The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1905-06-02
WASHINGTON LETTER.

In the estimation of many keen observ-
ers of public affairs there has not been SO
interesting political situation as that
which exists at the present time since the
close of the Civil War. Two issues of the
greatest moment will confront the Fifty
ninth Congress when it begins its extra
ordinary session next October and the
discussion of these subjects, which will
go on in communities from now until
and after Congress meets, will have the
most important bearing on both issues.
~
Each of these issues has been outlined
by the President. The first is, briefly,
Ought the people, through their author
lied representatives to assert their rights
over the railways of the countries, which
President Roosevelt has declared to be the
only important highways of the nation
The argument of President Roosevelt is
that the time has come when the people
must assert their title or it is liable to
become extinct, and to this end he has
asked Congress to delegate to the Inter
State Commerce Commission the power
to fix a maximum rate wherever the
Commission, after due investigation, shall
find that railroad is overcharging the
people, such rate as is fixed by the Com
mission to be subject to revision by the
courts.
~
The second of these issues is, Shall the
Government raise funds to meet its con-
stantly increasing expenses by increasing
the direct taxes on the people, as, for
instance, by placing tax on tea, coffee,
etc., or shall it increase its revenues by
shaving little off the tariff schedules SO
that little more merchandise, on which
a duty must be paid, will be imported !?
The President believes the latter to be
the proper course and has said that
moderate reduction of the tariff is imper-
alive if all Americans are to enjoy the
blessings of the square deal.
~
OF course the interested parties in both
instances are violent in their opposition
to the President. The railways declare
that the Government shall not extend its
control over their affairs and the highly
protected industries are raving about the
outrage to American Labor on the part of
those who want the tariff reduced. Incl
dentally, the President remarks that he
is confident that the American people
will appreciate that it is the trusts which
are perpetrating the outrage on American
workingmen by charging the domestic
consumer from twice to thrice what the
product of their labor is worth, while
selling it at reasonable price to
foreigners"
~
There is to be nothing half hearted
about the opposition of the railroads.
Reports have reached Washington to the
effect that they have organized two
monster syndicates for the purpose Of
persuading the people that the federal
control or railways should not be extend
ed-''a campaign of education" they are
pleased to call it-and tons of literature
are being distributed and thousands Of
newspapers supplied with anti-rate legis-
lation articles free of charge, while 1t IS
probable that advertising arrangements
will be affected on more liberal basis
this year than ever before.
~
OF course the President can accomplish
nothing in the direction of either reform
if he has not the people behind him. If
they stand by him on both issues there is
nothing within reason which he may not
accomplish So that, after all, it comes
right back to the people themselves and
they must decide what the course of
Congress shall be.
~
The stand patters claim to find great
comfort in the declaration of the Ohio
platform that mo step should be taken
which may imperil or threaten our good
umes. All pfouuCSis hiuSe S'on" "a '"'i
together" but in the light of some pre-
vious utterances of the Ohio Republicans
it is generally regarded that the tariff
announcement in this years platform is
conservative. If, in the estimation OF the
president proper readjustment of the ex-
listing schedules would not Imperial or
threaten our good times" he could rec
ommend in the most urgent terms such
reimbursement and still stand squarely on
the Ohio platform.
~
A good many people who have been
deeply interested in the project to have
the Navy Department maintain the train
ing ship Relief as hospital ship, to