The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1905-12-15
WASHINGTON.
Legislative and Gem
eral Topics from
the Capital.
Dec. 0. 1905.

would be passed by the House
with considerable speed. but even
at that there was $500. 600 cut
from the amount and all of the
members who had spite either
against the measure or against
the President took opportunity to
vent it. There were some very
cauStic thi rs said about the
pay roll of the commission, some
of which were true and some
exaggerated for party and per-
Sonal ends. A good deal of cap
ital was made out of referring to
the $4,000 "preSS agent" of the
commission. Now it is quite
true that Mr. Bishop. who is thus
designated, is probably overpsid,
he Is really the secretary OF the
commission and why should he be
always spoken of rs the "press
agent" merely because he usually
gives out the newspaper state.
ments is little hard to see.
There was some criticism also of
the other $1,000 men, W. ID.
Ross, the purchasing agent, aud
+. s. Benson, the auditor.
Whether these are both good men
it will be possible to judge by
experience. If they are, they
probSbly are not over paid. The
purchasing agent is one of the
most important officials under
the commission. He has much
more than any other one man to
do keeping supplies of all sorts
mp 10 the standard and his oppor.
tuuitieS for graft, ii he is diShon-
est, are limitleSS. The auditor
is almost equally important, aud
under the government system of
book keeping, he is likely TO
earn his salary whatever it is. If
these two men are we'll paid,
there will be less temptation for
them TO look for money on the
outside, and if $40, 900 each will
keep them honest in % tropical
atmosphere. which is redolent of
graft, the commission may be
spending money wisely in giving
them good salaries.
One thing is certain, and that
Is that the appropriation bill for
the canal will have TO go through
III time for the end of December
pay roll or else the workers will
have 10 wait for their money.
There is enough money TO the
eommisSi' rs account 10 meet the
bills up 10 tine 18th of this month.
But beyond that there will be q
detcicit. The canal is going to
cost q great many millions and
II will be worth whatever it costs.
So Congress had just as we'll APP
preprlate the money cheerfully
since the country is committed
10 the enterprise. There will be
many criticisms made as the
work progresses. But they can
not affect the ultimate success
of the project by uiggardliness,
Though it can hamper it.
One Of the moves made bw
the WarehouSemen's As Soeia~
tion meeting here this week will
appeal 20 every one who has to
face the proolem of the iucress-
ing cost Of food ssuffS without
corresponding Increase of salary.
They have petiElonsd she govern
ment for Federal cold storage
plant, This will neeeSSi,ate an
appropriation OF 81. 600. 900 aud
the plan may or may nos be we'll
worked cut. But the idea is 20
throw the government in between
the people aud the food trust
which uses the cold storage plant
10 enhance prices. Practically
every article Of human food is
uoS subjected 10 the cold storage
= eth0d oC preservation aud il is
the ability 20 keep SnythiQg from
eggs 10 beefsceak for a year with
Oas spelling, thar enables the
Beef TEaSs. which haudleS
great many .biaSs beside bexf. 70
dictate prices both 20 the pro
d0eer aud the consumer. Ii Is
mos likely tbst the government
cold storage ldsS Will aever eOIe
70 anything. bus II i the with
ing Of the wOrm in sa effort 10
tarn. Possibly hy tie tine The
country Is reduced to neat once
> week aS : laxary there wlIl be
some better idss thsa tie gov
sFameas cold storage plant tara
up sud stand : better Saow 81
passing.
Il develops that there sre mere
rosds 70 fAGs aad competence
than bsiag born il oaIo. srada-
aslnS from Harvard O. having
served IL the ReRgh Riders IL
! rnmers6 thar tse President i
shout "a sppoias Bat Master
soa his perseaal body guard il
place ct Nr. TyFss. GaEe United
States Marshall q West TI--
gl1is. Thsrs Il No IaGje1-iaa
thar the President Is ehrsaeesess