The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1914-08-28
At NATIONAL CAPITAL
Paragraphs on Important Gov
ernment Affairs.
NEW ATTORNEY GENERAL
Bow Scouts. Standard Oil Case.
Debt of Cities.
The Tribune Bureau.
BY j. e. JONES

Washington, D. C.-While the
capital itself has been trying to "Ret
the number" of the attorney general
Of the United States, the president
has been 40 we'll satisfied that he has
elevated him to position in the
supreme court, which is supposedly
the greatest honor that can befall a
lawyer. McReynolds was practically
unknown to American politics until
President Wilson dug him up.
Another new man has been elevated
to the position, and this gentleman.
Thomas Watt Gregory Of Texas, is as
obscure so far as any knowledge of
him by the American people is con.
cerned, as a country postmaster. 1t
Is understood that Mr.. Gregory was
appointed largely because of the in.
fuence exercised in his behalf by
Colonel e. N. House, who is another
man of mystery. Colonel House is
Texan, although he lives most of the
time 10 New York and Washington,
In the same manner as a good many
senators who are supposed to be
residents Of particular states and
only get back home at election time.
Thus Texas, which already has the
place OF Postmaster General 10 the
Cabinet, is given a second portfolio
10 President Wilson's Official family.
Among the advocates of universal
peace Is that splendid organization
known as the Boy Scouts. Mr.. James
E. West, chief scout executive, proud
ly points to the fact that the scout
movement has been organized in each
OF the countries now at war, with an
enrolment Of $50, 900 boys, and that
these boys, true to their scout oath
and law, will be found 10 the midst
OF the strife, giving arst aid, taking
the place OF the men called to war, in
gathering In the harvests and 10 pro-
tecting women and children. He
warns against unreliable dispatches
which may confound the scout activi'
ties with hostile movements and
advises scouts in this country to do
all they can 10 giving publicity to the
authorized dispatches showing the
scouts engaged In humanitarian
work made necessary by the ravages
OF war.
The Standard Oil Company will
likely never Outlive its troubles and
history repeats itself 10 new demand
for congressional investigation Of
charges that the Standard OH Com.
paDy Is restraining trade in various
oil fields by refusing to purchase from
the producers. Senator Chiffon of
West Virginia is pushing the resolu,
tion. Through ownership and con-
troll Of pipe lines the resolution says,
the Standard Oil Company has for
years fixed the price Of crude oil "at
Its pleasure and practically made the
oil market;" that 1t recently has
revolutionized conditions 10 the oil
business not only as to price, but by
refusing to run more than twenty
i've per cent of oil produced, and in
refusing to buy the products OF the
wells "has brought about chaos and
ruin"
The per capita Indebtedness OF New
York City is $l56.57. Cincinnati,
Omaha, Portland. Maine; and Calves
ton, Texas come next upon the list in
respective order. The Indebtedness
Of the latter city is 1l3 "a per capita.
Cities with less showing are Detroit,
Michigan. with a per capita indebted.
ness Of $500; Washington, d. c.,
$24.09; Johnstown, Penn, IS 92;
Denver, Colorado, So 80; and Spring
deld, Missouri. SO IS.