Middletown transcript., 1904-12-24
WASHINGTON LETTER

| WASHINGTON, D. c., Dec. 18th, 1904.
THE question of deepest interest to the
President and Congress, and dis
cussed by politicians in Washington more
than any other, has to do with the pro-
posal to give the Interstate Commerce
commission power to regulate freight
rates. This proposition also attracts
wide attention in the country, especially
among all classes Of shippers Who are de-
pendent upon the railroads to carry their
produce to market. Some 3 900 produce
and fruit dealers Throughout the nation
have asked the President to appoint some
one in their line of business upon the
Commission. Sec'y. Morton who hasbeen
a railroad man all his life, has promised
the President to take up the problem Of
|'the supervision of railroad rates, and zee
what can be accomplished. This may
appear little unusual for the Secretary
OF the Navy. but Mr.. Morton is a man of
experience. lie believes in the doctrine
OF consideration of the rights of the
people. He says the railroads should
not oppose rational government super.
vision, and that they should cease to
manipulate politics and legislation. Tie
President insists that the railroads, a.
well AS other interests, shall have fair
play. Reforms OF method are needed;
there is no war upon railroads, which
are recognized as the civilizers and mis-
sionaries of the age. Sec'y. Morton ad-
vocates central court of interstate COM
merce with but five judges, instead Of
nine, as proposed by Senator Elkins.
They should have final jurisdiction save
questions requiring constitutional inter
probation. lie would have all interstate
carriers afford cars, tracks and termiual
facilities to all shippers alike. The Pr-si-
dent is seriously in earnest in this, az in
other matters, forssAe welfare OF the COM
mon people, and it is hoped this session
OF Congress will not end before some de.
cisive action is taken. There are many
Senators who are credited with represent
ing railroad interests, and they are yet
to be heard from.
~
In all directions the Government il
making vigorous efforts to protect the |
people from frauds and unscrupulous ad- |
yertisers. The Post Office Department
hos iscnad nuuorons fra,,l orla., ,.
ing the use of the mails to bogus silver
ware. piano, get-rich-quic Concerns, !
and work.at-home offers, which prove to |
be either lotteries or unconscionabe |
fakes. The pure food bill now before
Congress, seeks to prevent the inIporta-
ton and sale Of adulterated foods and |
drugs. The extent Of this fraud upon
the unsuspecting public is alarming. A
recent inspection of medicines put up by |
druggists in Chicago revealed the fact
that very large per cent. Of them were |
adulterated. Alcoholic liquors ars
frightfully impure, with fatal con-
sequences to those who drink them.
Food is colored or preserved with sub
stances harmful to the health of human |
beings.
~
Land frauds on the Pacific coast, in- |
folving hundreds of thousands of acres,
the most extensive ever known in the |
history OF the Interior Department, have
for long time engaged the attention OF
Sec'y. Hitchcock. These have been ex-
posed and many persons engaged in them
have been punished. The Secretary
says the frauds were perpetrated by men
of high standing, socially and politically,
and that men OF prominence in this city
and in Congress are implicated. Patents
have been refused for most Of this land |
and it has been restored to the public
domain. There are now 324 criminal
suits pending, and l25 civil. The Secre-
tary promises startling revelations. He
is determinedIy backed by the President
in his efforts to break up the conspiracy
and bring the guilty to justice.
~
Because the oyerfed horses OF Senator
Hale SHE'D at little locomotive, hum
dreds Of underfed sore-sl,ouldered horses
must sweat and groan as they haul the
dirt from one side of the United Stat
Capitol to the other. The little locomo-
tive was doing the work quickly sand
painlessIy, and had been doing il all SUM-
mer until the senator from, Maine re- !.
turned to Washington. His high step