The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-10-28
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Littauer Safe From Prosecution.
The lsthmian Canal to Come to
the Front in the Extra Ses-
si0n---The Lines of the
Alaskan Boundary.

Washington, D. c., Oct. 26.-Attor.
ney General Knox has finally informed
the War Department of his decision il
the famous Littauer glove case and il
is to the effect that Representative
Lucius N. Littauer, of New York, can
not be prosecuted for the part he is
alleged to have taken in obtaining con
tracts to furnish gloves to the army il
violation of the statute which forbids
members Of Congress from sharing the
benefits Of contracts with the govern.
ment because the statutory period o1
Limitation, within which such prosecu-
tion could be brought, elapsed more
than year ago., The contract was OBJ
tanned by E. R. Lyon on December 7,
1898, and it is claimed that Congress
man Littauer was directly interested
in it and as this was violation of the
Federal law he was liable to criminal
prosecution. However, the statute OF
limitations has made this impossi bic
and the Attorney General has decided
also that as the contract was properly
executed and the goods delivered, the
government cannot bring an action
against Littauer to recover the money.
He adds his opinion that "no useful
purpose would be subserved by fur
ther action. This will probably end
the case and the republican congress
man will 90 unmolested.
Senator Morgan will introduce a re-
solution at the coming extra session
asking the President for an eXplana-
tion for his delay in continuing the
negotiations for the trans-isthmian
canal. The Senator claims that the
Spooner act directs the President to
treat with Nicaragua as soon as the
treaty was rejected by Colombia; the
President has merely waited for some
thing to turn up, and is apparently
oblivious of the directins of the Senate.
1t is said that many Senators will sup
port Sentor Morgan, and as the Cuban
reciprocity legislation will have to
originate in the House, it is very like
ly that while the Senate is waiting it.
will take up the trans-isthmian canal
question. AS many friends of the Ad-
minstration will come to the Presi-
dents support, it may open the session
with some very interesting debates.
Politicians of both parties here agree
in expressing approval of the Alaskan
Boundary Award which was given out
last week in London. While it was
recognized that this country would
never allow Canada to get possession of
the disputed territory, it was hardly
thought that England's formal consent
could be obtained of boundary line
which was so little of compromise as
the one just agreed upon by the major
ity or the Commission. But Lord
Alverstone, the British Commissioner,
became convinced that the American
claim was just and he had the moral
courage to side with the three Ameri-
can Commissioners against the two
Canadians. He thus made the vote four
out of six and prevented a deadlock.
The Canadians showed their resent
ment by refusing to sign the award,
but aside from rejecting the general
attitude of their countrymen and dis
gusting many Englishmen. their action
will not have the slightest effect. The
line which will be marked on the
map agreed upon, starts from Port
land Canal and runs inland. to shut
Canada from any access to the sea from
that point to Mount st. Elias. 1t gives
US the entire Lynn Canal as we'll as the
towns of Dyas and Skagway which lie
at it's head. The Importance OF this
canal is due to the fact that it is the
main route into the Kiondike region.
The Portland Canal is given to Canada,
as are also the two islands at it's mouth,
Pearse and Wales; but two other ISL
ands lying little farther out, and in
such a position as to command the en-
trance, are given to the United States.
The strategic value of these islands is
further enhanced by the fact that they
command Port Simpson which is to
be the Pacific terminus of the new
trans continental railroad. The Cana
dians are very indignant at the deci-
sion as they dou ubtless felt that the
British Government would sustain
them right or wrong. They assail the
honesty of Lord Alverstone and their
attacks are rot tempered by the fact
that be is the Lord Chief Justice of
England, and that they made a special
plea for distinguished jurists" on the
commission. They expected political
decision and got legal and equitable
one yet they declare it to be the price
paid by the British government for an
Anglo Saxon friendship. However the
boundary is settled, the Americans are
satisfied, and the equity of the deci-
sion is England and Canada's quarrel.
Another question involved in the
case of ". A. Miller, assistant foreman
of the bindery of theGovernment Print
ing Office has just been decided by
Controller of the Treasury Tracewell.
Miller was dismissed by the Public
Printer and remained out 63 days
when the the President ordered his
reinstatement. This action by the
President was equivalent to declara-
tion that Miller's dismissal was IN
just, and in the subsequent discussion
with the labor leaders Mr.. Roosevelt
voiced the same opinion. Miller natur-
ally demanded compensation for the
time of his forced suspension, and the
auditor of the State and other Depart
ments denied his claim. Miller appeal
ed to the Controller of the Treasury
who has now issued decision sustain