Middletown transcript., 1906-10-13
WASHINGTON LETTER
WAsHINaroN. D. a. Oct. f,tb. leo

WASHINGTON, D. O., Oct 9Th, 1906.
! NOTHING during the course of th
~ whole Cuban imbroglio has create
more interest and discussion than th
publication by the State Department 9
the correspondence between Presiden
Palma and Consul General Stelnhar
early in September over tile prospect Q
American Intervention. The correspon
dence shows that Palma, even at tha
early stage of the game, was ready t,
throw up his hands and admit the impos
sibility OF keeping order in Cuba withou
the assistance of the United States. Tht
reply OF President Roosevelt through
the State Department that intervention
would only be attempted by this govern
ment as last resort shows how closely
the administration stayed to the letter
and spirit of the Platt amendment
The correspondence also show that Presi.
dent Palma lacked foFtitude, nerve, and
was ready TO desert the ship long before
this country was convinced that he had
exhausted all methods of either compris-
i:ig with the rebels Of putting them down
by force. Now that the United States
has stepped in little doubt is expressed
at the State Department that factory ar
rangement will be reached. The best
class OF Cubans realize that this govern
ment is true friend to the republic, and
while in all probability, the preponder-
ence of Cuban sentiment would be for
annexation, the administra-
tion has made it plain that Cuba must
make another trial and if possible, estab-
lish her own. wn.government on permanent
and safe basis. The selection OF Cover
nor Magoon Of Panama as the temporary
governor of Cuba was reached only at the
last moment and is said to be because of
his familiarity with Cuban laws reached
during his term in the War Department
in connection with the Bureau Of Insular
affairs. Governor Magoon will oversee the
for the coming elections in
the island, and there is no question that
they will be held under strict supervision
such as will preclude the possibility Of
fraud and satisfy both factions of the
Cuban public that they are being given
square deal from the top of the pack.
~
1t is stated at the Department Of Justice
that the delay in filling the suits against
The Standard Oil Company is due pri-
narily to the Cuban crisis, the President
not being willing to act in the absence of
Secretary Taft in whose judgement as
awyer he has great confidence. It is
known, however, that everything is in
readiness for the filing Of the suits as
'oon as the plan of legal campaign has re-
,eived the approval Of the President. 1t
8 not yet known whether the prosecution
against the Standard Oil Co., will be Of a
,ivil or criminal nature. 1t is believed
hat there is ample material for Grim
nal prosecution should such be deter
mined on. This is not the only matter
II spread public Importance that is
waiting the action of the department OF
Justice. The Attorneys for the Depart
nent, who investigated the Ann Arbor
ce Trust case, are all ready to report,
md it is understood that they have made
,ut strong case against both the railroads
md the ice combine. The Department is
4lways busy passing on great number of
as to alleged violations OF the
light hour labor law These are coming
n from all points, aud in view OF the
weeping nature of the Presidents recent
rider, it is probable that they will all be
ought to finish, and finish can have
,ut one result, the conviction of the de-
endents.
Speaking of eight hour laws, the Post
'ffice Department is confronted with the
anne trouble in respect to city letter
arriers, but more especially on COM
,laint just received from the railway mail
Jerks. The letter carriers in almost all
titles of the country are hard worked |
,ody of men, and while in many cases
heir actual working hours are limited to
iglt hours day, they are practically on
luty much longer than that. Tours of
and delivery may each cover a
short time, but the inter-
ais during which they are supposed TO
,e off duty are frequently too short to
llow them even to return from the post
flee to their homes, SO that they are
Practically continuously on duty for
Duch more than the eight hours pre-
cribed by Law.
Tie case of the railway mail clerks is
ven more serions because many OF their |
uns are considerably over eight hours
nd it is manifestly impossible for them |
0 quit train in mid career before their
onte is finished. The Port Office De-
artmens has not yet given any decision
i the case of the railway mail clerks,
ut it is believed that some compromise
ill have to be reached whereby clerk
I'LL be given credit for all tue time over
ieht hours consumed in given rur, and
is period OF duty will be reduced SO as
, bring it within 48 hours per week re-
ardless Of the time that he may be on
uty at a single stretch.
The appointment-of a judge in District
Columbia Court is not often a matter
outside interest, but there is consid-
able interest attached to the removal .
i the President this week Of Assistant
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