Middletown transcript., 1907-09-14
WASHINGTON LETTER

WASHINGTON, D. c., September 9TH, 1907.
1.-THE President aud the Attorney.Gen-
eral are considerably exercised over
the reported determination of Judge
Landis, Of Chicago, to prosecute the
Chicago & Alton Railway for the illegal
granting of rebates to the Standard Oil
Company. for tile accepting Of which that
circle recently fined the Standard Oil
Company $29, 100000. The government
has long known that the Standard Com
pany was fragrant violator of the law
and ever since Mr.. Roosevelt became
President, at least, there has been
steady and consistent effort to secure evil
dence on which to base prosecution, but
the concern was SO rich, could employ
such able lawyers and its patronage was
so large and so much sought after by the
railways that it was impossible to secure
the evidence on which to base success
| full prosecution. Finally it was discov-
cred that the Alton had been granting re-
bates to the Standard but it was serious
question if evidence sufficient to convict
could be obtained. This evidence was Sc
cured only by promise of immunity to
the railroad based on its agreement to
turn states evidence. The prosecution
and the immense fines are well known.
II, however, Judge Lands persists in
prosecuting the Alton, despite the gov
ernment's promise of immunity, it will
be also impossible ever again to induce
railroad or other accomplice OF law
breaking trust or railway to help the gov
ernment out by turning states evidence
and in this way the judges propose course
will prove the greatest possible advantage
to those trusts which wish to violate the
law with impunity. 1t has been sug-
gested that the President may eyey decide
to exercise his pardoning power, in case
Judge Landis fines the Alton, in order
that the word of the government may not
be broken. For the present, the Presi-
dent and the Attorney-General are wait
ing TO hear from District Attorney Sims,
at Chicago, concerning the reasons which
actuate the Judge in his alleged purpose
to disregard the governments promise.
~
1t is reported in diplomatic circles that
the President is planning another move
in the interest Of universal peace. 1t is
lx,-,,,, - bo l;o n ~, hilton fo conclude hio
administration with state of worldwide
peace and it is learned from diplomatic
sources that Mr.. Roosevelt contemplates
calling the various foreign ambassadors
now in Washington together, as soon as
all shall have returned from their summer
vacations, to discuss the question Of what
more can be done to that end. 1t is
probable, too, that the President is not a
little concerned oyer the situation in Mo-
rocco, where the conditions are becoming
daily more grave with the always present
menace OF serious friction between Ger
many and France. 1t will be recalled
that the United States was represented at
the Algeciras conference at which the
present modus, under which Moroccan af-
fairs are being conducted, was concluded
and it is further fact that the American
Ambassador Harry White, acting under
immediate instructions of the President,
saved that conference from disastrous
ending and SO obviated the threatening
war between Germany and France.
When the Algeciras treaty was acted on
by the Senate that body adopted resolu.
ton declaring that this country assumed
no responsibilities for the carrying out OF
its provisions, but it is only natural
nevertheless, for the President to seek to
prevent any clash, and especially any.
thing SO deplorable as European war, as
a result of the provisions of that treaty.
~
The preparations for the Washington
Peace Conference, we're the representa-
tiyes OF Nicaragua, Salvador, Hunduras,
Guatamala and Costa Riea are to meet to
draw up the terms of a permanent peace,
are progressing satisfactorily, although
little can be made public regarding them,
at this stage. It is now expected that the
diplomats will meet in Washington early
in the winter and that, with the assistance
of their resident Washington ministers,
and with, no doubt, the kindly interest
and advice of the President, they will
conclude treaty which shall provide for
the arbitration OF all questions which can
| not be settled by the usual diplomatic ex-
changes.
~
Once more there has come a gentle lull
in the boiling Of the political kettle in
Washington, broken only occasionally by
the erratic fulminations of Richmond
Pearson Hobson, Congressman-elect, or
the pointless meanderings of one John
Wesley Gains, Congressman from Tennes-
see. The determination of Representa-
tive Burton Of Ohio to accept the nomina.
ton for mayor of Cleveland. against the
picturesque and eccentric Tom Johnson,
caused great deal of surprise here and
j especially when it became known that
) Mr.. Burton was acting on the advice of
the President and Secretary Taft. It is
3 believed that if Mr.. Burton looses to the
D ''S cent fare" Mayor, his prestige in Ohio
3 politics will be seriously injured, but il he
wins he will undoubtedly be Ohio's next
4 Cover lor and in 1911, when his term as
7 Governor will have expired, will succeed
2 Senator Dick III the upper house Of Con-
gress. This is the way in which the
2 Washington politicians have figured the
thing out, although it may be, as is not
IinfrequentIy the case, that those who live
in Ohio put a different construction on the
situation.
Remarkable progress is being made in
the excavation of the Panama Canal and
the reports for August show that one
fonkh of tho nntirn anl0unt nf nypayaIiot