New-York tribune., 1912-01-27
THE EDAvINWASHINGTON


have paid millions in dividends, nearly half
Of its laborers received less than IS cents
an hour and quarter Of them less than %
cents an hour. lie pointed out that IT was
folly 10 explain that the men worked these
long hours because they preferred TO. wheh
the wages paid were so small that men
were compelled so 10 prefer He also met
the statement that some of the skilled laooI-
org receive high wages with the conleh'ioi
that those receiving 50 cents or more an
hour constitute less than one-twendeth ol
the total force employed.
INFLUENCING THE COURT-As COM
inc events throw their shadows betore' ~
tbe spirit OF the recall appears ALREADY 10
bo exerting an influence on the PUBIC hlihu'
Tho justices Of the Supreme Court nave
haor amazed lately to receive a nood Oh
Letters urging them to uphold the cohstltu-
tionality of the referendum and the lnila-
.i,,o N decide the case "in favor or the
roopro" This has amazed the justices as
- 20 wholly without precedent, all people
having been content in the past to leave
that tribunal to decide cases IN accorua"'e
with its unbiased judgment and without
Influence from the outside. Indeed, the ou-
nrome Court OF the United States has beeh
ro..ordad as a sort of sanctuary Whlch
must be kept free from popular clalhor' IT
is now learned that socialist pupiicduoii
has been 'exhorting its readers 10 sehu suC''
Ietters 10 the justices. 1t is common coIh-
mont among the justices that this is the
como snirit 10 which President Tart ana
Secretary Root recently referred In ad-
droesas before the Bar Association In New
York. The opposition to Judge hooN'
based on the fact that he handed GOWN
decision against the two-cent fare on GER
tain railroads. is part OF this same spirit
which greatly alarms all who regard the
independence of the judiciary as one OF the
foundation stones Of the Republic
TAFTs BROAD STAND. - President
Taft has taken a broad stand against a
former regulation Of the Civil Service com
mission which declared that employees Oh
tho Government who resigned to become
candidates for public office, or TO assist
others who were running for office, could
not be reinstated even though they apphed
within the prescribed time. The President
has communicated his views 10 the ,lNi'
Service Commission. His attention was
brought TO this regulation by the case OF d
mail carrier in New York who resigned "
,,r for office and. when he failed or re-
election. could not gain reinstatement.
Samuel s. Koenig interested himself In the
case. and the President ordered the mail
carrier reinstated. Mr.. Taft now rescinds
the general order, declaring that In MS
Judgment such rule is contrary TO the
fundamental right OF citizenship
A SLIGHT OVERsIGHT.-The Commit
toe ON Foreign Relations at recent meet
ing waxed wrathy over what they re-
earded as the cool neglect OF Secretary
Knox 10 answer a civil question put by the
committee. The committee, at previous
meeting. decided to write the Secretary
asking the reasons for the transfer OF
A. Ballly- Blanchard from Paris TO Toxic
and other changes IN the diplomatic corps
to Which. as was told IN this column there
had developed opposition. The reply ol
Secretary Knox covered many pages and
treated OF numerous subjects, but con-
tanned no reference whatever TO the sub
ject on which the committee was most
anxious for light. When the indignation
OF the members had reached its height IL
was decided 10 indite an cpistlc 10 Mr..
Knox which would make him sit up and
take notice" To this end, tho copy Of the
letter Chairman Cullcm had sent was called
for As It was read the indignation OF the
Senators gradually abated, and ii was
finally decided that the laugh was on them
and their chairman. Mr.. Cullom. although
writing on all the other subjects 10 which
Secretary Knox had so politely replied.
had completely forgotten to mention the
one subject OH which the committee had
instructed him 10 write. G. G.. II.