Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1903-02-25


the opinion that the Sherman antitrust
law marked the limit of the federal power
with reference to unlawful combinations
The president challenged this contention.
THE facts in the lottery cases did not re.
quire Justice Harlan to express any opinion
directly on this question, but the trend Of
his reasoning clearly indicates that con-
gress may exclude from interstate traffic
any commodity deemed by it prejudicial TO
the public welfare, and that its moves are
beyond judicial inquiry.
Under the decision such exclusion Is not
necessarily limited to articles of commerce
which were previously regarded as innocu-
Gus. Such was the public view of lottery
tickets less than century ago, and Justice
Harlan says in effect that congress could
prohibit absolutely interstate traffic in in
toxicating liquors II 1t deemed 1t advisable.
The logical effect of the is that con-
gress has the absolute right to say when
commerce in any given commodity shall be
free or prohibited and it would follow that
between these extremes it can permit such
commerce upon conditions which It may i'm
pose to conserve the public interests, and
neither the conditions nor the motives that
actuate them can be reviewed by the ju-
dietary court"
Refuses to Fire Postmaster.
The administration policy to give the
veterans preference in office, other things
being equal. is reiterated in the following
letter, which Postmaster Payne has sent
to a representative in congress:
Referring to our interview of this morn
ing regarding the appointment of a post
master at - and TO your request that
MI. - be appointed. beg to say that
the records of the department show that
the present postmaster has an excellent
record as an official. He has made a most
as to his relations with the department and
the patrons OF fhe. offlce.. He is veteran
OF the civil war, with most excellent rec
president 20 retain in the service old sol
diers who have made good public officials
and against whom no charges of miscon-
duct have been preferred, as is the case in
this instance. The Grand Army Of the Re
public veterans residing in - have en-
tered q protest against Mr. IS (tha
present postmarter) displacement
Under these circumstances we are not
disposed TO make a change in the office
named. p. c. PAYNE
Postmaster General.
Four Generals Retire.
The following officers, promoted re-
Gently to the tank of brigadier general, to-
day were retired: Tully McCrea, Eli l..
Higgins, G. F. Goodale and Morris C. Foote.
all except General McCrea, who was a
West Pointer, entered as privates in the
volunteer service.
Temperance Gift Not PrOfaned.
A recent statement that a Women s
Christian Temperance association gift to
Mrs. Hayes is now owned by a Washington
saloonkeeper was incorrect It was alleged
that sideboard was given the late mis-
tress OF the White House to commemorate
her action in banishing wine from the
presidents table and sold to a liquor dealer
at the recent Jewish sale.
Colonel Bingham has investigated the
matter and finds no one had ever given Mrs.
Hayes sideboard at all.
Western POstmasters Appointed.
The senate In executive session today
confirmed the following appointments:
Postmasters: Kansas-Joseph c. Kit
chen, Garden City; John X. Cochran
Pratt; Charles w. Davis. Conway Springs
Isaac s. Coe. LaHarpe.
Missouri-Frank l.. Wilson. Bowling
Green; William L. II. snllman, Clarks-
/ ville Charles A. Alger. Hannibal; w. W.
| Wagner, Jefferson City; Troy L. Crane
Lees Summit Thomas ]. C. Fagg, Louis
lana.
CORIInE stations Assured.
President Roosevelt has signed the agree
ment drawn under the terms of the Platt
! amendment providing for the acquisition
| by the United States OF a naval station al
! guantanamo and coaling station at Bahia
| Honda, both in Cuba.
The document had been previously signed
| by President Palma and WAS brought e
Washington by Minister squiers. It does
! not specify the price Of the properties tC
be acquired by the United States and thi,
1 detail is left TO be settled by the usua
legal condemnatoTy proceedings after the
Navy department has decided exactly tn,
amount OF land it wishes at each place.
Miller Joins Interior Department,
Melville W, Miller Of Indiana will be an
pointed TO succeed Frank L. Campbell al
assistant secretary OF the Interior, and Mr.
Campbell will take the position OF as
sistant attorney general Of Interior de
partmont just vacated by Judge Willis Van
deventer
Cabinet Considers Canal Question.
Discussion OF the Panama canal situation
consumed a large portion Of the time o
President Roosevelt and the cabinet at TO
days meeting. Just prior to the meetin
Attorney General Knox had a conference
with Attorney Cromwell. who represent
the Panama Canal company in this coun
try. The details OF the conference wer
not disclosed.
The matter was brought to the cabinet
attention by Mr.. Knox Il is understoo
that reply has been received through MI
Cromwell to the communication recent
made to the Panama Canal company throug
the attorney general, but It is understoo
that the reply is such only as 20 keep aliv
the negotiations now pending with resLeC
TO the option this government holds o
the canal eompany's property. The subjeC
was discussed thoroughly by the eabine
but al the conclusion Of the meeting IL wa
J stated that no information could be mad
con,inusd on seoond psgel