Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1905-07-14

less, with the assistance of the Presi
dent, command the nomination and
would then be subjected only to the
danger of defeat at the polls, a danger
which will prove small unless the
Democrats bestir themselves and per-
feet a stronger and ADLER organization
than they now possess. between now
and the summer of 1908.
News has reached here from Toxic
and ST. Petersburg which has been in
terpreted to mean that the first formal
meeting of the peace conference be-
tween Russia and Japan will occur in
Washington on August l. in accord
ance with the earnest representations
of the President that all possible ex-
petition should be used to prevent, in
so far as may be, further loss of life in
Manchnria. 1t is now expected that
the Observation-Disclosures will hold one for
NAL meeting in Washington, after
which they will adjourn to meet at
some sea shore city in New England.
1t is further expected that the pleni-
potentiaries, with their respective
suites, will embark at Washington on
naval vessels which will be provided
for the purpose, and will sail directly
to Oyster Bay, there to pay their re-
spects to the President, before proceed
ing to such place as may be ultimate
ly selected for their summer meetings.
Whatever place may he selected for
the meetings of the plenipOtentiarles
during the hot weather, it Is assumed
that they will return to the national
capitol for their final conference and
will here sign "the treaty of Washing
ton" which, it is expected, will be the
product of their conference. 1t would
surprise no one if the meetings eX-
tended over considerable period Of
time, say three or four months; and it
is expected that before the time comes
for the signing of treaty the tempera-
ture in the national capitol will have
become once more bearable.
The Republican party is constantly
finding itself in dilemas as the result
of employing honest men to conduct
Investigations and make recommends
tions. Such was the case when Fourth
Assistant Postmaster General BriStOW
Investigated the POstoffice Department.
Such was the case when Secretary
Taft found that the protected hogs
were trying to rob the government by
charging domestic prices for materials
for the Panama Canal and such is now
the case since Mr.. BristOw, in his new
capacity of Special Panama Railroad
Commissioner, has made his report and
recommendations ON the commercial
side of the Panama Railway. The
Panama Railway has always accorded
the Pacific Mail Steamship Company
monopoly of all transportation car.
ried across the Isthmus and that com.
pany has had the temerity to demand
renewal of it's contract. When this
was done the President appointed Mr.
Bristow, a special commissioner to in
vestigate the claims of the Pacific
Steamship company and Mr.. Bristow' &
report practically substantiates the
finding of congressional committee
which found, in 1898, that the trans
continental Railway Pool was paying
the Panama Railway 100000 a veal
for the privilege OF debating rates via
the Isthmus, SO that the extOrtiOnatt
| rates charged for freight and pass
engers across the continent would not
suffer from competition. Mrs. BristoW
further finds that the Pacific Mai
Steamship Company, which has doubt
less also benefited by payments from
the railroads, has never made any Ell
| fort to develop it's commerce on the
Pacific coast, although there is ample
room for so doing Accordingly, Mr.
BristOw recommends that the trans
portaton of freight and passengers be-
tween Panama and Colon and the Uni
ted States be thrown open to the com
petition of the ships of the world; that
if the Pacific Mail Steamship Company
refuses to develop its line on the Pacific
coast and serve points other then San
Francisco, an effort be made to induce
some other steamship company to es'
tablish line of ships between the
Pacific coast and Panama; that an eff
| fort be made to induce a reliable com
pany to establish line of vessels be
tween Colon and the Gulf ports of the
United States; that, if this cannot bt
done, the Panama Railroad itself estab
lsh such line. All this will prove az
gall and NORWOOD to the transcOn
tinental railroads which will inevita.
bly, bring into action their powerful
lobby to induce Congress to enact leg.
islation which will render it impossible
for the Canal Commission to carry into
effect Mr.. BristOw's recommendations,
which recommendations if observed
would prove of the utmost value to
consumers and shippers throughout the
entire country.
Wanted A Martin Man.
Among the straws which show the
way the current is drifting, it will be