Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-10-15
ON VERGE OF STRIFE
Rhode Island Almost Ready to
Spank United States.
LEGAL ADVICE PREVAILS
Trouble Due Primarily to the Chest
nut Blight.
MOTOR CYCLE MERE INCIDENT
Conflict Between Pathological and
State ofncsr Over License. !,
Costs Aggregate .$17.97.'
MOTOR CYCLE MERE INCIDENT

War between the federal government of
the United States and the commonwealth
OF Rhode Island has been averted-how
narrowly it IS yet impossible to say
largely through the Joint efforts of At
torney General Wickersham, Gov Pothier
OF Rhode Island and Solicitor George P.
McCabe OF the. Department Of Agrfcul-
ture.
The whole efnbroglio arose over the
question OF whether the federal govern
ment was under any obligation to pay a
license to a sovereign state. That ques-
ton has not yet been definitely settled
out 1t has been sidestepped by decision
that the government can pay fee to O
state whether it can pay a license or not
Just what the legal difference between a
zee and license is remains a secret in the
bosom of the Attorney General, but if
any one wants to know. possibly he will
communicate it privately
Meantime the settlement Of the question
has cost the parties at interest $17.97 and
the end is not yet The state of Rhode
Island is In imminent danger of a suit
for damages. material and exemplary
and possibly the question of criminal libel,
defamation OF character and false inpris-
onment will also be raised before the
matter is settled. The original cost of
the license or fee. as it was termed when
paid, was two dollars. i
Chestnut Blight Primary Cause.
The trouble was due to the ranaifica-
tons of the chestnut blight. When this
forestry cloud was hanging over New
England the state of Rhode Island was
glad enough to avail itself of the services
of the Department of Agriculture in To-
eating the cases Of blight and to cooper
ate in the matter with the federal gov
eminent. At that time one of the plant
Psychologists of the government was sent
to run down cases of blight. and running
being bad on foot he used a motor cycle.
Everything went merrily and the chestnut
blight was being segregated and crowded
to the ropes when a Rhode Island con-
stable butted in. He doomed up in the
middle of the highway with a sheet
metal badge of the contour of a scalloped
pie plate on his heaving bosom. and de-
manded Of the plant pathologist what in
blazes he was doing riding a motor cycle
without state license. The plant
pathologist replied with more warmth
than diplomacy that he did not need q
state license because he. was federal
officer.
To this the constable demurred. He
said there was no law SO far as he knew
to prevent federal officer walking but
he'd be gosh-dinged if he could go smok-
ing around on a motor cycle without a
state license.
Thus the issue was joined The chest
nut blight Brighter was hailed to the near
est justice of the peace and the motor
cycle was impounded in the box stall of
the village livery The pathologist walk
ed home. He put up kick to the De-
partment of Agriculture and was inform
ed that the department was not paying
any state licenses. but that he could pay
it himself if he wanted to. He did not
want to-