The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1909-01-14

Roosevelt will help Mr.. Taft begin
his policy Of conciliating and making
friends with the South by appointing
Democrat as Federal Judge in the
eastern district Of North Carolina in
place of Judge Purnell. recently de-
ceased.
SUPREME COURT BUSY.
The Supreme Court has been busy
this week. Last week It decided that
N. Y. City might regulate the price
OF gas furnished by a chartered cor
poration. This week 1t RENTED the
s2s.OO0,O00 fine against the Standard
Oil Company by denying an appeal
to 1t. Yet It shoulG be remarked that
this case has been opened again by
proceedings for a rehearinC in the
lower courts. The Supreme Court alse
rendered on Friday a noteworthy de-
cision in relation to the bonds of the
corporation which furnished Knoxville
Tennessee, with city water. The de-
cision held that the company has
right to take into consideration the
depreciation Of its property from or
binary wear and tear. and TO renew
such property out of its earnings, be
sides merely paying interest on its
bonds. 1t also states that such a
company has a right to charge price
high enough to secure money for
these purposes, and says that the
courts have littlo right to declare
just how much profit a company may
make. This limits the decision in
TIE New York Gas case.
BATTLESHIPS WANTED.
In spite of the present poverty OF
the nation the Navy Department
wants some new battleships bigger
than ever. They agree that 1t IS pos
sible to build ship so big that no
other nation can match 1t. and un-
til this Is done there will be
no end to the increase of naval eX-
pendlture all over the world. They
want us to build n ship so big that
there can never be a bigger one!
They ask for a ship of 10000 tons
burden with IA inch guns. believing
that no other country would try 10
build a ship to beat IT, The logic
of this request looks queer to some
PEOPLE. President Roosevelt Is hesi-
tating, but will probably recommend
something of the kind, and have an
other fight like that OF last spring
trying to get Congress to build a
good navy.
Our national poverty is the subject
OF speculation here. II is thought
that bonds will have to be issued.
Mr.. Roosevelt takes the attitude
that the coming generations will get
most of the good of many OF the pre-
sent costly improvements. such rs
the Panama Canal. and ought to help
pay for them. Probably a tax viii
be placed on the importation Of tea
and coffee. This would be a tariff
for revenue only,-the first of its
kind that the Republican party ever
thought Of
CANAL WORK APPROVED.
Speaking OF the Panama Canal il
is interesting to note that a committee
Of Congressman. headed by Victor
Murdoch of Kansas, returned from
an inspection OF the work en- the 18TH
mus this week, and report them
selves as In the highest degree pleas
ed with the progress there. and the
conditions brought about by Colonel
Gothals. Mr.. Gothals himself has
issued a report this week, dealing with
the selection of the site of the canal.
denying some recent criticisms that
the so-called Gatun site was unwisely
chosen. On the whole the big ditch"
seems to be doing very we'll.
LABOR AFTER. TAFT.
An amusing feature OF the passing
days is the attempt of the leaders of
organized labor to make friends with
President-elect Taft, after having
fought him tooth and nail in the re-
cent campaign. Now they are talk
ing about his ability as a jurist, and
his fairness, great heart etc. 1t
looks as II they were going to ask
him to help them In getting legis-
lation through Congress. After the
decision of Judge Wright here three
weeks ago that Gompers and Morri-
son should be imprisoned the judge
has been threatened by labor fanatics.
lie is being secretly guarded by de-
tectives.
CUMMINS' FINE PLANS.
The new Senator from Iowa, ex-
Governor Cummlns, Of new idea"
tariff fame, is cavorting around the
Senatorial enclosure like a new horse