TEE MORNING OREGONIAtf,. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY l, 1905.
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POWXXAXB, AVBBABSDAY, KEB. 14.
AXOTXBK ANTI-TRUST COJVVBXTIOX.
Speakers at the anti-trust cowven
"tioo, which began its seastone at Chi
cago ob Monday, ceneure the national
administration for not enforcing the
law of the United States against trusts.
Some of them say thte law gives ample
powers foe suppression of all trusts,
but it "rsoeives no support from this
trust-ridden and trust-owned admin
istration." TMe Is partisan declamation. The
law of the United Skates does, indeed,
declare all combinations in restraint of
trade unlawful. The exact language is:
Every eotttract, combination in form
of trust or otherwise, or conspiracy.
In restraint of trade or commerce
&mona; the several states, or with for
eign nations, is hereby declared to be
illegal." This is followed -with a sec
tion which declares that "Any prop
erty owned under any contract or by
any combination or pursuant to any
conspiracy (and being the subjecV
thereof) mentioned in section 1 of this
act (section 1 refers to combinations
in restraint of trade), and being in the
course of transportation from one state
to another or to a foreign country,
shall be forfeited to the United States,
and may he seised and condemned by
like proceedings as those provided by
law for the forfeiture, seizure and con
demnation of property imported into
the United States contrary to law.
By the supreme court of the United
States this act has been held valid;
but the decisions make clear the diffi
culties which the federal government
must meet in any attempt to give the
law practical enforcement. For the
federal government can have no con
trol over the manufacture of products,
and can deal with the matter omy
ben the products become subjects of
interstate commerce. The business of
I reduction is carried on under state
law, and a law of the United States
can deal only with interstate distribu
tion. To meet this difficulty it has been
reposed t amend the constitution of
'h? United States, so as to give con
gress power. But this would be the
ravst sweeping measure of "centrali
zation" yet conceived.
In the lending case before the su
preme court it was shown that there
v.as an agreement among the various
r amifacturers of iron and steel pipe
t) dlMde the country among them
e e, and to nx prices. A certain ter
i i ry was allotted to each concern
bin which It was to be subjected to
r oropetltion i bidding for contracts.
Tlus arrangement was heid to be an
' .-rferenoe with Interstate commerce.
1 - supreme court expressly said that
3 Incision should he construed as ap-
ng to interstate commerce only, in
;i h the parties might be engaged.
i. .gress can make no regulations as
t tnmeroe within a state, nor can it
I'it the purchase by the citizen of
state of trust-made goods in an-
t state. The truth is that each
s f now hue more power over this
e K-.t than congress possesses, for
li state may impose restrictions
n the corporations of another state,
1 may want to do business within
- " vin borders.
. ihe convention' of the governors of
Western and Southwestern states,
at St. Lout last September, to
iier thte subject of trust legis
r. it was conceded that little
I r rests with congress. The main
: suggested was the enactment
j -xch state of laws that would pre-
the entrance of the corporations
her states Into its own limits for
z i urpose other thaw interstate com-
exoept on terms that would put
corporations on a basis of equal-
Hh the corporations of that state;
hat license be required for such
i corporations, placing them un-
he dose supervision and regula-
1' the state. By that convention
as believed that the states, each
"j for Itself, could subject the
s to closer control than congress
c an unless the constitution of the
- -1 States be so amended as to
' this whole subject from the
i tlon of the states a measure
Mould go far toward Wotting the
s out of existence.
, s useless for any set of poUticians
i ate thte subject with a view to
an advantage. The subject is
too large for such treatment.
san strife over It will contribute
ng to Its solution. These indus-
amt trad oombinationn are, at
in, the results or tendencies of a
-." economic movement, not to be
'led by hasty legislation. Ko-
vet has been able to say how
abject could be dealt with efifect-
i and the theories of flippant poM-
' s -w ho merely want t get votes
l ir party are sure to he the worst
suggestions.
e presentment by a citisan of B&r
l&ctannes county, the home of
ite Mm. Qnint, ht regard to her
ent. so-ealled. by Christian Set
- and her death In their hands,
Hshed in a communication yes
is no Mbt fair and Jnst. The
n bed long been a sufferer from a
! and Incurable disease. Regular
ane had prescribed for her with
'f than temporarily alleviating
distress, and bed sufficient un-
i?
derstandfg' of the case to realize that
It was hopeless. At least one of them,
according to Mr. Bratton's (the corre
spondent) testimony, was honest
enough to state this fact plainly to her
friends. As a last resort the Christian
Science "healer" was called in He, if
he knew anything: of the nature of the
disease, knew also that her life was
nearing its close. That he was ignor
ant of this fact is attested' in his as
surances, both to the patient and her
family, that she would get well. Here
in, as appears from the testimony, was
bis great fault Either he did not have
the knowledge requisite for the diag
nosis of a disease, or the honesty to
proclaim what this diagnosis revealed.
