Middletown transcript. [volume] (Middletown, Del.) 1868-current, 1905-07-15
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER

OUR WASHINGTON LETTER
THE President has offered the import
= ant post of Secretary of State to Elihu
Root and Mr.. Root has accepted. This
brief announcement from Oyster Bay will
prove an occasion of qualification to the
American people who may rest assured
that with the international relations OF
the United States in the hands OF so able
a man as Elihu Root they will be well
safeguarded. The feeling seems to be
unanimous among public men and many
men in private life who keep in touch
with public affairs that the President and
the nation are to be congratulated on the
wisdom of the Presidents selection and
on the acceptance of place at the cabi-
net table by Elihu Root. The splendid
work which Mr.. Root performed as Secre-
tary of War is regarded as certain guar
antee of his success as Secretary of State.
The mastery manner in which he con-
tllC ICldNiHS w tiAO hi'AP
pines insurrection, his broad stateman-
ship, as demonstrated in his conduct OF
the relations of the United States with
Cuba, and his remarkable foresight and
constructive ability as displayed in his re-
organization of the army and the militia
of the nation have all served to demon
strate his remarkable ability and to con-
vince the people, as they have the Presi-
dent, of Mr.. Roots pre-eminent ability to
conduct with credit and eclat the affairs
of any department of the government en-
trusted to him.
~
Since leaving the cabinet, eighteen
months ago, Mr.. Root has been entrusted
with numerous legal cases of great import
ance and it will require at least two weeks
for him to sever his various clients. At
the end of that time he will come to
Washington and take the oath of Office
but it is probable that not until autumn
will Ire come back to Washington as a
permanent resident. The belief is gener-
ally expressed that when Mr.. Root does
take hold of the affairs of the Depart
ment of State he will institute new re-
gime, that many fossils who now cumber
the offices of one of the most important
department of the government will be
compelled either to reform their methods
and to make some attempts to render a
fair return for the compensation they re-
ceive or to hand in their designations.
As Secretary of War Mr.. Root proved a
cold, but just employer. He was quick
to recognize merit where merit existed,
but was invariably intollerant of slack
methods of doing business and gave short
shrift to the man who were disposed to
regard employment as political ''snap"
with it the privilege of drawing
salary without doing much, if any work.
As Mr.. Roots reputation in this regard
has travelled before him there is some |
among the barnacles of the
of State.
~
The Presidents determination to ascer-
tain the actual facts surrounding the con-
duct of the Panama Railway and the ef-
fect of its exclusive contract with the
Pacific Mail Steamship Company was
clearly demonstrated when he suggested
% Secretary Taft the appointment of
Joseph L. Bristow, former Fourth Assis-
ant Postmaster General, as special COM
missioner to investigate this important
subject. The finding of Mr.. Bristow and
lis recommendations, based OH most
thorough investigation of the entire sub.
ect, are likely to prove as unwelcome to
he railroads and their friends in Con-
,ress as has the Presidents insistance on
ailway rate legislation; as unwelcome
wen as Mr.. Bristow's own report on the
OF members of Congress with
he petty appointments and allowances of
he Postoffice Department. That Mr..
3ristow has arrived at the facts in con-
lection with this case, however no one
Who knows him can doubt.
NJ
After a most extensive investigation
conducted on the ground, Mr.. Brstow
ecommends that the government con-
inue to conduct the Panama Railway as
common carrier and that improved
ABILITIES for the transportation of freight
md passengers be provided as soon as
practicable. He urges that the monopoly
hitherto enjoyed by the Pacific Mail
steamship Company be abolished, calling
Ittention to the fact that a congressional
as far back as 1893 found that
he Transcontinental Railway Pool was
,aying the Panama Railway Company
5000, 900 year for the privilege of dictat-
ng the rates to be charged for transporta-
ion was the Isthmus. The Commits
ioner further finds that the Pacific Mail
Company has made practically
10 effort to develop or care for the trade
# the Pacific Coast, making San Fran
isco its only port of entry, although
here would be ample business to war;
ant further development of the service.
While Mr.. Bristow does not say so in so
many words, It is plain to see that, in his
the Panama Railway and the
Pacific Mail Steamship Company have
ound it more profitable to prevent COM
nerce going between the two coasts of
he United States by way of Panama, and
o accept such share of the spoils as the
railroads were willing to
,ay for this encouragement of commerce,
han to develop that commerce at reason {
bile rates for transportation. Mr.. Bris- I
CIV recommends that the privilege of I
commerce between the PAN
ma Railway and other ports of North |
nd South America be accorded to any
hip seeking the business; that, if the .
Pacific Mail Steamship Company refuses
o give adequate service on the Pacific