Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1905-06-02
WASHINGTON LETTER.
(From our Regular correspondent.

| AouINQ Wv TX u En-
(From our Regular CORRESPONDENCE
Washington, ID. c.. May " w e
are assured on the highest authority
that all Is serene within the President 3
cabinet and that there is not sugges
| tiOn of a split as a result of the con-
Ifiicting views of the President aud some
of his advisors on the subject of tariff
REIMBURSEMENT. This may be true and
| it may not. For instance, Secretary
Taft has just told the Ohio convention
that the next Congress must take same
provision to prevent the continual
| billing I'D of a deficit and the Secretary
proposes, without committing himself
to either alternative, a return to the
old war taxes, or a read]ustment OF the
tariff schedules along lines which will
produce more revenue as the two meth
DDS of preventing further deficits an
recOuping the government for the
amount it has already expended in ex-
cess of its receipts. Secretary Shaw,
on the other hand, speaking for the
administration, has just told the news
| papermen at st. Louis that, ''We are
not worrying about the deficit" Of
course it may be said that Secretary
Shaw is not the type of man to worry;
that be could go through the world
treading on volcanoes with smile on
his countenance. or enjoy his after
| moons smoke and bis siesta in pow
der magazine, entirely obliviOus of the
probable consequences. On the other
hand, Secretary Taft is by no means
of the worrying kind, and when Mr..
Taft declared that Congress must take
some action to prevent its increase he
was not worrying" but merely stat
ing bald proposition which must ap
peal to every businessman who has
heard or read his presentation of the
case.
If the truth were known, it would
probably be discovered that it is Sec
rotary Shaw who is doing the worrying
in this instance. however. He is real
ly much worried because, being a
violent stand patter, be fears that the
people will demand in no uncertain
tones that the sacred Dingley sched-
ules be reduced. He knows that would
be the logical course for bis party but
he vents to slip into the White House
with the votes and the assistance of
the protected monOpolies and he great
ly fears the result to his presidential
aspirations if the tariff is touched.
Consequently Mr.. Shaw will not admit
| in public that there is anything In the
nations financial affairs to worry about
and he hopes that it will all come out
right in the end. In any event, Mr..
Shaw will retire from the Treasury
next February and if disaster follows
bis retirement be will be able to charge
the blame to his successor, but If the
tariff schedules are reduced by the ad-
ministration of which he happens to be
a member the protected interests will
not contribute those golden sheckels so
necessary to procure the votes OF 1.-THE
colored brothers" who come as dele
gates to every Republican national
convention.
After perpetrating one of the most
extraordinary farces ever witnessed in
Washington, the Senate committee on
Interstate Commerce has djourned to
meet again two weeks before the next
session of Congress. The committee
| has taken an immense amount of testi-
mony which no one will ever read, most
of it favorable to the railroads and that
which was not, SO distorted by inter
ruptiOns and so mangled by the persis-
tent brow beating of the witnesses OPP
posed to the railways, that it's force is
lost. After the committee adjourned
Senator Kean had the temerity to GO
to the White House and advise the
| President not to convene Congress in
special session next fall because, said
the Senator, ut would do no good Sc
far as can be learned the President hat
not altered his purpose of calling Con
| sv,fo nnfnhnr
| though, between the stand patters who
fear some change of the tariff schedules
and the railway men who fear some
legislation which will curtail theil
prerogatlves, there is tremendous pres
sure being brought to bear on Mr.
Roosevelt, pressure to which he ma.
eventually yield.
For some inscrutable reason a mum
Der of the sensational newspapers o
the country, and some not Ordinaril,
!, so, have taken SO publishing lurit
stories about the assertions from tn
navy. 1t has been alleged that ther
are hundreds of assertions each yea
) and that the navy officers are distrugh
in their efforts to end such demOrali
zation of the service. Some paper
have sent out men to interview dis
gruntled navy cooks and galley boys an
then published their statements az
they came from able bodied seamen
etc. The facts are that there are n
extraordinary number OF desertiOn
/ from the navy and no unusual amour
of dissatisfaction. There are Away
some assertions and the peculiar par
of this fact is that they come ia th
most unexpected places and often OF
ships where the greatest contentmen1
! seems to prevail Naval officials ar
J inclined to the belief that their men
every once in a while, become home
sick, or form some attachment ashore
either of which state of mind is quit,
sufficient to make the average maj
desert. The Navy Department Officials
are now preparing statistics to sup
port their statements that the navy de
sertions are not abnormal this year.
Considerable interest attached, iI
militia circles throughout the country
to the coming meeting of the Interstate
National Guard association, which will
occur in st. Paul, Minnesota, ON June
10. Assistant Secretary of War Oliver
is making preparations to attend, al
are General Elliot, commandant Of the
Marine Corps, and General Hall, who
has charge OF militia affairs in the Wal
Department. One of the important
moves which it is expected the Asso
citation will take will be the inaugura
ton of systematic campaign TO secure