The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1909-11-05
WASHINGTON LETTER.

House of Representatives.
The insurgents, including those who re.
volted at the opening of the first or special
session of the present Congress against
the reelection of Speaker Cannon, as
well as those who fought against The
adoption of the Payne Aldrich high.tarifl
rates, are lining up for the battle which
they will open the moment the iusurgeni
leaders from the West arrive in Wash.
ington.
The fight will be carried openly to the
floor of the House, where every effort will
be made to bring about the dethronemen,
of the Gar Of the House, while the in.
surgent leaders of the Senate will quietly,
but they hope effectively, exert their in
1uence against the Speaker. Not only
are the insurgents smarting over the de-
feat that was administered them when
they were overcome through the adoption
of the Fitzgerald amendment to the rules
which was the only thing that saved
the House machine leaders in the fight
over the adoption of the old rules-but
also over the high-handed manner in
which the tariff was handled by the
House organization.
.*x*
William Leob, r., Collector of the Port
of New York, is up against the greatest
fght of his life. He appears to haveun-
covered big nest of grafters, official and
unofficial, in the customs service. Furth.
er investigations threatens to involve
many business men and officials. Against
Mr. Loeb are arrayed powerful influences.
But back, of the Collector will be the
officials of the Treasury and the President.
Mr.. Loeb has kept in close touch with the
Treasury and White House. He has au-
thority to continue the housekeeping be
began when he entered office and which
he desires to continue, irrespective Of
whom he hurts. The Treasury Depart
ment is working hard to get at facts, but
under the new law it cannot use the
Secret Service. Detectives of this service
were able to aid in just such situation
as this until Congress stepped in and
confined their work to the detection Of
counterfeiters.
AT the beginning Of his administration
Mr.. Loeb created furore in Republican
machine politics il New York, when he
dismissed and reduced number of Gus
toms employees who were the very wheels
of an organization almost as close as
Tammany. Many who lost ont" were
district leaders.
Mr. Loeb has observed the line up
against him and recognizes the power of
the combination. Still he is determined,
it is stated at the Treasury, to proceed in
quest of the big game he knows to be In
the graft jungle.
The Governments huge losses have
nearly all been sustained in short weights
allowed by customs inspectors. The
Sugar Trusts gains in that direction are
now matters of history. But sugar was
not the only commodity where short
weights defrauded the Government. In
tobacco, cheese, macaroni, lemons,
oranges, figs, nuts. beans and other
things the frauds have been perpetrated
~
Commander Robert E. Peary was prac-
tically Endorsed as discoverer of the
North Pole by the National Geographic
Society on Monday.
Every indication points to the fact that
Peary's personal statements before the
sub committee Of the society convinced
its members that he had set foot on the
top of the world. The explorer has been
invited to deliver the first of his public
lectures before the society November IL,
and it was pointed out that had the proofs
been open to the slightest question be
would never have been asked to appear.
1t was announced at the home of Rear
Admiral c. II. Chester, retired. that a
public statement of the findings of the So
ciety, would probably be forthcoming on
Wednesday. This rapidly ia determin.
ing the gennineness of Peary's claimthat
he reached the Pole ON April last is
taken to mean that there is no difference
of opinion among the three experts who
are delving into his Arctic>data and that
they are convinced of his honesty.
AT the request of the society Peary for.
warded all of his memoranda to it few
days ago. The organization promptly
turned the papers over to the board OF
managers, which, in turn. named sub.
committee of investigation. To this sub.
committee were appointed Real Admiral
Chester. o. H Tittman. of the Coast and
,Geodetic Survey, and Henry Gannett,
.chairnlap of the United States Geo.