Milford chronicle., 1903-05-01
WASHINGTON LETTER.

the help Of his ministers and without
waiting for the action of Congress. AS
such action would be wide deviation
from the American conception of a
presidents powers, the constitution OF
Columbia is being carefully studied in
order to ascertain, if possible, on what
ground the President of Columbia as
sumes to have this power 1t is known
that public order has not been restored
in the republic of Columbia and that
every material consideration would in
dictate the ACCESSIBILITY Of the treaty,
but considerable doubt is expressed as
to whether this country would be wal
ranted in accepting a treaty ratified by
so unusual procedure. Admiral
Walker and other members of the Com
mission have arrived in Colon and the
engineers in the party are alresdy en-
gagged in looking over the grOut ard
inspecting the work performed on the
CulebTa cut.
The wholesale investigation into ST
fairs at the POstofiice Department still
continues, and in the opinion Of the
Postmaster General will occupy an
other two months before they are COM
pleted. Since General Payne returned
TO Washington there has been a con
siderable decrease in the news obtain
able by the newspapers and when our
correspondent asked the Postmaster
General if he could not arrange to give
out a few news items daily, Mr.. Payne
repliet la 'onically, Would you have
me bell the cat ," Mr.. Payne is most
courteous to the newspaper men and /
receives them daily at 4 p. m. He ap- |
pears to have become accustomed to .
the Cross questioning to which the
twenty or thirty correspondents submit /
him and seems to erjOy what he cells
his 'press receptions" 1t is evident |
that, regardless Irregularities and such
rascality as may have been practiced
in the past, there will be a general re-
organization of the system. The Post
master General is authority for the
statement that when this is completed
it will be impossible for one Off ial to
make allowance and then pass upon
expenditures therefor and sign the
vouchers. AS no general reorganization
has taken place since Mr.. Wana maker
was Postmaster General and the grOFs
receipts have increased from $56, ,O0O,0OO
to $40, 900, 900 annually, the nec' ssity
for an Oveihauling is but natural.
The Northern Securities decision con-
tinues to occupy the attention of the
financeers and Of the legal lights in
Washington aud several New York
attorneys have some to Washington to ]
if there was no means by
which relief could be obtained from the
decree OF rhe Court of Appeals The
Attorney General very wisely left town :
soon after the decision was announced !
and his exact " whereabouts is not known. ?
1t was rumored that he had gone wes' t
TO consult the President but that was '
denied and it is now believed that his /
western trip is in connection with the a
Beef Trust. Meanwhile the capitalists
Of the east are crying out against the
sherman antitrust law, which they I
-srmerly regarded with scOrn, and their
newspaper organs are loudly demand /
ng its repeal or at least its amendment !,
80 that its provisions shall not apply to n
ailroads. The Interstate Commission n
Will meet in New York on Tuesday to o
investigate the allegations that a coal Z
rust exists and that the railroads are h
,iolating the antitrust Law in their ,
.peration Of the coal mines. 1t is be- :,
ieved here that the Attorney General :.
3 responsible for the present energy Of h
he Commission aud that their investi- c;
ations may be followed by legal pro- n
eedings against the "cOal roads" fC
The members Of the Financial Conn NJ
ion, which is charged with the duty Of "
Meeting representatives of foreign pow te
rs and adjusting the ratio Of silver to NJ
old. have had a conference in Wash Ii
lgton and have consulted Secretaries fe
Law. Root aud Shaw. The membels a
+ the Commission will visit London, or
aris, Berlin, Saint Petersburg, Pekin
nd the City Of Mexico to confer with .,
leofficials of foreign governments with n(
view to affecting an international ac
yreement, if possible, for the main ia
nance of silver st a rat o, yet to be ia
but presumably in the Sc
OfS2 to l. The commits ST
oners confidently believe that the TO
int interests of nations having silver or
sing colonies will prove sufficient TO
,able them to accomplish this inn &c
lrtant work.
OF the North Atlantic feet Of seven -
.ttleships, which, at the conclusion Of An
Ie winter manOeuvers, was pronOunc- te;
the unoat effipient guUadrOn that y