemes which are being
constantly exploited; but when it
comes TO the greatest combinations
Of capital which unhesitatingly
use their wealth To debauch legis-
lators and even make and unmake
political parties, they will prove
useless. Even the Elkins bill, which
was supported by most of the dem
Ocrats in the House and received no
dissenting vote in the Senate, abol-
ishes the criminal provisions of the
present statutes and leaves only fine
as the penalty for infraction. The
democrats voted for the bill be-
cause they believed it "a step in the
right direction, although a very
short step.
Minister Bowen has brought to a
successful conclusion the negotia-
tions with Germany, Great Britain
and Italy, and has secured for Ven
ezuela as favorable terms as could be
The greatest triumph of
Mr.. Bowen's diplomacy, however,
lies in the fact that he has forced
Germany to show her hand and DEM
TO the world that, in her
alliance with Great Britain, she was
actuated solely by selfish interests.
Cash payments were demanded by |
each of the Allies and Mr.. Bowen |
suggested that they same the sum
they thought proper. All named a
rash payment OF $27 800, including
Count Won Quandt, who was then
acting for Germany. As the pros
pect OF peaceful settlement became
more definite. however. Germany
Instructed her Ambassador to with.
draw her agreement and demand the
'ull amount of the claim named in
he ultimasum to Venezuela. This
vas done, and had the other Allies
suit a settlement would