Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1904-10-14
rM No7

In the matter of campaign contri-
buttons the sentiment of this city
seems to be gradually working out of
the woods and into the light. 1t has
become recognized among all right
thinking people that officeholders
should not, under compulsion, give up
a part of their salaries to the party in
power. Since officeholders work for
the public, their salaries derived from
all taxpayers should not be made
large enough so that they can turn
over good percentage to the party
which gives them the place. When it
comes to contributions from corpora
tlons and concerns having great in
terests before Congress or the admin
lstration the public is in a more hazy
state of mind. The question at issue
is whether the venal vote holds the
balance of power. A republican prom
lnent In the management of the pres
ent campaign expressed the opinion
that if the Democrats were to dump
100000 into Connecticut on cleo
ton morning they Guild buy up 10000
voters at $40 each and so carry the
state.
Despite the reckless and extrava-
CANT pension legislation of repub-
lican congress as supplemented by the
kindly efforts Of an indulgent chief
executive, the expenditures for pen
sions are steadily decreasing. 1t
would seem that the time has now
come when there will be a steady and
progressive falling off in these ex-
penditures as a result of a great
mortality of the old veterans, unless
additional pension legislation is en-
acted by Congress. The expenditures
for pensions during the month of Oc-
tober, up to date, was $3,500,000,
against $3,9O0,00O for the same pc
riod last year, while the expenditure
for the present fiscal year was $40,-
1889, as against SAL, ,570,650 for
the same length of time during the
past fiscal year.
The Navy Department is generally
concerned over the prospect of OBJ
tanning a sufficient number of officers
to officer the vessels that will soon be
placed in commission. There will be
fourteen warships of all classes
launched within the next six months,
and, according to the statement of the
officials of the Navy Department,
there will be only so per cent of the
officers needed available 1t is said
that the president to whose attention
the matter has been called, will re-
quest Congress in his next message
to make provisions for providing
these war vessels with a full COM
plement of officers. To do so it may
be necessary for some of the cadets
of the Naval Academy to be commits
stoned before they have finished their
naval course of study.
The United States Supreme Court
convened on Monday with long
docket of interesting eases to hear,
among them the appeal of the beef
trust, which will reopen that whole
case; the hearing of the peonage cas-
es, and a number of others with i'm
portant issues at stake. There is also
a batch of government fraud cases,
involving various points of constitu-
tional law. The court will this year
depart from its long-established Gus
tom, and instead of assigning cases
for the second MoIsay of the term,
which really brought them up on the
third Monday of the month, they
will be assigned for the day following
the convening of the court.
A big manufacturer of leather belt
ing in Philadelphia has refused to bid
on betting for the navy because, being
Quaker, he is opposed to war. In his
letter to the Navy Department he
said: "Replying to the inquiry for
the price on belts for the Navy De-
we would say that, as mem
bers of Society of Friends, we are
advocates of peace, and feel that it is
more consistent with our principles
not to attempt to make money by sell
ing to the War and Navy Depart
ments. We are naturally glad to do
business, and glad to say that this
is purely a question of principle with
u.s."
Contrary to the usual practice, the
protected cruiser Chattanooga, soon to
be tried off New Harbor, will be COM
missioned before her trial trip. This
is in order that government may man
her with regular Navy crew. The
Chattanooga was contracted for and
partially built at Elizabethport, N
j., but was taken over by the govern.
ment and completed at the Navy-yard.
New York.
Rear Admiral Yates Stirling, Com
mander-in-Chief of the Asiatic fleet
has made report to the Navy De-
partment recommending important
additions to the Asiatic Station. The
report has been under discussion in
the General Board and has now beer
referred to the various bureaus fol
comment.
It has been decided that the Govern.