New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-07-30
THE DA yINWASHINGTON

HAfHlbTsANI UNA It
Taft is highly gratihed at the record ~hlch
has been made by the federal departments
of the executive branch OF the government
Throughout this session. or for practcaiy
four months. Democratic committees nave
been bending every energy to find some
scandal or to prove some material instance
of NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. Some. at least OF
the Democratic chairmcn Of those commit
tees have frankly expressed their serious
disappointment because they could unearth
nothing discreditable 10 the administration
The only case which even temporary
looked to some persons as serious had -
he bolstered up with a forged letter TO LEND
10 It an air OF verisimilitude. and the out
come has been increased strength for the
administration and discredit Tor those party
TO the fake. violent effort TO bring dis
credit not on this but on former admin
istration IN connection with the Day por-
trait voucher has failed utterly and me
conclusion OF non partisan and Judiciary
minded newspapers has been that the incl
dent merely indicated the necessity Tor re-
form I'm the accounting system, reform
long ago effected. II Is possible that IN
their wholesale probing Of trusts ana otner
non-official affairs the investigating COM
nittees may develop some sensations. IL
will not be their fault II they do not but
there Is no indication that any scandals
or in1propriet:es can be discovered IN the
Taft administration. and this is naturally
an occasion OF genuine qualification to the
President.
A DEMOCRATIC OPPORTUNITY.-Thst
TREY are confronted with an opportunity 10
enact an excellent piece Of legislation AZ
result q the Wiley case has been SUE
cested 10 the Democratic leaders OF me
House. but they are too busy seeking scan
dals. or trying to create them where none
exists. 10 heed the suggestion. congress
I'm 1907 put into the Agriculture approprld-
ton bill a provision that In no instance
could the Secretary Of Agriculture employ
any expert TO assist him in the enforce
rnent of the pure food law az higher rate
~ condensation than $500 wear. what
over NAV have been the motive Tor TINS
restriction. events have proved il 10 be IN
wise The services ~ Dr. Rusty, for m
stance. the value Of which no one qnes-
ttcns could not be obtained Al that rate or
cor,nersation. The ACCESSIBILITY OF repeal
ing that provision is obvious and were 'iie
Democrats to pass a measure repeating u
their action might In some degree 'enu
10 dissipate an impression, when IS aliloS.
a conviction. that they are incapao'e VI
constructive craftsmanship and nave 50
long occupied the position Of carping CRITICS
thar thcv are unable 70 perceive the al
vantage Of any measure not designed PHI
rnarily 70 put the President in a hole.
WHO PAYS THE BILL?-Ever since tho
case Of DR.. Wiley first came TO light
Washington correspondents have been del
uged with anonymous communications. pre-
nared in form for publication, supporting
the position Of the chief chemist, denounc-
ing the use Of benzoate OF soda, extolhng
the virtues of ketchup prepared from
fresh. ripe tomatoes without its use, and
animadverting on the motives OF the du-
rninistration In connection with the Whey
case These communications are obviously
produced in large quantities. for they are
prepared by a process In imitation or the
typeTriter and they are distributed AZ
much cost. A few Of them have FOUND
their way into print. although most cor
respondents arc extremely chary or using
anonymous communications. even though
thew NAV reflect the correspondent views.
But the interesting question in connection
with this press agent work Is Who pays
the bill?" Press notices do not reproduce
themselves In large quantities and
process" letters Of this type are not in
extensive Neither do such communica-
tons distribute themselves. some one
therefore. is finding II 10 his pecUniary ad-
vantage-very material pecunary advan-
taee-to influence newspaper dispatches IN
This controversy. Who is paying for this
newspaper lobbying? Who can II be?
BERRY REsIGNED.-James Berry, the
former employe Of the Weather Bureau
who has preferred charges before COM
mittee Of the House against Willis Moore
chief Of that bureau, takes exception 10 a
reference 10 him in this column as 'dls-
missed employe" Il was a mistake. Mr
Berry was not dismissed. His superiors
merely abolished his position. AccordinE
10 Mr.. Berry's own statement, while he
was away on leave his position, that OF
chief OF the distributing division, was abo'-
ished On his return he protested, and
was offered a minor position away from
Washington. Feeling he could not with
dignity accept that offer. Mr.. Berry re-
signed. Mr.. Berrys position may suggest
that Of the dog which having had its tail
run over by car, was operated on by a
medical student, who, through A slight m g
calculation. amputated the tail just back
OF the ears But, In any event, Mr.. Berry,
according 70 his own statement. was not
dismissed or replaced but resigned.
c. C. II.