New-York tribune., 1910-06-01
THE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.

foint agreement in violation Of the injunc-
ton granted in the transmissouri case that
b, determined Immediately to recommend
an application for an Injunction. The Pres
ident heartily approved Of this course, and
accordingly the suit was brought The rep
resentatives OF the shippers maintain that
the railroads are planning great coup in
Wall Street, but that may be only surnaise.
Two questions are involved in this situa-
ton, first, Are the railroads acting under
an agreement in violation of the injunction
and, second, Are they advancing rates to a
point which is unreasonable and Unjust? II
Is believed that, in either event, the gov
ernment will be able to procure an injunc-
ton which will suspend the proposed ad-
vance until ell the facts can be ascertained.
NICARAGUAN SITUATION-It is i'm
possible to escape apprehension regarding
the possible developments in Nicaragua,
where Madriz appears to be the de facto
Executive over 80 per cent Of the territory
Of that unfortunate republic, while the
United States refuses to recognize his legal
status and does recognize the de facto con-
troll over certain portions Of the terri
tory of Estrada, who is being gradually
exterminated as a governing power. In
the parlance of the racetrack, the United
States appears TO have backed the wrong
horse, but as international relations can
not be conducted with the same freedom
as the affairs of the betting ring this coun-
try finds itself unable to hedge with q few
safe bets on the prospective winner. The
fact that Mexico and some other powers
have recognized the Madriz government
still further compncates the situation, the
outcome of which it is impossible to fore
see. OF course, there is no question of the
correctness of the position Of the United
States, for Madriz has never been elected
President OF Nicaragua in accordance with
the provisions OF the constitution In the
way OF embarrassment which may re-
suit in the purely ethical position Of this
country, it merely serves to emphasize the
difficulty Of dealing with these little, IRE
sponsibls republics and seems likely TO
contribute just so much more to make the
name of Zelaya, from whom this situation
is a heritage, enathena.
ALASKAN RAILROADS. Secretary Bal
linger has taken the position that federal
aid should not be extended to any railroad
in Alaska until the routes OF such roads
have been recommended by a competent
board Of federal officers and approved by
the President and until bids have been sub
rnitted for the construction Of such roads.
The opinion Of the Secretary OF the In
terror was called for by the House Commit
tee on Territories on the bill OF Representa-
tive Palmer, of Pennsylvania, providing
that the government should aid in the con-
struction Of a railroad, telegraph and tele-
phone line in Alaska The President indorses
the position taken by Judge Ballinger. Lewis
P. Shackleford, the Republican national
committeeman for Alaska, declares that
most Of the complaints regarding the adunip-
istration in Alaska have been due to a set Of
lobbyists who have been in1bued with the
idea that they could secure federal aid for
q railroad they purposed to build, and that
as soon as such aid was secured they could
market the stock at highly profitable prices
and retire with an immense profit to them
selves. Mr. Shackleford further charges
that the delegate from Alaska has been
favorabls to this legislation and that he
declared before the Committee on Terri
tories that he would not object to the Palm
er bill Mr.. Shackleford asserts that these
men are constantly trying to arouse public
sentiment against the officials IN Alaska
who will not close their eyes while special
legislation OF most vicious character is
being urged upon Congress"
g G. H