The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1907-01-18
WASHINGTON LETTER.


could be conferred in the service and III
was awarded those alone who had won
distinction in the Army. Of late however
it has been little more than sinecure
and men by no means distinguished in
the service of the country haseEheld It. It
is intimated- in some quarters that the
Office has been abolished though, not so
much because it was an expensive super
fluffy but that the enemies Of General
Leonard Wood, who would have been
the next to succeed to it, have success
fully lobbied to have it effaced and thus
make impossible General Woods eleva-
ton to that rank. In no body of people,
unless one excerpts theatric stars, is there
such personal envy, animosity and jeal-
ousy as one finds in the Army, any Cen
eral Wood, who is not regular Army
man, but merely a doctor" as they
commonly say aud more especially as he.
enjoys the Presidents favor is in disfavor|
with an exclusive Army clique and
though his career has been successful it
has been attended with petty prosecutions
from fellow officers throughout. This
move against the Lieutenant GeneralshipI
is the final one against him, and while it.
is the opinion that the service is better
without the Office 1t is regretted outside of
Army circles that General Wood should
be deprived of this GROWING though
empty distinction.
~
A novel tariff bill was introduced this
week by Congressman DeArmond of
Missouri. 1t proposes that all goods
made in this country and protected by a
tariff Of thirty per cent or more shall
bear printed labels stating the extent to:
which they are protected by tariff. IT.
further provides that it shall be unlawful
except for the one who has purchased
such goods for actual use to remove the
label and that to do SO will be punishable ]
by fine not exceeding Eve Thousand
dollars. DeArmond says that this plan
would educate the people as to the precise
effect of the present tariff and that they
are entitled to such knowledge as they
pay the taxes. He insists that in no
other way could the people be so i'm |
pressively advised concerning the hard |
ships and inequalities of the present tariff.
-
The aged and infirm Senator Plat who |
has been absent in New York during the
holidays has again returned to Wash
ington and the United States Express
company whose president he is, has
again representative on the floor of
the Senate.
~
Senator Depew the colleague of Plat |
is spending the winter in Washington
and may be seen every day in his seat at
the Senate. His effort to appear natural
in the old time way is strenuous but no |
one is deceived. He appeared with Mrs |
Depew at the reception given by the |
Vice President to the Senate in which |
the President himself and all of the
notables took part. Mr.. Depew unlike |
his old manner stood about iguored. |
neglected and his great effort to be at
ease only emphasized how i'll at ease he |
really felt. He has grown very grey, not
only as to the little hair that is left him |
but also as to complexion and eyes aud
the lines Of his face which were once only |
lines of perpetual smile are now the
plain tracing of anxiety, chagrin and a
broken spirit.
Mrs. Depew also shows the effect of the |
falling off of esteem which the Senator
has suffered and like him she has grown
grey aud care worn. Her beauty which !
was considerable when she came here as
bride is further married by increasing
ieshiness and her manner is far less
assured since she is no longer so conf
dent of her position. 1t is said that she
is now returning the calls of the wives
of other officials in person while formerly
her exclusiveuess only allowed her to
visit those who were in the smart residen-
tial or White House set.
~
The Senate has not forgotten time
when the House made itpuli the chest.
nut out of the FIRE in a mileage grab act
aud at present declines to risk any
burned fingers on theproposal to increase
the salaries of members of Congress.
The legislative bin which was reported to
the Senate this week is sad dissppoint- |
meat to The members Of tbk lower Houss. !