The Detroit times., 1912-05-31


rates The railroads could prevent
this by controlling the ships making
the water Journey between the Al
lantic and Pacific ports. Part OF the
monopoly OF the railroads has been
the control OF shipping lines and
wharf privileges. For example, when
Morgan consolidated all New Eng
lands transportation system, he took
IA the shipping lines, Without these
the monopoly would not have Deen
effective.
The Southern Pacific controls the
American ships running out OF san
Francisco, so the Hartman and Nor
gan lines control practically all the
coastwise shipping on the Atlantic,
the one exception being the govern
ment-owned line between New YORK
and Colon. The railroad influence
heretofore has successfully fought the
completion OF this connecting link be-
tween the canal and San Francisco.
Before the canal was started the
transcontinental railroads nullihed the
influence of the Panama railroad Dy
paying It's owners yearly comrensa.
ton. The new house legislation Will
have to be watched carefully In the
senate.
Civil Service Law Evaded.
How government officials evade the
civil service law Is shown In a letter
which has just been offered In EVIL
dence before the committee which Is
investigating Commissioner OF Indian
Affairs Valentine of the interior de-
partment Desiring to get a job for a
medical friend, Valentine on May 3,
1909, wrote to the then Commissioners
Leupp. suggesting the following
scheme:
II have been thinking over ways
and means to procure for Or. Murphy
status under the civil service rules.
What do you think OF the plan Or
asking the civil service commission
TO hold a special examination Tor
Physicians, qualified as expert in the
diagnosis and treatment OF tubercu-
losis, in rating which experience
would be given a large relative
weight? We could say this examina-
ton would be for filling vacancies
ranging from 81 200 to $500 per an
mum, 70 that II by any chance the ex-
animation were taken by physicians
really qualified, and their papers were
marked higher than those OF Mr.. MUIR
ply, we could tender appointment at
the lower salary and procure declina.
lions or assign TO ordinary physicians
positions until we reached the name
OF DR.. Murphy. We could then APP
point him at $1,000, and after rea-
sonable interyal-say three months
his promotion to 81 1000 could be made
without counteracting opposition from
the commission"
The scheme worked and Murphy got
the job.
Senator's Oppose Elght-hour Law.
In the discussion OF the Borah eight
hour law, Senators Lodge, of Massa-
chusetts. and Reed, OF Missouri, have
appeared In opposition. These SEN
ators make a plausible argument for
a 4S-hour-a-week law. They say this
would permit the workingmen to work
nine hours FIVE days in the week and
three hours on Saturday. leaving him
"a Saturday half holiday Lodge pro
has become almost universal in Massa
chusetts and Is much desired by the
men. Reed spoke to the same effect
Borah replied that any such arrange
ment would defeat the main purpose
Of the legislation, which is to estab
lish the principle of an eighthour day
1.-The principle that in monotonous
and wearying employments no person
should be required on any day to work
more than eight consecutive hours. II
the men in mills favor a Saturday hall
holiday there Is nothing In an eight
hour day to prevent the men hav
Ing it.