The midland journal., 1911-05-12
WASHINGTON LETTER.

The much advertised horse show in
Washington is on the tan bark arena
three blocks south of the White House.
1t started off quite tamely half an hour
after the scheduled time on Thursday the
4th inst, at II o'clock. General Miles.
at one time commander in chief Of the
army of the United States, headed a pro-
tcession of about dozen buggies, to two
or three of which were attached good
horses. The General drove a pair. II Is
evident that the day of the driving horse
is past. The motor cycle, the automobile
1.-THE telephone, the aeroplane, 10 say
nothing of the bicycle, have driven him
to the second place in speed and in en-,
dnrance. This result is desirable for all
the world and especially for Washington
where the abuse of draft horses by negro
drivers is more conspicuous than in any
other city of the United States. The
hard, smooth streets of Washington, the
great extent of the Potomac Park and
Rock Creek Park furnish excellent
courses for vehicles, but it is unusual now
to see fine pair of horses and an elegant
carriage and when seen they have an
ancient and passe appearance. Automo.
biles of different makes are seen every-
where.
The utility of aeioplanes for defensive
and offensive purposes in war is to be
given test this week when c. N.
Anderson, one of the best marksmen in
America. will ascend to the height Of
several hundred feet and shoot at glass
balls to be thrown by the avaitor. An
derson has come to Washington and the
test will be made at Bennings track.
southeast of the city. A number Of
sportsmen with army and navy men are
taking great interest in the experiment.
Five or six Curtiss machines of the latest
type will be in the air and Glenn Curtiss
himself with other professional aviators
will steer them.
~
There was an interesting session of the
Senate Finance Committee this week.
and in discussion concerning the United
Shoe Machine Company of Boston j. is
alleged that it has all the American shoe
manufacturers under its thumb and Sena-
tor Bailey of Texas suggested that the
n f1a nf
General of the United States rather than
the Senate should take cognizance. The
Senate committee was in special session
tohsar western shoe manufacturers from
St. Louis, Grand Rapids. Chicago and
Milwaukee, who were protesting against
placing their manufactured product on
the free list. One witness testified that
AS per cent. duty on shoe making
machinery made it prohibitive, and vet
the royalty charged by the trust for use
of its machines he said it was sufficient in
less than one year to buy the English
machine outright Representative Weeks
of Massachusetts declared on the other
hand in House investigation held stimuli
taneously with that of the Senate, that
the shoe machinery was a mnnifcent
monopoly inasmuch as it enabled one
corporation to lease the machines at
very low rate to American manufacturers.
Mr.. Weeks used number of samples Of
shoes to illustrate his argument against
the Democratic measure. Mr.. Diffen-
dorfer introduced resolution in the
House calling upon the Navy and War
Department to furnish Congress informa.
tion relating to shoe contracts for the
army and navy. The inquiry was based
upon charges that single shoe concern
has a monopoly to furnish the army and
navy and has frozen out other competi.
tors Congress is giving much attention
to Investigations. Inquiries into the af
fairs of the United States Steel Corpora
ton, the American Woollen Company,
the American Sugar Refining Company
were placed on the list in the House aud
Senate Committees and will no doubt be
an important part of the work of the
summer season. Mr. Broussard of
Louisiana Introduced a resolution 10 an
point a special committee of three Sena-
tors and four Representatives to examine
the laws and departments resolutions
governing the methods of appointing
diplomats and consuls. The resolution
carries twenty, Eve thousand dollars for
expenses and empowers the committee to
hold sessions in foreign countries. IL
necessary. OF course everyone knows
that this is for the purpose - foreign
junket for the committee with their wives
and daughters and others at the expense
Of the government. There will doubtless
be- other iunkets proposed before the
extra session is over. and the Democrats