Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1905-02-22

new secretary OF the navy Is not
treading a rose. strewn pathway
Just at present, says the Atlanta
Constitution. His connection with
the sante Fe system Of railroads
at the time the fragrant rebate dis
ordinations recently denounced
by the interstate commerce COM
mission we're perpetrated is COM
ming in for a good deal Of acrid
comment anent the presidents
subsequent action in calling Mr..
Morton into his official family.
Many papers, even a few with
strong republican leanings, 20 80
far as to declare that Dir. Morton
should relieve the presi lent O.
present and future eL.a1rrassment
by stepping down and out and
giving place to some man not 50
inextricably identified with the
railroads. 1t is argued that while
he is the posessor of admirable ex-
ecutive ability and while his re-
cent secular offences need not Of
feet his present efficiency to the
government, that the present
drastic crusade against the prac-
tice for which he once stood make
his presence in the cabinet an an
achrOnism, at once annoying and
/ prejudicial to those vigorous meth
DDS which Roosevelt, otherwise,
would be tempted to adopt.
A new phase of this Morton
tangle is the reputed action of At
tOrney General Moody in making
a seeming attempt to soften the
asperities of the. recommendation
made by the commission, to the
effect that the wanton disregard Of
of law by the Santa Fe should be
made the subject Of criminal pros
|ecution. Mr.. Moody, it is report
ed, has applied to Hon. JudsOn
Harmon, cabinet officer in the
last Cleveland administration, to
advise with the department on the
adVisability of carrying out the
procedure suggested by the COM
mission. The oddity of this re-
quest is not relieved by the FACT
Judge Harmon is already attorney
for two great railway systems,
therefore with sympathies presum-
ably enlisted on the side of the err
ring corporations.
The most unaccountable feature
OF the attorney generals action,
however, is the fact that he should
find It necessary to summon out.
side aid in determining his duty in
the present instance. The com
mission has clearly and unmistaka-
bly, exposed the culpability Of the
railroad. To the end of dealing
exact Justice to the accused and
thoroughly investigating all the
Indictments brought forward by
the cOmplainants, it devoted more
time and pains to the probing of
this specific case than is usual
Nv accorded. The railroad was
Represented at all sessions Of the
Tribunal by the ablest legal talent.
Corporation attorneys can seldom
be charged with ~neglecting a sim
gle little advantage which may be
manipulated to the good OF their
clients, so 1t Is reasonably GER
tain that the Santa Re entered
Just as stubborn and redoubtable a
defense as it may be able to put up
before a higher court.
On the side of the railroad com
mission, it may be safely assumed
that that body would recommend
no such important procedure as
prosecution unless it were of the
legal soundness Of its prescription.
Some Of the keenest and most con
sentative lawyers in the country
compose the commissions person
lel. It is a body notably free from
he faint Of radicalism. Indeed il
& we're ever afflicted with a bent
4 that direction, the manner in
uehich IFS powers have been emas-