The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1913-12-19
WASHINGTON LETTER.

\ Immediate reduction Of telephone rates,
reconstruction of old plants aud prompt
improvement of service, 50 as to compete
with modern methods invariably follow
tae invasion by independent companies
of the fields of the Bell system.
That was testified at the hearing here
in the government suit against the
American Telephone and Telegraph Com
pany aud others to dissolve th purchases
Of independent companies 10 the west.
D. A. Reynolds, who has for many
years been interested in he organization
aud operation of independent companies,
declared that independent companies
bad always been successful. except in a
few cases where they have been impro
perly managed.
~
A short investigation has disclosed TO
the department of justice that in the large
cities cold-storage combines have been
formed to keep up the price of food.
The investigation has been nation wide,
and the department is now seeking evil
dence on which to base prosecutions
under the Sherman antitrust law.
Al attempt will be made 10 trace the
lines of interstate combination between
the dealers in these large cities.
~
Tie most remarkable demonstration
ever msde on the liquor question in
Washington was made by the house of
representatives Thursday afternoon
For nearly an hour and half the
house listened intently to a speech by
Congressman Hobson, advocating ref
erence of the nation wide prohibition
question to the voters of the country in
the iorm Of proposed amendment to the
constitution.
While the house listened, representa-
tives of prohibition sentiment crowded
the galleries and applauded the speaker
with such enthusiasm that the rule
against outside disturbance Of house pro-
ceedings was invoked against them.
The audience OF house members was
he largest that has assembled at one
time, except when the president was read
Ing bis message. for many months.
~.
Senator Jackson introduced Saturday
an amendment TO the Smith-Lever bill,
which has for its purpose the substantial
encouragement Of all agricultural colleges
in the country in the extension of agri-
cultural work. The bill as it now stands.
applies only to white agricultural coll
leges. Mr.. Jackson's amendment will
extend the provisions Of the bill to
colored students of farming in all the
states.
~.
Revolution in Mexico has cost Mo mon
coionists from the United States more
than So. ooo, 900. This was the state
ment credited today to President. Joseph
Smith. ofti Mormon Church, on hi re
turn from a visit to the refugees in
Arizoua aud Southern California.
The church head also said he favored
plan for the exiled colonists to settle
where they now are instead Of returning
to Mexico when conditions permitted.
'The flower of our colonies was iu
Mexico" President Smith said. "OurI
people had labored there for quarter of
a century and achieved wonderful results.
They were forced TO give up whole towns
and cities--their houses and churches, all
to the value of more than $40. 900, 900.
~.
Leading members of the Republican
National Committee here to attend the
committee meeting this week expressed
belief that a special convention of the
Republican party probably would be call
ed to reorganize its methods, change the
basis Of delegate appointment and to con-
slider the preparation of new party plat
form that would unite its broken ranks.
The plan now in contemplation, If the
committee decides to summon conven-
ton. is to provide in the call that the
varions state committees shall control the
methods Of selecting deleg ties. except
where there are state primary laws cover
ing the subject.
~
Death by cancer claims rs, 900 persons
every year in the United States. The
scourRe is steadily increasing. But hope
for its control is growing. for we are
coming more widely TO understand that
the disease is durable If treated in the
early stages. This knowledge with re-
ference to Tuberculosis started the great