Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-01-22

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March until he again enters the SER
vice OF the government through some
desirable appointment from President
Roosevelt.
Speaking about this trust matter,
there seems to be continual shifting
Of positions. One day there is appar-
entity certainty of legislation being
passed, and the next there is much
reason for doubt. Judge Conner said
today that he felt quite sure that a
bill would be passed by the house this
session. at is evident, however, that
some big republicans are fighting the
the people and the people want trust
legislation so they are pretty liable to
get it as far as this end of the capitol
is concerned The fight will be in the
senate and some express grave doubts
about the senate passing anything I'M
less they amend it so as to take away
much of its strength
Col. Hepburn for his part is not san
guine about trust legislation. In fact
Mr.. Hepburn does not think that there
is any legislation necessary further
than enough to give the United States
authorities power to go after the
trusts. What we need is chancery pro-
ceedings where there is no possibility
OF waving the trust only under oath.
Wherever testimony had been insisted
on under this condition there has new
er been any trouble in bringing law
breaking trust formers to justice. The
laws we have today on the matter of
trusts are strong enough to do the
work if they are enforced. | see a
good deal in the newspapers in regard
to what the President has said or is
saying, but | doubt very much if he
has said all that has been imputed to
him. In fact all the various ideas that
have ever been suggested have been
put into the Presidents mouth
Il believe the people of Iowa must
be very pious and God fearing peo-
pie said Alex. Allen. secretary to
Senator Dolliver, the other day. 81
usually get from seventy-five to $50
letters a day, but today | got only a
little over a dozen.' 1t was Wednes-
day when letters written in Iowa on
Sunday would have reached Washing
ton. Mr.. Allan infers by the circum-
stance that Iowa people do not write
letters setting forth their grievances
and claims against the government
on the sabbath day. Yes, some of the
mail is pathetic in the extreme, some
Is amusing and some is likely to anger
one" he continued. Here is letter
from an old man, urging us for Gods
sake to hurry on his pension. His
wife is slowly losing her mind and he
must have help from the government
to give her proper care and keep from
sending her to the county farm The
poor man evidently thinks that all
Senator Dolliver has to do is to go tc
the pension department and tell them
to send him a pension. Here is an
other one, young girl who wants a
pension for her father. We told hel
the conditions were such that she must
apply under the act of 1880. The de
partment rules are such that we CAM
do anything until. she does. She an
swers with a most insulting letter, ir
which she declares that thxy will no
apply under that act; that all the!
want is their rights. She concludes
with the kind remark that she always
thought Mr.. Dolliver was working
against them, and now she knew it
1t is needless tonsay that the senate
never saw the girl or her father, ant
probably never heard of them before
in his life"
A fact which might have been on,
of the strong reasons for the Presiden
refusing to arbitrate the Venezuelan
trouble has just come out. Empero
William himself is said to have con
siderable portion of his private fol
tune invested in the "Disconto Gesel
schaft,' company which is the chic
of Venezuelas German creditors. TIL
knowledge of this had considerable t
do with the Presidents decision. sine
he felt that it would be impolitic t
place himself in the position wher
, by having to decide adversely Gel
, many's claims he might impair tn
Kaiser's good will toward the Unite
, States