The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1903-04-17
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our regular correspondent.

anu CudiSSS dlC COuiiuS III III NOhSlhheiJ
increasing numbers. 1t is regarded as
certain that grave irregularities have
been discovered, but acting under
orders from the President and the Post
master General the officials refuse to
divulge the character of the discoveries.
The latest charge known to have been
received is in the form of an anonymous
letter alleging that there has for some
time existed promotion pool' to which
aspirants for promotion we're compelled
to pay prices varying from $40 to $50 and
a per centage of their increased salaries.
This charge is said to be undergoing
investigation.
~
A most serious charge has also been
filed in connection with the sheet iron
mail boxes which are now being substi.
tuted for the cast iron boxes heretofore in
use. There are oI,I35 of these boxes in
use, and if as is alleged, there was com-
mission paid on the contract it was doubt,
less liberal one. First Assistant Post
master General Wynne noticed this
charge in his last annual report and there
made the statement that the breakage in
the cast iron boxes, in transportation, was
so great that the Department had decided
it would be economy TO adopt the more
indestructible material, but he did moi
touch on the allegation that the officials
who awarded the contract received g
commission.
~
The Attorney General and his assistants
are rejoiced over the decision of the Cir.
cult Court of Appeals in the Northern
Securities case. 1t will be remembered
that the Northern Securities Company
was corporation organized by ]. ]. Hill
J. P. Morgan and others for the purpose
of purchasing the stock of the Great
Northern Railway, the Northern Pacific
Railway and the Chicago Burlington &
Quincy Railway, with view to operat
ing the three systems as one road. The
Court has now decided that this com
pany IS illegal in that it operates in re-
straint of competition or has the power tc
do so and to leave all the people in con
siderable section of the country at the
mercy, in so far as freight and passenge,
rates are concerned, of one corporation
The case will, of course, be appealed tc
the Supreme Court but as the opinion o.
the four judges of the Court of Appeal:
was unanimous that the merger was it
violation of the antitrust law, it is re-
garded as certain that the Supreme Court
will confirm the decision. The position
taken by the Attorney General is that thi:
decision proves the trusts can be reached
through the medium of the existing laws
*x*
Secretary Shaw has been requested tc
issue what he humorously calls the blow
up' order. This request comes from the
ship owners of the country who want al
government vessels supplied with order:
and means for blowing up all wrecked
vessels, derelicts, which they encounter
floating on the high seas At present
every time derelict is sighted report il
made to Washington at the first oppor
tunity and a naval vessel is sent to look
up the floating wreck and destroy it, but
this method is regarded as too slow and il
is urged that each Government vessel be
supplied with quantity of giant powder
with which to blow up these menaces tc
navigation.
*x*
The work of the United States Bureau
of Soils has already been noticed in these
letters. The discovery of land in Con.
necticut on which Sumatra tobacco,
which sells at $40 to $I2 more per pound
than the domestic varieties formerly
grown there, has been described as well
as the remarkable results secured from
the irrigation and under drainage of the
Alkali lands of Utah. Professor Milton
Whitney has now computed the cost OIL
the surveys which have accomplished
such excellent results and finds that the
total expense of making soil surveys has
been sass per square mile, or about 80
cents per acre. Last year fifteen parties
were in the field and surveyed 1871
square miles or II,463, $40 acres. This
year twenty parties have been sent out
and it is expected that they will survey
fifty different areas in thirty two states
and territories.
~
Some remarkable figures have lust
been issued by the Bureau of Statistics
showing the growth of the commerce of
the United States since 1870. Since that
time the imports of this country have
increased FROM $3.50, 200, 600 to 5000, ooo,-
600 in 1902. The exports have increased
in the same period from $576, ooo, 900 TO
81, 355, 900, 900. The favorable balance of
trade has exceeded that of all other
countries combined. In 1870 the trade
balance OF the United States was 500. ooo.-
900 of imports. In 1902 it was $452, ooo,-
600 in excess of exports. In both imports
and exports this country leads the world.
~
Considerable interest is manifested in
Navy and War Department circles over
the launching of the Minnesota which
will occur at New London, Connecticut,
on the 10th. The Minnesota, which is
the Earnest A,acca1