Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1906-05-18
WASHINGTON LETTER
From our Regular correspondents.

From our Regular correspondent
Washington. ID. g May 12.-Onc-
more the Big Stick is in evidence. The
Secret aries of War and State have both
taken 1t upon themselves to announce
10 Panama that they will tolerate no
revolutions nor election disturbances
which might hinder ;he work on the
canal" II might be took j ,cose, at
we say in Laredo were Panama to re-
ply that she thought sue would have
time 10 engineer several revolutions
and elections before the United States
started building the canal But of
course the work of canal digging ID
"c0nstructively" proceeding even though
the actual construction is not being
done. This is something after the
fashion III which Congress can vote
Itself real mileage on the strength of IA
constructive recess. Anyhow Govern
or MagOon has been motif fed that the
United States is ready to step in at AL y
stage OF the proceedings and spank
PANAMA into line if she docs not be
have and hold her coming election
peacably. The situation is Interesting
1t Will at least show whether peac
able election can be held in South
American. Some people hold that it
cannot. But there is no real evidence
against 1t except the lack of n prece
dent. Possibly with the United States
standing by as policeman, the vote will
be deposited in absolute quiet
1t recalls little incident in Wash
ingtOn some years back when the Asso-
ciated Press received dispatch one
afternoon saying that a revolution had
broken out in Argentinea. One of the
energetic young men of the A. z. was
sent up to the Legation to know if the
Minister could add anything to the
rather meagre dispatch. The minister
read the missive looked puzzled and
said politely.
1T is to me all news. l know of no
| revolution, | have heard nothing"
Then his brow cleared as he glanced
at the calendar over his desk. ''Ah,
yes, y be said, II know. 1t is not re
revolution. lie is ~ annual election.
10y always fight at Re election
More of more or less harmless bun
combs is being exploited over the rate
bill. The SpOoner amendment has
been offered to cut down legal idelays
and Senator McCumber has come TO
the front with al amendment to put
both lines and Imprisonment into the
bill for the punishment of Relating.
Both of these provisions are very salu-
tary, that is they would be good things
If they ever could be made to work.
Both provisions are said to have the
endorsement of the President, which
they doubtless would have. But there
Is fine interchangeable picture
banging now in the national art gal
lery OF trust magnate undergoing a
Jail sentence and the chances are that
the Spooner Amendment will not get
into the final bill and if It does that it
will not work
Inc amendment is to the effect that
where The rate designated by the Inter
state Commerce Commission is brought
Uef0re the courts, The railroads shall
pay into the courts the difference be
tween the rate complained of and the
rate actually charged with six per cent
interest for the detention of the money
and In case the decision goes against
the railroad, the whole amount shall
DE paid to the shipper so that he will
not De sufferer by the prolOnging of
Tue litigation. This of course would
be an Incentive to the companies to
get through with any legitimate appeal
as soon rs possible
There is further provision that If
the difference in rate is paid back to
The shipper. it shall 20 to the actual
shipper OF the goods. 1t Is common
practice in farming for the price of
grain paid by an elevator company to
be based on the freight rate TO some
central point. In case like this.
where there was repayment by a rail
road, the difference in freight charges
would go to the farmer so that he
would be the galner and not the eleva
tor company that was holding the
grain.
The proposal for a Jail sentence on re-
Oaters is very fierce and drastic on the |
face of it. There is provision for fl ne !
to three times the amount |
d the rebates paid and a Jail sentence
not less than one nor more than five
years. Evidence of the collection of
'ebates is to extend back six years
rom the time of institutlng the &C
lon, provided of course that the law
8 not retroactive aud does not apply to
'tfences perpeJrated before the enact
nent of tue law. However, there is
title prospect of either provision ever
hiding it's way into the completed bill
nd if it does. there will be way
ound to dOdg, it. Sending a sure
nough rebater to Jail would be too |
ad, for rebaters are the real people. |
The Secretary of War is preparing a {
notification of the Philippine Tariff
'lll. 1t will be recollected that the |
'ayne bill from which so much was I
oped, was pigeonholed by the commit 6
ee which refused to make any report l
Il it to the Senate either adverse or 6
therwise. Now the Secretary of War c
framing a compromise measure which /
lay stand some chance of hearing. i
will reduce the tariff of Philippine c
&c, sugar and tobacco coming into t
lis country to 50 per cent. instead of I
per cent. of the Dingley rates while '
other products of the islands there C
lall be no duty. This is more of an | f
iucational measure than it is one of U
al relief for the islands. II 1t passes. O
will do some good of course. But it Z
Ill be chiefly valuable in showing that C
lie nifty per cent. reduction will have n
worse effect on the protected in
lstrleS OF this country than did the 4
per cent. reduction now in force v
hlch 1t will be remembered was fought I
gorously at its inception by the pro v
cted interests. This couDtry has not t,
ffered by the removal of the duty on "
awailan Sugar nor of that on Porto '
lean sugar and tobacco nor by the O
per cent reduction Oh sugar and to-
eco from Cuba. But it probably u
i'll take some time to educate congress al
, to the idea of entire free trade with IL
e Philippines.
WaYnesb0r0 r. +. D. No. 2 fl