The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1903-08-27
WASHINGTON LETTER
(FRoM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT
Washington, ID. c., Aug. %, 1908


Most cautiously expressed, but not
the less intense indignation, is general
in the Navy Department because of re-
cent events at Oyster Bay. Naval Off
GERS declare that the exposure of the
entire North Atlantic squadron to the
perils of trip up the narrow Long
Island Sound followed by an attempt
to manoeuvre the squadron off Oyster
Bay, while three naval vessels were de-
voted to the special accommodation of the
President and his friends and family,
was a humiliating and unwarranted use
to which to put the navy. They de-
clare that every commanding officers
heart was in his mouth as he risked
the almost inevitable accident and sub
sequent court martial in guiding his
vessel over shoals and rocks in the
Sound and that he felt Inundated at
having to take this risk, not for the
benefit of his country, nor the greater
| efficiency of the navy, but that the
president might have the qualification
of initiating the German Emperor at
whose beck and call are the vessels of
the German navy.
AS it happened, two vessels were
more or less seriously damaged and al
though the Secretary of War and Ad-
miral Dewey, like accomplished cour-
tiers, belittied the damage, the cost of
repairs will not be inconsderable. The
cost Of the trip together with the pow
der burned in firing presidential salutes
is conservatively estimated at $50, 900,
covering the expense for powder and
coal alone. To the officers on the Sylph
was confided the care of the Roosevelt
children and their nursemaid, and, to
their serious embarrassment, they are
likely to be known to brother officers
for all time, as the dry nurses to the
Roosevelt youngsters 1t is telegraph.
ed from Oyster Bay that Mr. Roose-
welt was happy and excited all day
long" but there may be some people
who will regard the Presidents happi-
ness somewhat dearly bought at $780,
600, which will have been expended by
the time the injured vessels are placed
in repair,
Reports from Providence and Oyster
Bay depict situation far from crafty
Ing to the Republican leaders. The
members of the Senate Committee on
Finance are determined to adhere TO
their original plan, a measure whereby
the Secretary of the Treasury will be
authorized to accept certain securities
other than government bonds from the
banks as collateral for government de
posits. This legislation is earnestly de
sired by J. P. Morgan & Co., who are
anxious to secure what would virtually
amount to the government imprimatur
on certain of the bonds in which it is
their business 20 deal. The western
members of Congress- including Speak.
or to-be Cannon, cannot be converted to
this form of legislation. The president
has become so disgusted with the ten
acity with which Senator Aldrich and
his colleagues adhere to this type of
legislation, regardless Of the views OF
the western members, that he threatens
to throw the entire matter overheard
and issue a call for n special session to
convene November g. without mention
ing the subject of financial legislation.
In view of the fact that the republic
ans have long boasted of their ability to
harmonize all interests, the situation is
most distressing to the republican lead
ers. Moreover prominent democrats,
like Senator Daniels OF Virginia, are
taking occasion to elaborate the falla-
cies of the Aldrich policy which is all
for the bankers and the Wall street in
terests and not at all for the people,
whose money is being accumulated in
the treasury by unnecessarily high tax
es to an extent that threatens to cripple
business 1t is easy Of demonstration
that the proper course to be pursued is
not the invention of some means where.
by this money, unjustly collected, may
be transferred to the banks so that they
may lend it out to the people ut high
rates of interest, but reduction Of the
taxes 80 that there may be no further
accumulation in the treasury, there al
really being surplus large enough for
all possible emergencies To accom-.
plish this, Of course. would necessitate
reduction Of the tariff schedules and
that is what the Aldrich crowd breads
above all else
Postmaster General Payne had hardly
ceased his "hot air talk about the post
Office scandals when the report that
there were grave scandals in the Gov.
ernment Printing Office became public
and it was backed with sufficient evi-
dence to lead the President to request
Secretary Cortelyou to institute care.
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