Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1905-05-11

ont Of the war with Spain. There never /
was greater honor paid to any man in
this country. and it took a big man in
teIlectually TO Withstand that kind Of
applause from the people One OF the
most conspicuous figures In two wars,
Governor Of his State, and the best Con-
sul-General over sent TO Cuba, he has |
left heritage for his children inhis good |
name that any man may envy. What |
ever he did he did with all his might, and |
be died working too hard for the success
Of the jamestown Exposition, of which |
be was the directing head.
have often heard the dear Generaltell
good stories, but the best one was on
himself. He said that shortly after he
was made a major-gsneral OF volunteers
in the Spanish-American war he met an
old trooper who rode with him around
Richmond in the wild days OF 81 to '65,
aud after looking steadily at hisbrilliant
new uniform Of blue, the old trooper said
to him: General, hope l win die be
fore you do" "why, my dear iellow?"
said the General. because" answered
be, II want TO be over there when you
come in with that blue uniform on and
hear what old Jubal Early win say"
He was loved here and l know he win
be loved over there. ReQuiescat In pace.
The selection OF ex-Governor Atkinson,
OF West Virginia, by President Roosevelt
for a seat on the bench Of the Court of
Claims, viii increase the dissatisfaction
with the Presidents attitude toward
these important appointments. IL has
been hard enough to understand why
Roosevelt, the civil service reformer,
should have thrown his principles to the
wind in dispensing army patronage. But
his lack Of discretion in dealing with the
most important judicial positions il GER
tain to hurt him, particularly with the
legal profession. The scandal of Judge
KOhlsaat's appointment in Chicrgo was
bad enough. There Mr.. Roosevelt's sur
render to the Illinois Senators and to his
friend, ii. III. Kohlsaat, was perfectly
plain. In the case of Atkinson it seems
equally apparent that he turned the Office
over TO Senator Scott as political spoils.
From Mr.. Atkinson's record / submit
that he is in no way fit for the place be-
slowed upon him. Moreover the Court
OF Claims is at this time particularly in
need Of strengthening. Had Mr. MeKin-
ley, or even Mr.. Harrison, made an ap-
pointment Of this kind, it would haveex-
cited surprise and distrust. Coming from
Theodore Roosevelt, it must make the
average lawyer rub his eyes in amaze
ment.
e
One point that has been persistently
made during the hearings before the SEN
ate Committee on Interstate Commerce
is that the present Interstate Commerce
Commission has not attempted to enforce
prevent railroads from allowing discrim-
nations to favored shippers. Had this
been done, admit the railroad presidents
who have been heard, there would be no
public clamor about rebates and discrim-
nations.
why has not the Commission done
this II they had the power p is a question
frequently asked by the man in the treet.
The answer by politicians of the Re
publican stripe is that it would not have
been good politics, and so reveals the
true inwardness of this whole agitation,
so far as the Republican members ofCon-
gress go. They want a big club with
which to beat the railroads for campaign
contributions. A threat to reduce freight
rates unless the railroads open their
dough bags is the best possible one in
sight. So the Commission has been howl
ing for power to regulate rates as part OF
the programme. That's the extent of
Republican sincerity in this whole bust
ness. The railroads assert that they are
obeying the law, both in letter and spirit,
and therefore are not proper subjects for
this sort OF treatment, and refuse to be
held up in this fashion. So they are fight
ing the Esch- Townsend bill, which was
devised and passed for this purpose. as
well as an incidentalsop to public clamor
Ii is the general belief here, however,
that neither the Esch- Townsend bill nor
any other drastic legislation like it, which
would give the Commission such club
as they wish for, willreach the President.
It's only scarecrow.
Effective legislation viii only be secured
when the Dem ocrats again get controlof
Congress, and indications are bright that
this may soon come about. The Repub-
lican blur will be called by the people
themselves at the next Congressionalel cleo
ton. CHARLES A. EDwARDR.
Il