Just here is where Christian Scientists
fall. To employ their own terms, they
"claim" more than they can "demon
strate." Aliments, largely subjective,
frequently yield to the simple magic
of their cheerfulness, dogmatism and
hope; distinct or incurable disease
never.
THE CAXAL IX DANGER,
The Oregonian's "Washington corre
spondent gives it as his opinion that
the Hay-Pauncefote treaty is reasona
bly certain to endanger or postpone the
Nicaragua canal bill. There are, un
fortunatery, good grounds for that be
lief. The blame for this untoward sit
uation is not to be attached to the
treaty, but to the narrow views of cer
tain advocates of the canal. "We are
shown in the opposition to a neutral
ized canal the same provincial, exclu
sive spirit that Joins hands with anti-
imperialism to defeat expansion be
cause unwilling to see expansion effect
ed, with its logical tariff policy.
The old Idea of the canal has been
that of an exclusive American water
way, owned and controlled by United
States citizens and the United States
government, surrounded by a United
States zone, fortified against all com
ers, open only to ourselves In time of
war, and even in peace open to out
siders only upon payment of discrim
inating toils. In a word, we were to
extend to the canal our traditional con
ception of exclusion, Isolation, protec
tions There are two reasons why this old
idea must now be abandoned. One Is,
it can't be carried out, and the other
is, it wouldn't be wise If it could. "We
can't fortify the canal because Nica
ragua and Costa Rica will not consent
to It. If they had sufficient Idiocy to
enter blindly Into such an act of self
immolation, there are nevertheless
treaties in operation between them and
European states which would prevent
extensive fortifications and involve us
In acrimonious disputes and strained
relations with Continental Europe.
The idea that the defense of the canal,
that is, prevention of its use to our
enemy in war time, depends on fortifi
cations, is natural, but of very limited
scope. We must destroy our enemy's
ships at sea, not from batteries at
Greytown or Brito, and if self-preservation,
which is the paramount law
of all procedure, compelled us to block
the passage of the canal, we should do
it by sinking a vessel in its mouth or
blowing up a lock, just as quickly as
we should cut a cable.
A protective tariff in peace and ex
clusion in war must be pronounced not
only Impossible in fact, but inadvisable
in policy. We come now upon the gen
eral view of the canal In its interna
tional bearings, and the first thing to
remember is that Uncle Sam is no
longer a hermit In his desert cabin, but
a citizen of the world. Dewey did the
business at Manila, and gratulutions
or regrets are alike ineffective now.
We can no longer treat the nations as
strangers, but we must treat them as
neighbors. We want to do business
with them alL; we are a world empire
on which the sun never sets. A decent
respect to the opinions of mankind re
quires, therefore, that what we do on
Central American soil shall be suscepti
ble in some degree to considerations of
the welfare of our neighbor Germany,
our neighbor Australia, our neighbor
China, our neighbor Russia, our friend
Great Britain. The interests of com
merce, of civilization, of art and litera
ture, of humanity In every relation
material, mental and moral, require the
greatest possible use of the isthmian
canal, consistent with its self-support
or at least with its greatest earning
capacity.
Trudging along on the weary road of
advancement, through heavy clogs and
grievous ruts, with valleys of depres
sion and occasional hills of widened
horizon, we have come at last to a
peak w here we can see a noble prospect
spread out before us. It is the crea
tion and maintenance of the great
isthmian aterway fulfilling the visions
of great navigators from Columbus to
Mahan, and realizing the plans of our
statesmen in all our history; a water
way to which no timid unarmed mer
chantman of the humblest power shall
approach in doubt or fear, or with any
thing but cordial welcome; a waterway
through which the craft of all nations
in peace, and as far as possible In war,
hall ply their beneficent way in speed
and safety. It is a conception worthy
all that is best and noblest in Ameri
can tradition and ideals. It is far
above the paltry provincialism of many
of our professed statesmen. That is
why it is in danger.
A TRUST'S PROFITS.
The present capitalization of the
Standard Oil Company is SllO.000,000.
It has grown from an original capi
talisation of $10,000,000 by the absorp
tion of minor companies and the usual
scrip dividends, more than 150 of these
companies having been taken in since
the original organization, in 1874. At
first it was a trust, and was officially
called such; but in 1890, in an attempt
to avoid conflict with certain new laws
in Ohio, It began a process of liquida
tlon and reorganization, which was
kept up till 189S, when it finally came
out as an ordinary Newr Jersey cor
poration, and now professes to feel se
cure against any anti-trust legislation.
