The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1910-02-25
TROUBLES OF
The BEEF TRUST
Latest Charges Are That Wash
ingtOn Gets Tainted Meat.
EVEN SENT TO WHITE HOUSE.

Senator Carriers Woes With the Posta
Bank BiII-UncIe Joe Is Mild These
Days A Surprise For Congress
After the Gas Trust.
Washington, Feb. 1.-THE beef trust
has more troubles. Not only is it be-
ing bOycotted, investigated and lam
basted in pulpit, press and home, but
Is now subject to attack from a new
quarter. The committee examining the
! questions of cold storage and high
prices in the District of Columbia has
been RECALLED with the sensational testi-
mony that much of the meat sold here
| IS tainted, even that which went to
the White House during the term of
! President Roosevelt having been ready
ito fall to pieces" There were in
! situations from at least one witness
that Roosevelt liked it that way, and
Inspector Dodge was of the opinion
that there are certain "high class" peo-
pie who demand putrid meat because
it is tender Whether they demand it
or not, that is what they get This
sounds like the embalmed beef stories
of Spanish war days If these dis
closures, Investigations, preachments
and high prices keep up all of us will
be compelled by sheer nausea to take
to diet of spinach, nuts and prepared
hay.
Protecting the Constitution.
The postal savings bank bill is hav-
ing no nice easy passage through
the senate. incidentally Senator Tom
Carter, who has the measure in
charge, has been meeting so many at
lacks of late that he has begun to
look nervous and apprehensive for
fear some senator will jump on the
proposition from a new direction. The
other day it was Rayner of Maryland,
who doomed and Numbered against
the eonstitutionality of the bill When
it comes to interpreting the constitu-
ton Rayner has the supreme court
looking like a Kindergarten. 1t would
be supposed that President Taft was
a federal judge long enough to know
what an unconstitutional act looks
like when he sees it, but Rayner is
not content to leave the matter to the
president and supreme court. He is
there as the especial defender Of the
and whenever any pro-
gressive measure comes up he is on
deck to decide it unconstitutional out
of hand. 1t is all highly entertaining,
for when Rayner speaks there are
great guns booming. He injected one
into this speech, however, that |
seemed superhuOus. He said that in |
deciding to oppose the postal savings |
he had conferred with no
banker. Why was such a statement |
necessary? Nobody had accused him
Of having conferred with any banker
Mild Uncle Joe.
Speaker Cannon is talking small !
these days. When a question arose
the unanimous consent cal
andar. the very one over which much
Of the insurgent row has been raised.
Uncle Joe quite blandly and innocent
" passed it up to the house. He start
ed to rule, but somebody raised objec-
lion, and then the speaker said he
would let the body itself decide the
point. Not only so, but when objec-
lion was made to the form in which
he put the question to the house he
changed it, with the side re-
mark that he had no pride of opinion.
The oldest members gasped once or
twice at this evidence of the meek
md lowly spirit in the man who has
been so widely denounced as a ear
md then proceeded to decide the ques-
lion exactly as the speaker himself
had started to decide 1t.
Enjoinins Congress.
The senate recently showed its
not unmingled with
amusement, when one of its commit
ees was enjoined by Justice Wright
If the District of Columbia, the same
Justice Wright, by the way, who sen
enced Samuel Gompers and other labor
eaders to jail for contempt Of court.
It appears that the senate and house
refused to award some ]
contract to a particular concern, and
he said concern thereupon applied for
In injunction. Fancy a little judge In
he District of Columbia enjoining the
congress Of the United States! This is
he first time in the history of the gov
.rnment that committee of congress
las been sued.
Going After the Gas Trust.
If there is any subject that this con-
-ress does not propose to investigate
have not heard of it. The only rea- !
on it did not start an inquiry into the
discovery Of the north pole was that
)r. Cook and his claims had evapo-
ated before congress met. The latest q
esolution Of investigation is intro I
uced by Senator Norris Brown Of
Nebraska and proposes to look into
he gas trust Of the District Of Column
ia. III the light can be turned on the
.as trust it certainly will illuminate
dark subject and will be about the
My light in connection Herewith.
a. - "a