The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1904-03-04
OUR WASHINGTON LETT Err.
WASHINGTON, D. c., February 9th.

NASHlNGTON, H. w., eUi udiJ ~'tu.
MR.. ED1ToR-Your correspondent met
Gen. Grosvenor, Representative from
Ohio, yesterday as he was coming out OF
the House after adjournment, and aske
him where his sympathies were in the
Jap Russ war. "They are with Japan
he said, moth Notwithstanding that she struck
the first blow and struck it somewhat be-
low the belt: But she'll get licked if she
doesn't look out. he added. Your faith
doesn't seem to follow your sym pathies,
General" | suggested. "We?l, this is the
way it is" he explained; II don't know
whether the Japs are good fighting men
Anybody can fight afloat, where there is
not much apparent danger, but to stand up
and go toward in the midst of ,whistling
bullets and hurling shells, is another
thing altogether. If the yellow men can
stand up in front of white men, and fight
them equally. man for man,-that is, ii
japanese regiment is equal to Russian
regiment-then the Japs will win and
capture the whole Pacific seabeard But
that's the con umdrum."
This morning 1 dropped into the War
Department and called on Gen Greedy,
of Arctic fame, and propounded to him
the same question. II hope Japan will
come out ahead" he said," but doubt it.
1t is very doubtful if the little brown men
will stand up in front of the white mems
rifles. They have never proved It, But
we may be little fast in assuming that
the Russians are all equal to white men.
A good many of them are of mixod blood
from the tropics. Not more than a hun
dred millions are pure Europeans and the
Poles, Jews and Firms can hardly be
counted on. Even if the Japs should
conquer, they would not expect to hold
even Manchuria, though they might seize
Vladivostcck. But the Russians are
ahead in the betting at the present
moment, without regard t" s.mpa-
thies."
While the Agricultural bill was being
discussed in the Senate it was apparent
that the appropriations recommended by
the House would be largely increased,
and the number of so-called "divisions'
in that department were to be raised to
the rank of bureaus" with a correspond
ing growth of salaries for all the "chef,''
assistant "chiefs" and the rest of the big
Indians The misquito killing division is
to become bureau" if the House con-
sents; also the O. astrological or English
sparrow and hen hawk divirion, which is
now called geological survey" Sena-
tor Nelson of Minnesota says that this
last division has never done anything of
practical Importance to agriculture, and
never will; it is purely ornamental and
frightfully Scientific Senator Proctor,
of the Vermont marble yards. who knows
as much about farming as did the late
Horace Greeley, has the bill in charge,
and whenever Senator objects to an
item he replies "The Secretary said it
was necessary" Senator Baily of Texas,
a very observing man, said if ne had bis
way he would abolish the whole thing,
free seeds, bird catching, horse training,
mounting climbing, chrysanthemum rails
ing and all. The State agricultural col
leges can look after the interests of farm
ing in their respectives states much bet
ter than a central establishment at Wash
ington.
Overcharging the government for sup
plies and poe keting the profit is likely to
be dangerous business hereafter, in the
light of the verdict of "guilty'' which the
Jury in the post Office fraud and conspir'
acy case against Machen and his con-
federates, the Groffs and Lorenz, SO
promptly rendered on the Goth inst at the
conclusion of the trial here. The con
spirators have been admitted to bail in
$50, 900 each but if the trial holds good it
will not be long before they will be be-
hind the bars-a warning to all grafters
who are in the employ of the government
Even Samuel Grof, against whom the
prosecution admitted there was not
sufficient evidence to convict, was includ
ed in the verdict, which is said to have
fallen in the court room like bolt from
the blue. There will probably be an ap
peal to higher court, Tut it may not be
allowed.
The streets of Washington are made
lively by thirty eight carriages keeps by
government for its well paid employees.
These are driven by men carried on the
rolls as watchmen, laborers and messen-
gers. A private secretary, or the "chief'
of bu; eau, in government coach, with
colored man on the box, is sight to
make ones mouth water. 1t is also
sufficient commentary upon the Civil
Service, that such things can be.
At the eleventh hour ex Secretary Root
has explained the whole matter. To sum
it up and boil it down he says: Colombia
held the Isthmus of Panama subject to
the convenience of the world; and that
Panama, as a province, ''owned' the
isthmus, which it had never morally
alienated. 1t this had only come before
the debate in the Senate it would have
saved much time These two brand new
doctrines of the world, convenience and
moral alienation, knock all the text books
higher that Gilroy's celebrated kite.
Those " no watched the personal con-
troversy IN the Senate on Washington's
birthday between Senator Hoar, of Mass,
and Foraker of Ohio, could not regard it