The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1907-03-29
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.


jille in Honduras, either to protect
American property, or, as is more likely,
to prevent any foreign government TAX
ing similar step. The war between
Honduras and Nicaragua is of no great
interest to the outside world. 1t has
something to do with boundry line and
that is about all that anyone has gathered
of it. But there have been threats of
looting, prompted doubtless by Interested
governments abroad and this government,
in its role of elder brother to the repub-
lies of the south, is expected to play po
liceman. 1t was reported that a promise
had been given by the Nicaraguan gov
eminent to turn over the first importa Mt
CITY captured in Honduras to loot and
pillage by the soldierY. This was so ut
terly at variance with the modern prac-
tice of civilized nations that Minister
Corea of Nicaragua fastened to the State
Department to contradict it as soon as it
was started. The explanation of the
story was simple. 1t might have come
either from the one foreign government
that is always looking for an excuse to
land forces on South American soil to
see how far we will go in making good
the Monroe Doctrine, or it might have
been circulated by any two or three con-
tinental powers having large commercial
interests in Honduras, and wanting to
sec the place we'll policed by the United
States without the expense OF doing it
themselves.
There is really no thought of complica-
tions following the Honduras Nicaragua
en.broglio. 1t is generally understood
that AS soon as one side Or the other of
them will be accepted. 1t is thought that
this country will manage to have Mexico
selected as the arbitrator as it will re
lieve the monotony of America int rven-
ton somewhat, and will be equally if not
more acceptable to the waring states and
to the rest of South America. 1t will be
good training for Mexico, and she is not
likely to be accused of Interior motives
by any outside parties.
Anybody who has spleen to vent on the
railroad world is he rcby invited to walk
up and vent it on Mr. Hartman. He ap-
pea rs to be having hard time, and the
world VIGOROUSLY likes to kick a man
when be is down. To be sure Mr.. Har
riman if he is down has many million
dollars and several profitable railroads
in his pocket. But the general idea seems
to be that he is due for the iercest prose-
cutien the government can frame up.
Senator Cullum on coming from the
White House the other day, said that if
there was law capable of doing it, Mr..
Hartman ought to be put behind the
bars for term Of years. Gov. Deneen
unquestionably came to the White House
at the invitation of the President to see
what could be done by the state of ILL
nois in the way of a state prosecution Of
Hartman for his loot;ng of the Alton.
There are two special attorneys for the
Interstate Commerce Commission now
working on the case of the Southern
Pacific and the Union Pacific, and they
will make a report to the Interstate Com
merce Commission by whom it will be
transmitted to the Department of Justice,
for action if possible under the Sherman
Antitrust law. Indeed it is said that
there is fair chance of convicting Har-
riman under the Sherman Act, the case
Of his two railroads being almost the
duplicate of the Northern Securities
case.
The railroads as whole are still very
nervous of action by the Administration
The fact that Secretary Cortelyou has re-
fused to accept any m ore railroad bonds
as security for bank circulation is thought
to be possible forerunner Of action de-
handing the withdrawal of bonds already
SO deposited. The mere fact that Mr.
Cortelyou has said he has no such inten-
tion is not received with the assurance
such a positive statement would seem to
warrant.
A number of the railroads have taken a
course that is little puzzling. The Erie
for instance has issued peremptory orders
to discontinue work on about $4,000
worth of Improvements. This will mean
can collation. of orders and THROWN G
thousands of men out of work. One of
the big Southern lines has taken the same
step, though its work is not quite so ex-
tensive. Many of the other roads have
suspended work on extensions and are
doing only the most pressing work of
maintenance. The roads taking this &C
ton allege that it is almost impossible in
the present state of public feeling to get
money to carry on their work. This
doubtless is true in measure, but there
is little doubt also that the situation is
not so desperate as the roads make out.
1t looks more like an organized attempt
to start national depression and accom-
plish by this sort Of a threat what the
furry in the stock market did not accom-
plish, namely break in the Presdent's
policy of railroad legislation intended
to produce really honest railroads.
Much practical work is being done by
the Forest Service in aid Of tree planting
in the middle west. The Service has
been anxious all along to disseminate as
mu Oh information as possible about tree
planting and to encourage the work.
Many important works on tree culture,
treating in Diet all of the different variet-