Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-04-29
HEARD IN PASSING.

Secretary Taft refused to confer with steam shovel men on the Pan- ana canal unless they withdrew their demand for more pay was not settled at once.-Middletown Press.
 Senator Penrose of Pennsylvania called on President Roosevelt, Thurs day, probably to assure the presi- dent personally that he didn't know a thing about that rich mems con- spiracy. By the way it has not yet been established that some one wasn't "joshing" Loeb with that story.-New London Day.
 An auto cab war between three companies, with low fares conse- quent and taximeters thrown in, might divert New York's thoughts from the prevailing subway inef- 'ficiency. There is room, however, for the fear that present promise of such conflict has the evanescent quality of the April shower. Com bination is easier than cutting off the spoils.-New York World. New bridges which President Mel len has been rebuilding over the Housatonic, Connecticut and Mantle rivers are now almost ready for use. They have cost pot of money, but they will enable the company to add 20 per cent to its train loads without increasing the cost of operation. The New Haven roads investments in bridge construction will yield great dividend.-Bridgeport Times.
 It is announced from Washington that Secretary Taft will be a candi- date for the presidential nomination and that he is in the fight to stay. At the same time he will not give up his Philippine trip, to open the as- sembly at Manila, nor will he stump Ohio. and the president has not asked him to do either of these things. He will in no wise allow politics to interfere with his duties. bridgeport Standard.
 Before the opening of the excur- sion season on the sound, the lessons of the Larchmont disaster should be rehearsed anew. It is essential that each passenger boat be manned by brave, trustworthy, capable men and that they be we'll trained in boat and fire drills. Whatever can be done to make a crew more likely to save lives in time of emergency, should be done. The men on the Larchmont were wholly incompetent. An sonia Sentinel.
 Although more than a year has elapsed since the San Francisco earthquake and fire, over 10000 refugees are still living in the relief camps. Most of these are foreigners, however-Mexican peons and others of such an unenterprising class that they probably will remain in the camps until compelled to leave. The relief committee has virtually con- pleted its work, and soon will be dis charged from its responsible task, which has included the work of min istering to over 100000 persons who were left homeless, and the handling of funds amounting to about $S,- 100000, collected from nearly every hamlet in the land.-Springfield Union.
 It is much more easy to believe that the hand of the fanatic, rather than natural and mysterious causes. have been responsible for six serious fires at Toulon. the French naval center. during the past few months. Providence is hardly as implacable as that and We know from practical evidence how far the French radi- cal will go in his hatred of military expenditure. In this instance he has plainly gone too far and has driven the great neutral masses of the French people into outspoken SUD- port of reaction and condign punish ment of a series of fiendish crimes. The hand of all organized society is against the assassin and firebug. whatever his party label.-New Brit ain Herald