Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1903-04-23
COMMUNICATED.
wAsHiE0ToS. April 20. 1903.


The republican press and parti-
sans are making great ado over
the recent decision of the United
States Circuit Court on the North
ern securities merger case which
dissolved that great railroad CON-
bine and gave some vitality and
force TO the Sherman antitrust law.
They are pointing to this decision
as great triumph OF this republi-
can administration, and claim that
the party is making good all it's
promises to fight the trusts of the
country. II would be interesting
for some OF these claquers to point
out to an expectant people the tan
gible gain to the public of this de-
cisiOn. In the final test the Su-
preme Court may reverse the deci-
sion of the lower court. but even in
case it affirms it where is the benefit
TO the people who travel over the
roads in question or use them for
the transportation of their goods?
The iltention of the government in
instituting this suit was to abolish
q merger of competing lines of rail
roads and thus prevent rates being
raised beyond a reasonable figure.
Under the terms OF the decision the
stock of the Great Northern, North.
ern Pacific and Burlington railroads
will be returned by the merger COM
pany to their original owners, and
this will still leave the roads in the
control of Mr.. Hill and Mr.. Morgan
and their friends, and it is certain
that they will agree to maintain the
present rates, merger or no merger.
The truth of the matter is that the
combine took place several years
ago when Mr.. Hill and his friends
obtained control of the stock of the
Northern Pacific and the merger
company was organized simply to
cinch the combine and prevent any
one from bursting it by bold move
in Wall Street in getting hold of a |
majority OF the stock in any one of |
the roads. The entire interest OF
the people of the states through
which these roads run lines in the
reasonableness of passenger and
freight rates, and is not finally af.
fected by the merger decision. II
still rests with the Interstate Com
merce Commission as il has for years |
before. Il is useless, therefore, to |
make the people who are the Gus.
toners of above railroads believe
that they have gained great victo-
ry. when in fact they gained moth
ing.
Some of the rottenness of the re-.
publican administration of the Pos,
ONCE Department is at last coming
to light The investigation has on
iy just begun, but it has gone far
enough to let US see tina. this will
De the biggest scandal ever unearth.
ed in amy department. of the national
government until the democrats get |
In control and take a look at the
books in the War and Navy depart
ments, and the things that were
done there during the war with
spain in connection with the pur-
chase of supplies for the army and
the purchase of vessels for golfers
and for the transportation of troops
When this investigation into the do
Ings OF several bureaux of the Post
Ofice Department was ordered by
he Postmaster General, he did not | /,
expect to find anything worse than
few irregularities, and which could | /,
% easily remedied, but he comes
lack here from pleasure trip and |
inds an enormous scandal being {