Its profits have been and still are
fabulous, beyond anything else- known.
Ia 1SW its dividends aggregated 33 per l
oent; in 1S&S, 30 per cent; in 1S97, 33
per cent; to 1896, SI per cent, and from
1SS1 to 1896 inclusive, 12 per cent annu
ally. This last dividend of 20 per cent,
payable the 15th of next month, is the
third that has been declared during a
fiscal year that has still several months
to run. The other two were mere trifles
of S and 19 per cent, respectively; to
gether they make dividends of 38 per
oent in nine months. The stock has
tremendously advanced. In 1896 it sold
as low as 176; then it went up to 390 by
leaps and bounds; then on "scare" ru
mors sent out during an accumulation
of stock by insiders it broke to 209,
during test year the range was from
35o to 456, and on the announcement of
1
the 20 per cent dividend a few. days
ago it rose to 547. In ten years this
stock has paid $237,000,000 in dividends,
besides more than quintupling its sell
ing value. It is a remarkable record.
The stockholders are comparatively
few less than 2000; and a few great
holders control the vast majority. It
was one of the original trusts, and has
been the most successful of them all.
Its vast profits stand for injustice to
the consumers of the country, and
scandalize our civilization.
TURXTA'G MOVEMENTS IN WAR.
The report that Lord Roberts will
soon make a strong movement, whose
object will be the turning of the Boer
position at llagersfontein and the relief
of Klmberley, is probably well founded.
The occupation of Klmberley 'would
not be worth undertaking for the mere
sake of the garrison, which was orig
inally only 2760 strong, but the planting
of a large force at Klmberley would ef
fectively threaten Bloemfomtein, from
which Kimberley Is not more than
eighty miles distant. Klmberley is on
the railway, and would furnish a
splendid base of operations for the
over-running and occupation1 of the Or
ange Free State. For this reason the
Boers have from the start most desper
ately resisted the British advance by
way of the Modder river. The report
ed aggressive movements of the Boers
against General Buller in Natal and
against General French at Rensberg
are doubtless designed to balk Lord
Roberts' threatened advance on Kim
berley by forcing him to take care of
his communications in Natal and Cape
Colony.
Lord Roberts has men enough by this
time, and it would seem that the com
bined brains of Roberts and Kitchener
ought to be equal to break the grasp
of the Boers at some point along the
line of the Orange river. It does not
seem probable that the Boers, whose
forces stretch from Kimberley to Co
lenso, can keep their line intact against
the force that Lord Roberts must have
at his command. Estimating General
Buller's total forces in Natal at S5.000,
and allowing 40,000 for the protection
of Lord Roberts' communications in
Cape Colony, he must have at least 75,
000 men that he could mass against the
Boer army for a turning movement
and a direct attack. If, as we assume,
Lord Roberts has a movable force of
75,000 to 100,000 men, he ought to be
able, if he has 10,000 mounted men, to
press his enemy stiffly in front while
executing a flank movement. This is
what either Wellington or Grant would
do.
There is a false popular Impression
that Wellington was a mere British
buHdog in war. On the contrary, Wel
lington was a great strategist and ma
neuvered It was because of this qual
ity that he was.able to foil Napoleon's
ablest marshal, Massena, in Spain in
1810-11. Massena could not force Wel
lington into a field engagement; Wel
lington retreated within the fortified
lines of Torres Vedras. Massena as
saulted him at Busaco and was re
pulsed, even as Methuen was at Ma
gersfontein. If Roberts has any of the
Wellington craft and science in his
make-up, he ought to be equal to his
opportunity. He ought to be able to
use his superior numbers as Grant used
his superior numbers before Peters
burg. Lee had 75,000 men behind his
Intrenched lines, ample to repulse any
frontal attack that Grant might make,
but not enough to hold his thirty miles
of intrenchments from about Richmond
to Hatcher's Run, beyond Petersburg,
against a stiff pressure in front and a
powerful turning movement of infan
try and cavalry. To meet this turning
movement, Lee had to detach so large
a force of Infantry and cavalry that
he had not men enough left to hold his
attenuated lines.
Grant sent Sheridan with 12,000 cav
alry and 15,000 infantry to find and turn
Lee's right flank at Five Forks. This
movement was successful, and then an
assault In front on Lee's thin line the
next morning forced the defenses of
Petersburg and compelled Lee to re
treat. Lord Roberts, with his superior
ity in numbers, ought to be able to
practice these tactics against the Boer
army, if he has taken pains to secure
at least 10,000 to 15,000 mounted men,
which are indispensable to success in a
great turning movement against an
army composed of mounted men.
