Morris tribune., 1907-07-27
published report that Japanese spies
xUnrn ronnrflu dnfonfod dro ru{sane r,laxe

published report that Japanese spies
were recently detected drawing plans
Of naval ordnance in the gun factory
there. they admit an apparent eager
ness on the part of representatives of
the Japanese government for informa-
ton regarding work on American ships
and military and naval matters in gen
eral. This, of course, applies with
more or less force to all the leading
nations, which send out their military
and naval attaches for this express
purpose.
Federal Versus State Authority.
In view of the existing confusion,
with prospect Of friction between the
federal and state authorities regarding
the enforcement Of the two cent rate
bills passed by various state legisla-
lures. much interest attaches to the
remarks of Commissioner Harlan of
the interstate commerce commission
to the effect that while a state rate
sis naturally and properly entitled to
respectful consideration 1t has no
greater sanctfty when applied to inter-
state traffic than a rate established by
railroad company" He says that
the federal rate making body would
not hesitate to disregard it if unjust.
The Official Hartman Report.
The report of the interstate COM
MERGE commission concerning the finan-
cial operations of e. III. Hartman, which
has now been transmitted to the presi-
dent and published, urges legislation
to break up the great transportation
combination created by Hartman, ex-
tending from the Atlantic coast of
America to Asia and including two
virtually parallel railroad systems and
several steamship lines. It asserts
that If this railroad situation is per-
mitted to continue competition in the
transportation business must inevita-
bly, disappear and makes three distinct
recommendations:
First, railroad should be confined
to the business of transportation and
be barred from investing in securities
Of other transportation companies, ex-
cept as these are feeders Or provide
through routes
Second, that it is contrary to public
policy and Illegal for railroads to con-
troll competing lines.
Third, that the issuance of securities
should be regulated
1t is asserted that the various issues
of stocks and bonds for Harriman's
operations have vastly enriched the
firm Of Kuhn, Loeb & Co. Special at
tention is given to the Alton deal in
which Hartman Is said to have In
jected $62, 100000 Of water. The re-
port admits, however, that the Harri-
man policy has been one Of steady
betterment for the various properties
brought under his control, large sums
being expended In carrying out en-
cheering works and keeping up equip
ment
President Denies Fleet Order.
Besides giving to the public formal
statement regarding the firm friend
ship and good understanding existing
between the United States and Japan
after the interview with Admiral va
mulnoto President Roosevelt author
ized the statement that at no time had
there been any order to the navy de-
p2 TT ut to send the battleship fleet
to the Pacific. He said that the
scheme was simply to find out in what
particulars our battleships may be de-
fcctive; that 1t was intended that
thy should leave on cruise early in
thc fall; that they might go to the Pa
cific, but that their destination had
not yet been determined, and finally
that the plans for this maneuver were
started before the discussion about the
Japanese situation arose.
Japan has denied that the Japanese
citizens arrested for making sketches
at Fort Rosecrans, Cal, had any Of
fetal connection with the home gov
eminent.