The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-01-06

INSCRIPTIONS Democrats in congress
as a means of making a partisan at
tack upon the present secretary Of the
navy.
The house was in session only ten
minutes. but that was long enough to
have a. set of infammatory resolutions
dropped into the box asking the presi-
Mr.. Morton in the cabinet
The author of this piece of imper-
thence is Mr.. Baker Of New York. a
Democrat, who was turned down at
the last election by his own constitu-
ents. He has been a firebrand in con-
gress who has been alternately laugh
ed at and Stunned by all the better
element of the Democrats He has
constantly defied the discipline of the
house, attempted to violate its rules,
and has on more than one occasion
been openly threatened with punish
ment by the presiding officer.
The resolutions were of the usual
type offered by him on every con-
| ceivable subject and never noticed by
anybody In authority
The preamble includes a denuncia-
ton of trusts. quotes the PRESIDENT
message that it is necessary to put a
stop to rebates, and mentions Paul
Morton as the traffic manager of the
Santa Fe railroad when that line was
which Mr.. Morton defended in his
testimony before the industrial COM
mission.
Thereupon Mr.. Baker, whose term
of service is soon to expire, like a
/ modern tailor of ToOley street, con-
cludes his resolution by saying:
This house expresses the opinion
that nothing would so surely restore
public confidence in the administration
or the law as the arrest and prOSecu-
ton of both the secretary of the navy
and the traffic manager of the Atchi
son, Topeka and Santa Fe railway for
what constituted a 'barefaced disre-
gard of law in having granted to the
Colorado Fuel & Iron company the
aforesaid secret rates.
There is of course no chance of
these resolutions being seriously con-
s1dered. They constitute a distinct Of
fetal impertinence, of which the house
could not be guilty toward the presi-
dent of the United States without in
curing deserved rebuke. Secretary
Morton is more than willing to explain
his connection with the management
of the Atchison road, and it is likely
that he will ask the interstate com
merce committees. both of the senate
ana mouse, to give him a chance to put
himself on record publicly. AS a mere
matter of justice to the secretary of
the navy the committee almost GER
tainly within a short time will give
MIN chance to make a, complete Of
nclal and personal statement.
On the other hand, it is said that
Represen native Baker has exceeded the
bounds of common decency in a leg
lslatlVe body, and some of the Repub-
l1can leaders favor his expulsion or at
least public reprimand-
Washington dispatch to the Chicago
Inter-Ocean says:
The revelations concerning Mr.. Morton's
acqulescence in the granting Of secret re-
bates has had a damaging effect on the
prospects for legislation at this session IN
harmony with the presidents recommen-
cations Attorney General Moody and
secretary Morton have been at work on a
OH, out the members Of the house COM
mittee on interstate and foreign COM
Inerce are opposed to going to the admin
istration for a bill
Inc railroad men of the country, who
are looked upon as friendly to some con-
serVative legislation a month ago, are
now said to be at work to block all eff
lleved to have lost ground on this ques-
Ton since the revelations in Chicago be-
cause it is assumed that the one member
Or MS cabinet on whom he leans for
railroad informa ton is not sincerely in
Iavor Of preventing rebates by the rail-
Secretary Morton is maintaining silence
regarding the testimony of Mr.. Biddle in
asked about the matter bat his friends
ADMIT that he may be forced to some de-
tense by the resolutions of Representative
Baker, even though there is no probable
lty of their passage in the house.
Representative Baker is ever alert re-
garding railroad matters. His advent in
congress was heralded by returning a.
rallroad pass and he became known as
AnIl-Pass Baker" He says he has no
grievance against Secretary Morton or
any .other member of the administration,
put he desires to test the presidents sin
SeIlty IN his crusade against railroad re-
tbs sffoI ne oeslres TO aid the president in
- eHOIt ne announced in his message to
congress and he thinks no better aid can
Pc given than by having a full investiga-
secretary Morton's responsibility for the
Nlolatlon of the interstate commerce law
whi ne acting as vice president Of the San