The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1903-07-24
WASHINGTON LETTER.


in official circles in Washington that Sec
rotary of War Elihu Root, of New York,
will shortly resign his Cabinet portfolio
and return to the practice of law in the
metropolis. 1t is not believed, however,
that Mr.. Root will leave official life in
Washington until either shortly before or
after Congress assemblies in November,
for there are good many matters pend
ing he wishes to clear up before severing
his connection with the Presidents
Cabinet.
~
Assistant Secretary of State Herbert H.
D. PIERCE, has sailed for Europe for the
ostensible purpose of inspecting the Unit
ed States consulates. The work he will
perform is of more than ordinary impor-
lance as the result of his investigations
will probably have considerable weight
upon legislation that will come before the
next Congress. There is a good deal of
dead timber in the consular service which
it is proposed to weed out and if Congress
will pass the necessary laws the service
will be placed upon a merit basis and
a system of advancement and promotions
will be arranged that will offer induce
ments for capable men to represent the
Government abroad as consuls. 1t is pro
posed as far as possible to secure able
men whose appointment will not be the
payment of political debts.
*xx
Fourth Assistant Postmaster General
Bristow must go. This is the verdict of
the politicians, and when they act in
unison success is generally accomplished.
Every Senator and Representative who
has heretofore utilized the rural free de-
livery patronage in building up his per-
sonal machine is now after Mr.. Bristow's
official head. They will never rest until
he has beer either shorn of his strength
or removed. They will give neither Mr..
Payne nor Mr.. Roosevelt a moment
peace until their enemy has been pun
ished. Nobody realizes the danger of
his position better than Mr.. Bristow. He
would not begin the present post office
investigation until personally assured by
the President that he would be protected
after its conclusion.
| The politicians have waited for a pre-
text to make war on Mr.. Bristow, and it
has now come i'll the allegation that he is
unfriendly to rural free delivery. His
announced policy that each route must
have 100 families with 5000 pieces Of mail
matter, afforded the opportunity desired.
He had previously announced that in the
establishment of routes the Endorsement
OF Senator or Representative should
weigh no more than the ordinary citizen.
He is credited with being all enemy to
rural free delivery and seeking to ruin
the service. Rural free delivery is popu-
lar with the masses, and no more appro-
pirate watchword could be chosen than
that Bristow is. dampering the system.
1t is not believed the President can
long hold out against the combined solic-
itations of all the men in public life. He
must yield sooner or later. Then Bristow
must eiittiher withdraw from the service or
dave his power taken away from him.
~
| AS result of the most successful en-
gineering work yet done for the reclama-
ton of arid lands 200, 600 acres in Idaho
have been thrown open to settlement
These lands lie in the valley of the Snake
River in Lincoln and Cassia counties.
Through what is known as the Twin Falls
Canal, the waters of Snake River are 10
be lifted 3S feet and through 100 miles of
main canal and 1000 miles of laterals
spread over 700 square miles of desert.
According to plans 200, 900 acres from the
public domain will ultimately be brought
under irrigation. The actual construction
on the main canal began several months
ago. The uniform price to be paid the
State for the land is so cents an acre. A
water right must be purchased from the
Canal Company, which costs SIS all acre.
~
Plans for colonizing South African
Beers in Mexico are nearing completion
Land has been secured and all arrange.
inents made with the Mexican Govern.
ment. Negatiotions have been in progress
for several months. The plan is for the
California and Delmonte Gold Mining
Companies to buy an enormous tract of
land in Tamaulipas, Mexico, embracing
200, 900 acres and reserving the mining
rights, sell it to the Beers in small tracts
at nominal price. OF this great tract
the Beers, through General Joubert, Capt.
O'Donnell and the committee now in
Holland, have contracted for Ioo, 900
acres. If the settlement is a success they
will purchase more.
Nv
Secretary Shaw's latest scheme for an
elastic currency" is said to be as follows:
1t is proposed to authorize the ISSUANCE of
additional currency by national banks up
to rs per cent of the amount of their CAP
ital. On this the Government would
place tax of, say, per cert year.
Because of this tax banks would only call
for the additional currency in time of
greatest stringency-that is, interest OH
loans would have to be higher than per