The National tribune., 1905-10-05
c, THURSDAY

1dE NATIONAL IH1nQ
Of National Forest Reserves has been
in effect for some time; its good results
are already evident; 1t is policy en-
phatically in the interest OF the people
as a whole, and especially the people
of the West. 1 believe they cordially
approve it, and do not intend to aban-
don it,"
In one of his letters Senator Hepburn
indicates an intention to appeal from
the President to Congress for an adj
justment of the problem
Consul f. H. Plumacher, of Mara
caibo. Venezuela, has arrived in Wash
ington, bringing fragments of a shell
fired by the German gunboat Panther
into San Carlos Venezuela, when the
powers were blockading Venezuela three
years ago. Mr.. Plumacher has had the
she'll prepared for decorative purposes,
to present to President Roosevelt. The
shell is of remarkable historic interest,
as 1t represents the first and almost the
only time the Monroe Doctrine was in
real danger. The Panther and the
cruiser Vineta bombarded San Carlos
Dec. 8, 1902. The shells from the Panth-
er. thrown into the little fishing village,
just back of Maracaibo, set the town
afire and completely destroyed it. The
incident caused a tremendous Interna-
tional turmoil. Only three persons were
killed. but the fact that the Germans
had openly declared war caused a storm
of excitement. and it was feared that
England and Italy. whose warships were
blockading ports of Venezuela, would
commence hostilities. Ultimately the
powers agreed to a conference, which
settled the claims.
The shell Mr.. Plumacher has brought
is I'm two pieces. It is six and a half
inches in diameter. The cone was
blown off when it exploded.
Venezuelan artist. Leon Cabazal,
has painted on it picture of the San
Carlos Notifications and the village
burning, with the inscription: 'Bom-
bardment of San Carlos by the Panther
and Vineta. Compliments of E. H.
Plumacher, United States Consul, Ma
1acaibo."
Mr.. Plumacher has been Consul in
Venezuela for over 20 years
The hand of justice seems to be par
ticular1y heavy out in Oregon just now.
Representative John Newton William
son, who has been three times tried
for completely in the land frauds and
three times had disagreeing jury. was
tried fourth time, and last week the
jury found him guilty of conspiracy and
subornation of perjury. Then he threw
himself on the mercy of the Court and
pleaded guilty. The penalty is a fine of
not less than $1,000 or more than $10,-
900 and Imprisonment for not more
than two years. The sentence will
probably be as light as the Court can
make it, A heavy penalty would be no
more CALLING than a light one. That
there is guilt and any penalty at all is
quite sufficient in such a case. Marion
II. Biggs, United States Commissioner
for the General Land Office at Prime
Vile, and DR.. Van Gessner, Williamson's
partner, were also found guilty. The
United States Congress is certainly get
ting it in the neck.
The Mississippi. another of the great
battleships, was launched at the Phila-
delphia Navy Yard Saturday. but Ow-
ing to the prevalence of yellow fever
Gov. Vardaman and staff were not pres
ent, as had been intended
AS a result of the vigorous prosecu-
tions of land fraud cases in Oregon 1t
is reported at the General Land Office
that about 80, 900 acres of school land
in the Blue Mountain Forest
Reserve, in eastern Oregon, has been
abandoned by locators, who forfeited i'm
the neighborhood of $4,000. 1t Is as
sumed that in most of these instances
the land had been located by dunn
miles, and that the persons who pro-
vided the money became frightened and
quietly abandoned all the claims, at the
same time making no effort to recover
the money invested.
Gen. Peter G. Hams, of the Panama
Canal Commission, suffered q severe
and rather peculiar accident last week
which prevented his going with the
to the Isthmus to partici-
pate In the quarterly conference there.
He was taking bath at his home when
he slipped and fell, striking his head,
infficting cut just above the right
temple. The wound and shock will lay
him up for some time, but the accident
was most fortunately not a dangerous
one.
Secretary of the Treasury Shaw has
that he will leave the Cab
met about Feb. /. Talk of his successor
is rife, but it looks as though available
timber is scarce. A man fitted to be
Secretary Of the Treasury is usually a
man of affairs and Of wealth. and he
can scarcely afford to cut three or four
years Of his life out of his own bust
ness for a paltry sum which will not
pay his house rent. 1t takes the purest
patriotism to induce a man to do that
and talk as you will 1T is unwise to Sc
man who has been unable to make a
financial success Of his own life. That
would be a poor recommendation for
such position.
Another resignation is that of ex-
Governor Fifer, of Illinois. He will
retire from the Interstate Commerce
the LIST of January. There
are a good many rumors Of why this is
made necessary. Gov. Fifer says that
he wants to go back to his business at
home, and this is probably the true rea-
son, but there are those who assert that
the Interstate Commerce Commission
as now organized is strictly against the
railroads, and President Roosevelt
wants to reorganize it along a little less
stringent lines. That probably is not
true.
Senior Joaquin Walker Martinez, the
Minister from Chile to the United
States has just returned from a visit to
his home. Senior Martinez, who Is a
charming talker, in speaking Of his Gov
eminent says:
Our plan of Government differs con-
from that Of the United States
We do not have States exercising SOW
ereign powers such as yours. The CEN
trail Government does all the governing
in Chile. 1t is true that for political
convenience our country is divided into
Provinces and Departments. but the