Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-10-13
AT THE WHITE HOUSE
Cooperation With France
Considered by the Cabinet.
ATTITUDE OF CASTRO
SECRETARY ROOT SAID TO BE
PREPARING A REPORT.
Mr.. Boutell Doubts the Necessity for
Revenue Legislation-Case Against
Assistant Treasurer Leib.


One of the questions said to have
gagged the attention of the President and his
cabinet today was the alleged proposition
of the French government for cooperation,
with the United States in securing settle
ment of the claims of the two countries
against Venezuela in the matters of the
French Gable Company and the New York
and Bermudez Asphalt Company. Secre-
tary Root has recently conferred with M.
Jusserand, the French ambassador and
with Special Commissioner Calhoun and
Consul Plumacher of Maracaibo regarding
the issues pending with the Venezuelan
government. The understanding is that the
Secretary is getting material for a special
report to the President, which may be laid
before Congress, with the purpose of secur-
ing an expression of legislative opinion as
to the policy to be ADOPTED by this gov
eminent in this matter.
Mr.. BoutelPs View of the Deficit.
Representative Boutell of Illinois, who IS
in the city, on his way to his home after
a long visit in Europe, paid his respects
to the President today and told him how
much lie was esteemed abroad. Mr.. Bou-
tell will take up the thread of his con-
OCCASIONAL work and give consideration 20
the many questions that will have to be
met this winter
Mr.. Bouteu does not take much stock
in the general opinion that Congress will
have to legislate to meet a treasury deficit
for this fiscal year and future years. de
said today that he did not regard the diff
ference between receipts and expenditures,
III view of the abundance of money in the
treasury. as at all serious problem. I'VE
have q large available cash balance on
hand" said Mr.. Boutell, and it is suffi-
cIent to meet any excess of expenditures
for number OF years to come. The word
deficit Is enormously used. There Is no
deficit in the treasury, in the correct sense
of the word, inasmuch We have no"
and have had for years an immense amount
OF available cash. and we have been able
to meet every expenditure out OF the ac-
emulation of surplus years.
There Is coed reason why the accu-
mutation of cash on hand should not be
returned to business and trade channe.s
any how. as it is not right or proper to take
mo..Sy cut of business and store il away.
II doubt whether will find it neces-
sary to provide any additional revenue for
the government for several years to come.
and probably not then The small differ
ence in receipts and expenditures even il
the wrong side, can be easily met out
of the money on hand, while careful work
In appropriations ought to keep eXpendl-
lures down pretty close to the income.
With conservative economy there will prob
ably be no reason why additional revenues
should be provided"
When asked about the prospects of ship
subsidy legislation this winter, Mr.. Bou-
tell said: Il seriously doubt whittier ship
subsidy bill will get through Congress at
the coming session. The trouble is that
there is no enthusiasm, no popular de-
mand, back OF such a BILL and 1t is gen
orally 4sidetracked for measures that are
asked by the people at large.
The Case Against Leib.
Commissioners Greene and Cooley of the
civil service commission spent good while
with President Roosevelt today, and one of
the cases they talked over was that against
William s. Le!b, assistant United States
treasurer at Philadelphia and reputed ma
chine boss of Schuylkill county, Pa. The
civil service commission Investigated these
charges several months ago and made re-
port to the President, but no action has
been taken up to this time 1t has been
generally understood that the report of the
commission severely censured the offensive
political craftsmanship of Treasurer Leib and
recommended suitable punishment Among
the charges against Leib have been those
that he has not attended properly to his
business as assistant United States treas
urer and that he has left the work largely
in the hands of his employees while he has
been manipulating the politics of Schuylkill,
for which he is responsible. it is said, to the
state machine of Pennsylvania.
1t is presumed that the case was of such
nature to call for the most careful
consideration by the President and that he
has heSitated about announcing his decision
owing to the imminent city election In
Philadelphia, where there Is a heated con-
dition OF affairs. Treasurer Leib's alleged
Identification with the Philadelphia and
state machine men has made him obnoxious
to many of the reform republicans and they
have Joined in the crusade against him. To
dismiss Leib at this time might be wrong
fully interpreted in Pennsylvania. The case
VIII go over until after the President gets
back from his southern trip.
The Bridge at st. Louis.
The action to be taken by the legal ofd-
GERS of the government against the monop
olization of the two bridges and the one
ferry crossing the Mississippi river at st.
Louis has not yet been disclosed. but the
matter Is being thoroughly looked into by
the Department of Justice. under direction
Of the President. Proceedings might be in
stituted under either of two or three fed
eral statutes. but the probability is that the
Attorney General Will decide to prosecute
under the Sherman antitrust law the COM
mon carriers who are monopoliZing the
bridges for interstate business. The second
section of the Sherman law contains a
very broad provision against monopolies,
and it is believed that the use of the bridges
and the ferry in question Is distinctly
monopoly within the meaning of the
statute
The case is one of surprising interest in
St. Louis, and. in fact, to all shippers who
use the route across the Mississippi river
at that point. Nearly all the data neces-
sary to the prosecution of the case have
been collected by the Department of JUS
tice, and action under the Sherman law
may be expected within short time.
Commissioner Fifer's Successor.
Having accepted the resignation of for
| mer Gov. Fifer of Illinois as a member OF
the interstate commerce commission, the
President has let 1t be understood as here
tofore stated. that he expects to appoint as
his successor man from the Pacific coast
While no definite decision yet has been
reached regarding the appointment, 1t is
known that Franklin X. Lane of San Fran
cisco is under serious consideration for the
was one time the democratic candidate for