The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1907-01-11
OUR WASHINGTON LETT fK.


Mr.. EDIFoR:-Of immense interest to
tbs whole ssuth are the charges that have
been died with the Post Office Depart
ment by Rep. Livingston "f Georgia and
HArvie Jordan OF the Southern Cotton
Growers Association. alleging gross
fraud on the part Of the Now York Cot
tou Exchange aud asking that the ex-
change be excl uded from the mail like
any common patent medicine swindler or
green goods man. The charges declare
that the New Y.,rk Cotton Exchange has
degeuersted from legitimate business
institut ion into 4 common gambling con-
Germ to the Immense detrimeut Of the cot
charged that the quotations on the ex
change rule frem IS to s. per bale lower
than the actual price Of cotton in the
southern fields and that the quotations
sent out from Now York every day are
~ rule sixteen points lower than the
actual price OF the corresponding grades
Of cotton. The charges Of fraud have
bren turned ever to Judge Goodwin ct
the legal dspartn,e ut, aud inspectors will
be ,5ut On the case with orders to inyesti
gate il on its merits aud see whether or
not . fraud order should be issued
against tue exchange declaring it from
the use Of the mail in transaction Of bus
mess.
A warm fight 10 raging in the Treasury
Depa rtment over the proposed establish
ment Of . new sub treasury somewhere in
the south. The location OF this institu
ton lies nomiaally With the Secretary OF
the Treasury. but ~ a matter of fact he
usually leaves the selection partially to
business men from the section to be serr
cd by the sub treasury and principally to
the delegations in Congress having an in
tsrest 10 the district affected II the pres
ent case there is = hot fight on between
atlanta. Birmingham. Memphis. Tenn
jackson. Miss, and several less impor
txnt towns. Secretary Shaw has ne,
given any direct indication Of what his
tiual choice will be. but Congressman
Livingston has made desperate fight in
favor of Atlanta. with Birmingham as a
second choice. Representatives Of the
Memphis Interests have also been after
the Secretary, but it is believed if the
matter is settled purely upon its geograph.
ical merits that Atlanta will be selected
as best serving the inter ests Of the coun-
try affected.
Quite an important holiday contribu.
ton was made to Warrington this week
by Andrew Carnegie, who has anneunc
ed his intention Of donating $3.50, 900, for
permanent home for the Bureau Of
American Republics. The south is, per.
haps, more interested in the work Of this
bureau than any other section OF the
country. because owing to its location it
is better fitted to benefit by any expan-
sisn Of trade betwee the United States
and South America Many people even
in Washington do not realize exactly the
scope and Importance of this bureau. II
is not exactly government institution
but is international in its scope being
kept up jointly by the United States and
the various republics of South America
all of which are members of the Pan.
American Confere nee. 1t prints reports
on trade relations and trade openings
both in this country and in South Amer.
ica. these reports being published in
Spanish. English aud Portugese) an
swers oil sorts of trade queries, aud 10
generally useful in maintaining friendly,
political and commercial relations be-
tween this country and the republics On
the south.
The plan for = new building was devel-
oned to the point OF getting $500, 600
appropriated from Congress. while the
other republics interested contributed
sizes. zoe. on the basis of their respective
population. This WAS scarcely as much
money ~ the Bureau needed but with
the generous contribution OF Mr. Carne.
gle, which Was made after consultation
with the President and Secretary Root,
it will be possible to erect = magRifcen,
home for the Bureau with administtativ e
offices. reading rooms and . library to
house tho Bureaus unique collection Of
books. which now amounts to over IL, 900
volumes.
There is every prospect that the Inter-
state Commerce Commission will recon-
mend to Congress at the present session
the passage OF drastic railroad legislation
for the protection Of passen gers from
such collions rs have shocked the coun
try for years past. but especially during
the last few months. The Commission
was given autho rity by Congress to ins.i
tuts thorough inquiry into the biz OK
signal system la>t June. This inquiry
was commenced but was given great
impetus by the recent disastrous accidents,
two on the Southern, two on the B s. O.
one in Nebraska and one in Michigan, all
coming within the space of q few weeks.
The Commission has taken advantage OF
its nearness OF Warrington to make a
special study OF the railroad collision at
Terra Gotta with a view to finding out
whether the much Wanted block system
is really as perfect in theory AS the rail
roads would have the public believe, and
whether the carele ssness Ct tho engineers
is not really as reflex result OF their being
over driven by the railroad companies