Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-12
Expression From President
Regarding Canal Purchase.
GETTING FACTS TOGETHER
Proposed Prosecution of Accusers for
Libel.
INITIATIVE IS WITH JEROME
Bill for Compensating Injured EN-.
ployes Favored-Pardon for
Bank Ohicial Asked.

President Roosevelt may make another
statement regarding the payment for the
Panama canal, which has been the SUBJ
ject Of such wide discussion lately. He Is
considering the question. Nothing definite
could be learned today as to when the
statement may be made public or the ma
ture OF the contents. That the President
Is accommodating information from vari-
Gus sources, however. is known. and that
he may make use Of this In some manner
is also known.
The most important phase of the situa-
tion relates to the intimation OF the Pres
1dent that If he can reach certain people
by criminal libel proceedings he will do
SO. 1t develops that there is no federal
law of criminal libel and nothing under
which officials Of the United States can
act by direction of the President.
1t is said that the President was aware
or this when he gave utterance to the
threat of proceedings. and that efforts
are being directed upon District Attorney
Jerome in New York to have him lay the
facts before the grand jury there. Ths
pressure upon Mr.. Jerome Is being direct
ed through United States Attorney Slim
son In New York. The administration feels
that there Is at least an unwritten code
OF courtesy between the prosecuting off,
Gals or the United States and the states
and counties, and 1t is to this that an ap-
peal is apparently being made.
Must Be Begun by Jerome.
Any action against persons in New
York Connected with newspapers there
charging criminal libel Of the President
or his brother-in-law. Douglas Robinson,
or any one else. would have to be started
through the district attorney Of New
York county.
The interesting point of prosecution
in New York would be the question OF
who would be the complainant. Ii tho
President were the complainant he would
have to become the leading prosecuting
witness.
This would probably interfere with his
trip to Africa, as the case could not
come to trial until after the time for the
President to leave for his proposed hunt.
No such objection would arfs6i In the case
Of Douglas Robinson, who has several
times discussed with the President the ac-
cusationp and who denounces them as
bitterly As does the President. Mr.. Robin
son Is citizen OF New York.
Should District Attorney Jerome decide
to move for an Indictment before the
grand jury and secure one he would have
the fullest aid Of the legal machinery Of
the administration and access to every
paper connected with the canal transac.
ton.
The handling OF the editor of the In
dianapolis News upon charges either GRIM
inal or civil will be left to c. p. Taft. it
Is said, although Mr.. Taft. IL he makes a
move. will have the aid of the federal
officials, as would Mr.. Robinson.
Compensation for Injured Employees
Representative SABBATH of Chicago is
much pleased because the President has
several times assured him that he favors
the bill of the Illinois man for compen-
sation of injured employees Mr.. SABBATH
talked with the President again today on
the subject. ''The President tells me
that he will gladly aid me in every way
possible in having my bill enacted into
law said Mr. SABBATH. land ! am de-
lighted with his favorable opinion of the
measure My bill is framed largely after
the laws that now govern on this sub
ject In both England and Germany. These
and other countries abroad now fully rec
ognize the fairness of granting compen-
sation to employees Injured in the service
Of employers.
England and Germany, Gladstone and
Bismarck. respectively, worked on this
problem about the same time. and both
worked out laws that automatically pay
for injuries. Under my bill commission
would be provided. and this body would
have examiners pass upon each case Of
injury, fixing the damages according TO
the terms Of the law.
THE United States will have to come
to law of this kind, and the sooner the
relations between employees and employer
are adjusted upon this basis the better it
will be all around"
Will Attend Two Dinners.
President Roosevelt will attend two din
ners tonight The first will be the an
nual dinner of the Boone and Crockett
Club at the Metropolitan Club. The Pres
mill of O'cl0ck
second will be the Gridiron Club dinner,
which the President will attend about
1890 o'clock. The Boone and Crockett
Club is composed of noted hunters and
sportsmen, and the President never fails
to attend the annual dinner.
Earl Of Warwick Tells Of Africa.
The Earl of Warwick of England dined
at the White House last night and re-
lated to the President many interesting
experiences in Africa.
Pardon Asked for Bank Official.
Representatives Keifer. Cole and Ans
berry of Ohio and Representative Lands
of Indiana called on the President today
to seek a pardon for Edwin Flickinger. q
of Gallon Ohio. who was
convicted of participation in the wrecking
of a national bank at that point and sem
fenced to seven years in prison. The
President was told that although Mr..
Flickinger was an officer of the bank he
knew little about its operations and
should not be held responsible for the
and iaxity of others. The
President gave his callers to understand
that he was little disposed to grant par
dons or commute sentences O bank off,
cials and favored severe punishment He
was willing that the Department OF JUS
tice should go into the case and report to
him tor consideration.
Assayer at Salt Lake.
Senator Smoot has recommended to
the President the nomination Of J. L.
Eldridge to be assayer-in-chief of the
new assay Office at Salt Lake, and as no
other names are before the President the
recommendation will doubtless be car
ried out. Mr.. Eldridge is said to be weli
dtted for the position.
Senator Cummins Learning.
Senator Cummins OF Iowa believes he
Is learning the ropes in the Senate az
rapidly as most new men do. He called
On the President today. Responding to q
facetious inquiry as to how he was get