The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1904-07-01
WASHINGTON LETTER.

natural and innocent hilarity over the
consummaton of presidential hopes at
Chicago. The rather insignificant, not to
say contemplate, addition where the
President and his advisers draw together
around long mahogany table is haunted
by many visitors this week. and a good
many of the more prominent are invited
| to lunch or more convivial dinner in the
adjoing mansion.
| Mr.. Cortelyou, at his superior's COM
mand has taken mp the burden of the
campaign, but it is rendered very heavy
| by the necessity of his simultaneously
pushing Investigations into the causes OF
the East River horror, the responsibility
for which seems to lie at his door. Steam.
boat inspectors were formerly under the
Treasury Department, but when the De-
partment CT Commerce and Labor was
organized it assumed control of their
functions. That several inspectors must
bear the fearful responsibility of that dis
aster, goes without saying, but the ques-
ton remains, Will all the guilty be pun
ished? Or will one or two inferior officers
be called upon to suffer as scapegoats to
placate an indignant public? When the
Chief Inspector whose duty it was to GER
tify the efficiency of this very steamboat
is given his freedom on $500 bail, there
is abundant reason for apprehension.
When Mr.. cortelyou in public letter
says, 81 will stand by our officers until
they are shown to be culpable, would it
not be we'll for him to add, 81 will stand
by the people until those officials are
sternly dealt with who are responsible for
this slaughter of the innocents."
| Again, on the nomination of the Pres
4 ident arises through all the departments
here discussion of six year term and
no reelection. This policy has been
adopted in Mexico for the very purpose
Of depriving the President of the tempta-
ton to intrigue for second term by the
distribution Of official favors and the de-
basement of his high Office. met a
Senator yesterday who said on this point:
'Ifthe President could be elected for six
years without the possibility of re-elec-
ton, and then if Congress should be
assembled in December month after its
election, instead of waiting year, it
would seem to be the ideal condition
The election of Congress year before it
is called upon TO assemble resulted of
course from the old stage-coach times
when it took weeks and sometimes
months to get to the capital from remote
states, but those times are long since past
land it is strange that so enterprising and
progressive people as we are should
have stepped in the lazy old way SO long,"
| As the National Business League of San
Francisco points out, much of every
Presidents time is now employed plan
ing for reelection, instead of exercising
all his powers to make the best possible
record for himself. This not only debases
politics, but it interiors with business for
weeks and mouths together.
~
] Inc deatneu SnlHec no uOuot IeSoItS
to tricks to evade our exclusion law, but
he will have to get up early in the morn
ing if he gets much ahead Of our Treas
Jury Department. A man born in Oregon
of Chinese parents went to China last
year, having a certain number of months
in which to return. He left Hong Kong
in ample time to reach home and got in
sight of the Golden Gate with a fortnight
to spare. Here the vessel was detained in
quarantine for a month, and when he
| tried to go ashore he was blandly inform
ed that his time had expired and he
could never set foot on this continent
again Washington was appealed to and
approved of the exclusion The man is
1now in jail in San Francisco, waiting for
official exile. Bret Harte ought to write
one more poem.
~
Public Printer Palmer has signed the
contract for forty-six Mergenthaler ma
chimes for the Government Printing or
fee They will be of the double maya
zine kind, permitting the operator to set
two different faces of type without leav-
ing his chair. There will also be thirty
two duplex attachments making prac-
tically six times the number of machines
aud fonts. Not only the ordinary Roman
type, but small caps, italic, and various
faces of black letter can be used by touch
ing lever.
~
General William Birney, son of that
Birney who made the famous free soil
campaign for President in 1874, said to
your correspondent yesterday: This
visit of the Filipino doesn't mean any
thing-not even fundamental friendship.
Suppose Japan is victorious over Russia, in
possession OF Port Arthur and Korea, and
,,;,h ,ayol euDra,r, a ~ IN the eactarr ceac