The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1904-12-16
WASHINGTON LETTER.

No Presidents message since Grants,
outlining reconstruction, has created such
lively discussion among Congressman as
President Roosevelt's of Monday, though
it has not yet taken the form of publicity.
The conversational estimates of it are ex-
ceedingly animated but not bitter. IT
seems likely to prove not a nine days
wonder but ninety days wonder, out
living the session itself. Both parties in
both Senate and House feel that it is the
vigorous and sincere outburst of reform
er. The circumstance that the word
Strenuous appears in it twice, and the
words tariff and trusts not at all, are
among the least of its peculiarities. The
estimate of it this morning includes con-
sideration of the question whether the
great panic in Wall Street on Wednesday
involving the transfer of millions of dol
lars from the pockets of one set of men to
those of another was or was not the re-
suit of the recommendations of Federal
control of railroads and other gigantic
F.. corporations. 1t would be interesting to
know what Amalgamated Copper and
Frenzied Finance think about it.
The railroad system of the country
would certainly be subject to momentous
changes for good or evil if the Presidents
suggestions could be embodied in law
When his Inter State Commerce Com
mission shall arbitrarily name the rates
at which railroad shall carry passengers
and freight, until such finding is reversed
by a circuit court, there will indeed be
scuf1ing among directors and blanched
faces among stock holders. When Con-
gress compels the general adoption of a
costly automatic block signal system, the
public may express gratitude but it will
be felt from end to end of Wall Street
When the proposition shall be enforced
TO appoint government inspectors for
1850, 200 freight cars, 10000 passenger
cars and $1,000 locomotives and to
see that they are in first-class con-
dition and provided with efficient air
brakes, and that the 1900 annual acct
dents, involving the death of 5000 and
injury of $4,000 persons shall be investi-
gated by Federal inquest with an army
of coroners with drastic punishment for
any railroad employee" who causes any
disaster, we certainly shall have entered
upon new era. The Presidents we'll
meant effort to preserve human life and
punish the neglect and Indifference which
imperil it, will be cordially approved by
the American people. But it is to be re-
inembered that more than half of the
can railway system are due wholly to
trespassers and before the terrible total
can be greatly reduced some method must
be devised by which tramps and other in
property. It is also questionable whether
it is expedient for the Federal governmen nj
TO attempt to limit the railway employees
hours of labor" as the exigencies OF
traffic would seem to make such interior
ence impracticable. What will be the
outcome of the reformer being at
the front? The country has never
before had in the White House SO
gifted preacher as Mr.. Roosevelt.
He is just now the terror of the Jeremiahs.
and it is perfectly proper to speak of the
unique Presidents message-meaning
that the message and the President are
both unique.
have just been over to the Capitol
The House was never duller. The Legis.
1ative, Executive, and Judicial Appropria-
ton bill is making its slow way through
the Committee of the Whole. The clerk.
with cracked voice, is reading the poh-
derous document by sections. Commit |
teeman Bingham is the only man out of
the two hundred present who is paying
the slightest attention to the reader, and
also the only man to whom the Chairman
pays the slightest attention. Most of the |
others are "at ease" enjoying their siesta, |
some nodding off in momentary nap, |
others talking loud, and laughing louder;
some with feet on neighboring chairs: |
many assembled in bevies of three or |
four and repeating for the steenth time |
the fiavorous jokes of the campaign |
Your correspondent in the press gallery
can catch fragments of the stories now
aud then, but they are mostly submerged |
in the prevailing catchination, amid |
which the reader, like tired auctioneer
working by the day, goes on with monot-
ouous drone. When Mr.. Bingham's |
polished pate rises TO propose an amend
ment, it is at once declared carried, with.
out single vote being cast for it, and