Middletown transcript., 1904-04-02
WASHINGTON LETTER
WASHINGTON, D. c., March 2s. I

solved; others have been postponed to a
more convenient.season while few re-
main tovex political parties. On the
whole legislation has proceeded with
commendable rapidity, and with caution.
1t is extremely difficult to introduce new
measures and transform them into laws,
or indulge in any experimental legisIa-
tion, in the face of a presidential cam.
paign. II many good measures fail the
public will understand that it is not that
they are Of themselves bad, but because
Congress hesitates to expend large sums
when it is necessary to practice economy
to retain the confidence of the people.
The Post Office bill made slow progress
through the House, and was closely scru-
tinized, result to he expected since so
many Congressman still feel sore over the
Bristow report. Publishers of papers are
anxious that rural delivery carriers may
be allowed to distribute the fruit of the
press. BY the close vote of 88 to 80, out
OF total membership of 43O, the House
agreed to give the Southern Railroad
subsidy Of sl42, 72S.75 to carry fast mails
from Washington to New Orleans via
Atlanta. Chicago is to be allowed $780,
600 for mail service in its underground
tunnel system. A general Investigation
of the Post Office has again been voted
down in the House, but in the Senate the |
Demtcrats have given notice that they
propose to assume an aggressive attitude |
in favor Of an Investigation. The prop
osition to give steamship company
$45, 900 year to carry the mails to the
island of Tahiti, "a pinhead in the Pa
cific," has been rejected. At the close of
yesterdays debate, the Post Office appro-
priation bill passed the House to the
great relief of Republicans.
~
The great Chinese question will soon
occupy public attention. The Exclusion
Treaty with China expires by Limitation
on the 27 of December. As China has
formally denounced the treaty,a new one
will have to be formulated which will be
acceptable to both countries. 1t is claim
ed that many great employers of labor
are in faver Of admitting the Chinese,
and that new exclusion treaty has no
chance of again being ratified. 1t is al
ready proposed to import some 10000
Chinese into the canal zone of Panama to
lig the big ditch, which can hardly be
without their aid. We spend
millions in missions for the conversion of
he Chinese. What qualification to say
hey may be good enough for heaven but
aot good enough for the United States.
-
There is still much CONTROVERSY and in
lecision in the House over the proposed
trial of Judge Swayne
Il Florida. It isfeared that il trial is i
,egun it may continue for long while
md postpone the adjournment of Con-
,ress. And there is doubt about the YER
lict. Since the charges against the /;
-udge have been given to the House by
he committee he should either be yindi-
ated, or found guilty. It would be un-
racious and inequitabIe to legislate him
ut of Office without an investigation.
,he Judge has filed brief in which he
enies the charges.
~
The Civil Service comes in for its share :.
{ criticism every little while. Admiral :
Walker says he is believer in it il it
oes not apply to him and the work he
las to do in Panama. Senator Spooner I.
peaks OF the "slow and uncertain process ,
( civil service examinations. Senator
'latt, of Conn.,, thinks men who are to ;,
each the Indians do not need civil SER
Senator Hoar says the =
,hole object of the civil service Commits
ion is to make a more equitable distri- =
ution of patronage among the different =
tates. The immence clerical force has v
cen greatly improved by it. but itself is :
! process Of improvement. Let us have .
atience and watch.
~
After considerable hesitation it has
cen decided that the Canal Commission
ill have headquarters at Panama in s.
cad of Washington. This is in accord il
nee with the Presidents desire, who W
oes not wish to have the Commission
,ousand miles away from its work. Ad. cI
iral Walker and Gen. Davis will give D
,eir entire attention to the business. W
he Commission is to be attached as a W
ew bureau to the War Department, and W
is proposed, on account Of the un- A
OF the climate, to rotate all in
hite employees, giving them ten months ne
, the isthmus and then three months WI
States. ff
- W,
The Department of Commerce and La ad
", through the Bureau of Corporations, NJ
IS begun an investigation of the Beef is
-ust. It will try to discover the cause
the difference in prices between beef
| the hoof and dressed beef ON the hook. r.
here lie wide margin of profit for some- Z
,dy. Either the cattle raiser gets too
tie or the consumer pays to much.
lblicity as regards the facts ascertained .o
m be avoided for the present, and il
in remain for the President to publish Nj
EN-. The Government is also consider
q eight cases for violations of the Anti so]
ust and Interstate Commerce law. 49,
~ -, ~
Judge Everton J. Conger, OF Montana, N.
ing entirely disabled by a stroke Of ""
ralysis, has applied for a pension of 10,
90 per month. At the time OF the as hi
,sination OF Abraham Lincoln, in WASH he
zton, Conger was Lieut.. Col. of the 1st -.
strict of Columbia Cavalry. He had SUI
mmand OF the detachment which start po
in pursuit of Wilkes Booth, and track.
him to the Garrett farm. Booth se
,uld have been taken alive by Conger
{ for the fact that as he tried 10 escape
M the burning barn he was shot lly
ston Corbett. Before this event Col. W
l,~l oarr,a1 e., ba W.. | MI