Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1906-10-19
Washington
Letter.

Washington ID. o., October 6, 1906.
Nothing during the course of the
whole Cuban imbroglio has created
more interest and discussion than the
publication by the state department
OF the correspondence between presl-
dent Palma and consul general Stein
hart early In September over the
prospect OF American Intervention.
The correspondence shows that Palma,
even at that early stage of the game
was ready to throw up his hands and
admit the impossibility OF keeping
order in Cuba without the assistance
of the United States. The reply of
president Roosevelt through the state
department that Intervention would
only be attempted by this government
as last resort shows how closely the
administration stayed to the letter
and spirit of the Platt amendment.
The correspondence also shows that
president Palma lacked fortitude,
nerve, and was ready to desert the
ship long before this country was
convinced that he had exhausted all
methods of either compromising with
the rebels or putting them down sy
force.
Now that the United States has
stepped in, little doubt Is expressed
at the state department that satis-
factory arrangement will be reached.
The best class of Cubans realize that
this government is q true friend 10
the republic and while in all pro-
liability, the preponderence of Cuban
sentiment would be for immediate
annexation, the administration has
made it plain that Cuba must make
another trail, and if possible, es-
tablish her own government on a per-
manent and safe basis.
The selection of governor Magoon
of Panama as the tempoi airy 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. Governor
Magoon Will oversee the preparations
for the coming election 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 filing the
suits against the Standard Oil Com
pany is due primarily to the Cuban
crisis, the president not being will
ing to act in the absence of secretary
Taft, in whose judgment as lawyer
he has great confidence. 1t is known,
however, that everything is In readi-
ness for the filing of the suits as soon
as the plan of legal campaign has re.
ceived the approval of the president.
1t is not yet known whether the
prosecution fg inst the Standard Oil
Company, will be of civil or
criminal nature. 1t is believed that
there is ample material tor criminal
prosecution should such be deter
mined Cd, This is not the only
matter of wide spread public import
ance that is waiting the action ofEthe
department of justice. The attorneys
tor the department., who Investigated
the Ann Arbor Ice Trust case, are all
ready to report, and it is understood
that they have made out strong
case against both the railroads and
the ice combine.
The department is also busy pass
ing on great number of complaints
AS to alleged violations of the eight
honr labor law. These are coming in
from all points, and in view of the
sweeping nature of the presidents
recent order, it is probable that they
will all be fought to finish, and a
conviction of the defendants.
Speaking of eight hour laws, the
post Office department is confronted
with the same trouble in respect to
city letter carriers, but more especial
ly on complaint just received from
the railway mail clerks. The letter
nc rrio in ot oil nik 90 ho
country are hard worked body of
men, and while in many cases their
actual working hours are limited to
eight hours day, they are practical
ly on duty for much longer than that.
Tours of collection and delivery may
each cover a comparatively short time,
but the intervals during which they
are supposed to be off duty are fire.
quently too short to allow them even
to return from the post office to their
homes so that they are practically
continuously on duty for much more
than the eight hours prescribed by
law.
The case OF the railway mail clerks
is even moro serious because many
of their runs are considerably over
eight honrs and it is mauifestIy i'm
possible for them to quit a train in
mid career before their route is
finished. The post office department
has not yet given any decision in the
case of the ailSay mail clerks, but
1t is believed that some compromise