Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1903-01-02
PROVERBIAL LUCK.
THEPRESIDENT'S MASCOT SEEMS
TO BE ON DUTY.


Matter in Which His Government Is Even In
directly Interested - The Coal Situation
How Its Price Is Augmented - Companie
Doing Business in Violation Of Law - Tn,
Hill Contract for Transport Service la
Caused Warfare From the Hartman Roads
(From our regular correspondent
WASHINGTON, Dee. "a, 1902.
1t was the ego in the Presidential
nature which impelled Roosevelt to
dawdle over the informal proposition
to make him arbitrator between the
allied powers and Venezuela, and COM
PEELED him to make formal declina-
ton or go counter to the advise of
some of his best friends in assuming
the great responsibility.
At cabinet meeting, the question
as to whether or not the President
ought to arbitrate the Venezuelan
question was extensively discussed and
your correspondent learns from an
authoritative source that Secretaries
Hay, Root and Hitchcock earnestly
opposed his SO doing, while Secretar-
les Shaw and Wilson and Postmaster
General Payne advocated his assuming
the responsibility. Mr.. Knox's po-
sitiOn cannot be learned and Mr..
Moody was absent. The argument Of
the opposition is that after having
rendered judgment in favor of the
Europeans, as it seems likely he would
have to do, the President would be al
most powerless to interpose the good
Offices of the United States to prevent
the adoption OF the most drastic meas
ures which the powers might deem
necessary for the collection of their
debt. Ii. on the contrary, the arbi-
tratiOn is submitted to the Hague,
the President would maintain a neu-
trail position and could promptly pro-
test at any course which appeared to
involve violation of the Monroe Doc
trine. The fact is evident that Mr..
Roosevelt was daZzled by the honor
he believed had been conferred on
him and was unable to see the logic
of those advisers who regard the hon
or as merely a cloak for shrewd
Teutonic diplomacy.
There is beginning to be some ques-
ton as to whether the Republican
party can afford to longer disregard
the interests Of the people as they are
affected by the coal situation. In fact,
before Congress adjourned for the
holidays Senator Lodge introduced
in, ka ;,;, -
the President to waive the tariff on
Canadian coal when in his judgment
the situation demanded such action.
The action of the anthracite coal trust
in advancing the price SO cents per
ton in itself caused the severest crit
icism but their further action, in re-
fusing to control the Independent oper-
ators, Notwithstanding the fact that
they have ample power to do SO. and
their evident sanction of brokerage
charges far in excess of the price they
pretend to charge is exciting the ut
most Indignation. A Washingtonian
who desired to secure considerable
amount of coal recently went to
Wilksbarre for that purpose. He was
met with the statement that the trust
could not supply him. but clerk ad-
vised him to apply to a broker from
whom he secured ample coal at an ad-
vance of So over the trust price
When he asked the railroad to ship
the coal he was met with the state
ment that the company had no cars,
but he again received a tip to apply
to q broker with the result that he
INF hot hxr
the usual freight the coal could be
gotten through. These facts are be-
ginning to come out and the result
promises to be a senatorial investi-
cation of the situation and possibly
the passage of the Lodge resolution.
Senator Jones has asked that the
Attorney General be required to sub
NIT to the Senate certain papers he
Is alleged to have received when the
coal strike was at its height and
which. 1t is claimed, furnish ample
proof of the fact that an anthracite
coal trust exists and that the coal
companies are doing business In vio-
lation Of the law. There is some crit
icism among the republican senators
Of the Anthracite Coal Strike Commits
sion for refusing to investigate the
question as to whether the coal com.
panies constitute trust and 1t Is re-
garded as possible that they will con-
sent to a discussion Of the subject
after the holidays.
The decision of Secretary Root to
give to Mr. James ]. Hill the contract
for the transportation Of troops across
the Pacific has caused the utmost con-
sternation and indignation on the part
Of Mr.. Hartman. who represents the
Chicago & Alton and Southern Pacific
systems. Mr.. Hartman. after express
ing himself in violent terms as to the
action OF the Secretary of War, left
Washington but he has rented house
here and 1t Is believed will return
after the holidays and will instigate a
fight which may carry the contract
onto the floors Of Congress. He is in
dignant that he mas been outwitted by
his rival. Mr.. Hill and he alleges bad
faith on the part o. Mr.. Root.