Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-02
Beef Packers May Be in Con-
tempt.
PANAMA Is MISTAKEN
SECRETARY MURPHY EXPLAINS
MATTERS TO THE PRESIDENT.
Today's Cabinet Meeting - Railroad
Men as Callers - Invited to
Grand Army Reunion.

1t Is becoming evident in administration
circles that the critics of President Roose-
welt from this time forth will bend their
energies toward picturing him a man
who is constantly breaking in on things
with which he should not interfere, and in
general they will try to sustain thereby the
charge that he is too strenuous for an oc-
cupant of the presidential office This is
the Interpretation of the many reports that
have gone out of the conference at the
White House last Saturday, at which the
President, Attorney General Moody Secre-
tary Metcalf and Carroll d. Wright took
part. The Importance Of that conference
has been much exaggerated.
The latest version of the conference of
Saturday is that it had to do with a pro-
posed overhauling of the beef packers for
violation of the terms of the injunction
which now rests upon them This story is
declared to be premature. 1t is known that
the Department of Commerce and Labor
still has corps of experts out in the field
| to complete the investigation of the work
of the beef packers in all the stages of
their industry, and these doings have to
deal with the things from which they are
enjoined by Judge GrOSScup's celebrated
order If it could be shown that they were
violating the Sherman antitrust law it
would be a simple matter to bring proceed
ings in contempt against them. This has
been known for many months. 1t may be
stated, however, that the investigation is
by no means complete, nor has it reached
stage in which the administration would
| feel justified in acting. Theoretically the
| existence of strike would have nothing to
| do with contempt proceedings by the ad-
| ministration, although it is probable that
| the administration, possibly in other re-
spects ready to move against the packers,
would prefer to take time for doing so
when the action would not be misconstrued
interference the Industrial diSDuta
| that is raging.
1t will be the policy of the administration
| for the next few months to avoid giving
occasion for the democratic charge that 1t
| is unnecessarily meddling with affairs out
| side of its ordinary jurisdiction. 1t has be-
| come apparent that this is the line Of at
| tack that the democrats find most servicea-
| ble especially in New York, and according
| ly the administration will be especially eau
| tious not only regarding the things which it
actually does, but in those things that
might give rise to a false impression.
Despite the efforts of democratic politi-
clans and papers to misrepresent the atti-
tude of the administration important
legal and other questions 1t is we'll known
at the White House and in the Department
of Justice that the government will take
action at any time it regards the best period
for so doing, unmindful of the criticism that
might follow. Right now, however. the be-
lief prevails that the time has not arrived
for action.
Panama is Badly Mistaken.
Dominic Murphy, secretary of the Pana-
ma commission, had conference with the
President today about some of the details
of the work of the commission. Mr.. Muir
ply was asked about the protest made to
the State Department yesterday by Senior
Obaldia, the Panama minister, against the
Interpretation given the canal treaty in
several matters, but especially as to the
location of new customs port near the
city of Panama. Merchants of Panama
appear to think that the trade of the city
is to be taken away from them by the ac-
ton of the United States The Panama
government also thinks that it will be de-
prived of much revenue by this action.
Mr.. Murphy declared that the Panama off,
cials are mistaken to this matter, and
that 1t will work out all right.
Of1cials of this government generally
state that the Panama people are wrong.
The port that has been established outside
of Panama is not for the purpose of col
lecting duties but the United States has
adopted the port because 1t is the best one
in those waters and contains the most mod
ern machinery for loading and unloading