The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-03-29
CURRENT

1t should be borne in mind that the
wasteful methods OF planting, cult
waiting n harvesting cotton in many
sections of the south. the deterioration
OF seed and scarcity of labor are con-
ditions that cannot be corrected in a
single season or in a dozen, even-and
the cotton consuming portion Of the
worlds population is increasing with
remarkable rapidity. Only something
very like a revolution in the industry
can put the price of cotton very much
below the lowest quotations OF last
Friday, il would seem.-New York
Commercial
Control of the next house is a very
important matter, and both parties ap-
preciate the fact. Both are preparing
for a battle royal. The republicans in
Mr.. Babcock Will have an experienced
general who has the knack of winning
victories. He knows the country. and
how to set his s%quadrons in the field.
The democrats will hardly go south
for their congressional chairman. The
south needs no attention. They should
seek him rather in the west or in the
middle states, and select a man VINO
knows every foot of that territory and
how to play for votes here. a long time
has elapsed since Judge Crisp filled the
Speakers chair. The republicans re-
turned to power with a large majority,
and have kept up their successful lick
steadily. The popular opinion is har
the house will go with the presidency,
and the double stake should, and prob
ably will, bring out a large vote
Washington Star.
Many people have been predicting
that the capitalists and m~illionaires
would arrange presently to conrOl the
supply of air and would forbid us to
all a-n ~ 1 ui+hnrf% ~ ri1 +ho-. +-;h-
ute. They have not quite done this,
but the breath of spring is coralled and
cornered. Mr.. Rockefeller, we are told
in the press dispatches, is nov the boss
of the violet market in New York. The
dainty modest little flower, thrusting
it's head gently through the mellowing
earth to yield it's delicious. faint per-
fume to the world. is promptly informed
that it belongs TO Mr.. Rockefeller, or,
If it has another master, that it must
waste it's fragrance on the desert air.
Mr.. Rockefeller has organized a huge
violet farm and these balmy spring
days is rushing his product to market
by the car load and selling it at prices
with which no florist can compete, but
at a good profit for himself. 1t seems
almost sacrilege to coin the perfume
Of the violet into dollars to go into
hands rocking with kerosene oil. but
we fear that in this case the supreme
court will not interfere. The courts
are not addicted to sentiment.-News-
Leader.
1t is generally understood that Mr..
Justice Holmes of the United States
supreme court has fallen so per cent in
Mr.. R~oosevelt's opinion since he had
the presumption to disagree with the
White house view of the question in
volved in the Northern Securities case.
All of which means that the justice has
risen 100 per cent in public estimation
by virtue of his independence. Not
satisfied with usurping the functions of
congress-. the present chief executive
now wishes to control the supreme
court. AS the Washington correspOn-
dent of The New York World puts it:
1.-The trouble with Justice Holmes was
that he reached his conclusion from his
own Interpretation of the law. instead
OF declaring the question as Mr.. Roose-
welt wanted and expected him to. JUS
tice Holmes is to pay for his i%ndepen-
dence of thought by being practically
ostracized from the White. house, where
he was installed in high favor when he
first came to Washington after his ap-
pointment last fall. The presidents
anger has carried him so far that he
would remove Mr.. Holmes if he could.
but as that is impossible, he will show
his resentment by shutting the White
house door in Mr.. Holmes face, which
is the only way to show his resentment
hat is open to the president."-Times-
Union.
The very first provision of the consti-
tuition of the United States is this:
Article 1, Section ALI legislative pow
ers herein granted shall be vested in a
congress of the United States, which
shall consist of a senate and house of
representatives. The constitution fur
Their provides that mo money shall be
drawn from the treasury but in IN
sequence of appropriations made by
law" and it directs that the president
shall take care that the laws be faith
fully executed" In pursuance of the
exclusive power granted by article I,
section l. congress has passed laws Gre
ating a pension roll, and from time to
time it has passed other laws prescrib-
ing what class shall be placed upon
that list. President Roosevelt is not
satisfied. like his predecessors, to take
care that the laws be faithfully execut-
ed He prefers to take a hand at max
ing laws himself. He finds that con-
gress has passed thousands of special
acts, each putting a single name on the
pension roll. and al one stroke he in
iates that roll with 800, 900 names.
When THEODORE Roosevelt, now still a
young man, first entered public life
there were not, and never had been at
any one time. as many persons in re-
ceipt of pensions Is he has attached to
the treasury by a single order. 1t took
the incessant activity of congress for
dimensions of the addition just made to
it by one presidential decree.-New
York World.
If it's a bilious attack, take Cham
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