The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-07-09
GOVERNMENT MEAT
INSPECTORS PLENTIFUL

the facts connected with the eXiS-
tence of the alleged powder trust.
During the session just closed, con-
gress has been bombarded with cir
culars calling attention to the alleged
existence of the trust. and to the fact
that the government is paying nearly
twice as much for its powder as it
costs to manufacture a like grade at
the small government factory at In
dian head. These circulars more than
intimate that certain officers of the
United States navy are the patentees
of the process under which smokeless
powder is made, and that the patent
rights should by law be vested in the
U. S. government and not in the trust.
1t is learned upon excellent author
ity that the administration has taken
the preliminary steps towards secur-
ing the necessary evidence upon which
to base legal proceedings. If 1.-THE
of the statement made in the circu-
lars SO generally distributed proves
to be we'll founded it is probable that
another U. S. senator will be mixed
up in federal legal tangle, for it is
we'll known that Col. Dupont, of Del
aware, who has at last succeeded in
reaching seat in the senate, is the
head and front of the biggest powder
plant in the country.
But whether or not the investiga-
ton results in the discovery of the
existence of an unlawful trust, it is
certain that the price of smokeless
powder will take decided drop. and
the passage of the bill to remove the
tax on denaturated alcohol will be
prime cause. Alcohol is one of the
component parts of chief value" in
the manufacture of smokeless powder.
Secretary Root, has practically COM
pleted the plans for the reorganization
of the consular service and by the
time he returns from his South Am
erican trip, the new regime will be
in full working order. One of the
most radical charges decided upon in
the plan or reorganization is the de-
termination to refrain in future from
sending "as representative of the
country of his adoption" a naturalized
citizen back to the place of his birth.
In the past, innumerable complica-
tons have arisen because it was
deemed wise or eXpedient to send a
German born American back to Ger
many, or an Italian back to Italy as a
consul. Such selections and appoint
ments while occasionally beneficial
have, in nine cases out of ten, re-
suited in great detriment of American
commerce and it is to benefit Ameri-
can commercial interests that con-
suls are sent abroad.
Secretary Root expects great re-
suits from the reorganization of the
consular service. The utmost care is
being taken to choose appointees who
will appreciate that they were APP
pointed for the purpose of advancing
the interests not of themselves but of
their country. In selecting the four
consuls at large, or inspectors of
consulates" the secretary was particu-
larry fortunate in obtaining the serv-
ices of men qualified in every respect
for the important duties imposed upon
them, and so far as can be judged, at
present he had also secured score
or more men for consular places of ex-
ceptional merit.
In this connection, it is worth of
note, that in transferring the duty of
collating and publishing consular re-
pots from the state department to the
department of commerce and labor, a
sSAy WAoS AONC wdS u1duS. udL luOSI
value Of government publications
known as the Daily Consular Reports,
is published under the direct SUPER
vision of Major John NJ. Carson and
Mr.. E. j. Gibson. The former was for
a quarter of century the Washington
correspondent of the Philadelphia
Ledger, and he was for several years,
during that period, clerk to the COM
mfttee on ways and means, during the
incumbency of Pig Iron" Kelly and
William Mckinley as chairman. Mr..
Gibson was for long period the
Washington correspondent of the
Philadelphia Press. Both gentlemen
are thoroughly equipped newspaper
men and there are none better posted
on the foreign commercial relations
of this country than Messrs. Carson
and Gibson. The daily consular re-
ports are recognized by manufacture
ers and exporters as of the greatest
value and they will continue to in
crease in importance with the IRE
organized" consular service behind
them.