The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1906-05-18
WASHINGTON.
Legislative and Gem
eral Topics from
the Capital.
Nav IL, 100 .

w al anu OIdlt udN q DOl IL ldhOh
it upon themselves to announce
to Panama that they will tolerate
no revolutions or election disturb
anceS which "might hinder the
work on the canal" 1t might
''be took jOcOse, as we say in La
redo" were Panama to reply that
she thought that she would have
time to engineer several revolu-
tions and elections before the
United States started building
the canal. But of course the
work of canal digging is con-
structively proceeding, even
though the actual construction
is not being done. This is some
thing after the fashion in which
Congress can vote itself real mile
age on the strength of con-
Strnctive recess. Anyhow Gov,
ernoI MagOon has been notified
that the United States is ready
to step in at any stage of the
proceedings and spank Panama
into line if she does not behave
and hold her coming election
peaceably. The situation is in
teresting. 1t will at least show
whether peaceable election can
be held in South America. Some
people hold that it cannot. But
there is no real evidence against
it except the lack of a precedent.
Possibly with the United States
standing by as a policeman, the
vote will be deposited in absolute
quiet.
1t recalls d little incident in
Arlington some years back
when the Associated Press re-
celved a dispatch one afternoon
saying that revolution had
broken out in Argentina. One
of the energetic young men of
the Associated Press was sent up
to the legation to know if the
minister from there could add
anything to the rather meager
dispatch. The minister read th
missive, looked puzzled and said
politely.
''lt is to me all news. know
of no revolution. | have heard
nothing"
Then his brow cleared as lie
glanced at the calendar over his
desk. "Ah, yes" he said, Il
know. 1t is not re revolution.
1t is re annual election. Zey
always fight at re election"
More of less harmless bun
come is being exploited over
the Rate Bill The SpoOner
Amendment has been offered to
cut down legal delays and Sena
tor McCum Der has come to the
front with an amendment to
put both fines and imprisonment
into the bill for the punishment
of relating. Both of these pro-
visions are very salutary, that is
they would he good things if they
ever could be made to work.
Both provisions are said to have
the endorsement of the Presi
dent, which they doubtless would
have. But there is a photo-lith-
ogra"hic picture hanging now in
the national art gallery of a trust
magnaie undergoing ID Jail sen
tence, and the chances are that
the Spooner Amendment will not
get into the final bill and if il
does thar it will not work.
This amendment is to the effect
that where the rate designated
by tie Inter State Commerce
Commission is brought before the
courts. the railroads shall paw
into the courts the difference be.
tween the rate complained of and
the rate actually charged with
SIX per cent. int rest for the de i.
tentlon of the money and in case
the decision goes against the
railroad, the whole amount shall
be paid to the shipper so that he
Will not be a sufferer by the pro-
longing of the litigation. This
or course, would be an incentive
to the companies to get through
with any Legitimate appeal and as
soon as possible.
There is further provision
that 1t the difference in rate is
paid back to the shipper, it shall
go to the actual shipper of the
goods. 1t is a common practice
IN farming for the price of grain
PAID oy an elevator company TO
be based on the freight rate TO
some central point. In case
like this, where there was a re a..
payment by a railroad, the differ
ence IN freight charges would 90
TO the farmer so that he would
be the gamer and not the elevator
company that was holding the
grain
The proposal for Jail sentence
on rebaters is very fierce and
drastic on the face Of it. There
is provision for fine amounting
to three times the amount of the