Otherwise, the Infantry movement will
be so slow that they will always find a
new intrenched line facing them. Sher
idan, with 12,000 veteran cavalry, could
ride around Lee's flank, seize a posi
tion and hold it until the infantry sup
port came up, but if Sheridan had un
dertaken to turn Lee out of his posi
tion with Infantry alone, he would
probably have been foiled. If Lord
Roberts has from 12,000 to 15,000 fine
mounted troops, he ought to turn the
Boers out of position; but if he has
only numerical superiority of infantry,
we do not believe he will succeed.
The peremptory halting, detention in
quarantine, cleaning up and fumigating
of the Japanese packet Nanayu Maru
by the quarantine authorities at Port
Townsend probably prevented the in
troduction of an Oriental filth disease
into Puget sound ports that bears suf
ficient resemblance to the bubonic
plague to cause the danger of contact
with it to be shunned with horror. The
vigilance that keeps diseases, the
germs of which are perpetuated and
multiplied In the filth of tropical cities,
at bay Is a part of the "white man's
burden" in dealing with his new and
ever-widening responsibilities. To shut
out a filth disease is much easier than
to stamp it out. The people of the
whole Northwest coast breathe easier
in the assurance that this packet is
still In quarantine, and will not be re
leased until all danger of infection from
her passengers or cargo has passed. A
clean bill of health and a clean ship
were never more rigidly demanded as
preliminary to the docking of a vessel
in any port of the United States than
now a fact which shows that the na
tion has risen promptly to meet its
new or added responsibilities.
As The Oregonian has foreseen, the
proposal to "protect" certain interests
in the United States against the prod
ucts of Puerto Rico is alienating Cuba
from the Unitfd States. A Washing
ton correspondent writes:
The proposed lmpoelUon or the tariff against
Puerto Rico and the withdrawal of constitu
tional safeguards has pounded the death knell
of the annexation moveent ia Cuba, and well
pofited officials there assert that nothing but
independence will satisfy the people now, and
that annexation at beat is probably a matter
for a. peeratloa to come.
Likewise, if we are to apply this rule
of spoliation to the Philippines, it "will
be a crime to hold them. Their con
nection with the United States will
simply be, una o bondage and sea-i-
tude, and they will have a right to
resist as long as they are able to lift a
hand. The greed of protection, at
tempted in the case of Puerto Rico, is
the most potent of all arguments
against expansion.
Judge O'Day, who got his title by
running many thousands of votes be
hind a republican nominee for the su
preme bench in Nebraska, assures
Chairman Jones, of the national com
mittee, that when the democrats of
Oregon meet in state convention, the
12th of April, "their platform will be a
reafiirmment of the Chicago platform,
together with an anti-imperialistic
plank, and a declaration against
trusts." The judge should not stop
here. His letter is incomplete without
assurance that, with free silver and
anti-expansion in the platform, the 10,
000 majority against his party two
years ago will likewise receive "re
afflrmment." When Senator Clark, from Montana,
appeared to take the oath, he walked
down the aisle on the arm of Mr. Car
ter, his colleague from the same state.
A few minutes later the latter filed a
protest against Clark's title to a seat
on the ground that the newcomer's
seat had been procured by corrupt
methods. Then the two went out to
lunch. This is merely a sample of. sen
atorial courtesy a bud, or blossom, as
it were, which reaches Its ripe fruitage
when the distinguished members of the
American house of lords calmly squelch
attempts to unseat gentlemen who have
bought their seats and are therefore
deemed their owners.
The positive declaration of Governor
Roosevelt that under no circumstances
whatever will he accept the nomination
for the vice-presidency will surprise
no one who Is fairly well Informed
upon the political events of the recent
past. Governor Roosevelt Is relatively
a young man. All things come to him
who, being in line, waits. He is In line.
He waits, courteously, and with at
least outward show of loyalty to his
chief. No vice-president's grave liv
ing or dead for Roosevelt. In the
course of nature he expects to llve
Eome time, and he does not seek polit
ical sepulture in the interim.
Taylor of Kentucky, after boards
composed of his political opponents
threw out thousands of votes, had 194,-
202 remaining for governor, whereas J
Goebel had but 191,826. At the same
time, Marshall had 183,871 votes to
Beckham's 181,360 for lieutenant-governor.
Goebel is dead, but bumptious
young Beckham, with 12,842 less votes
than Taylor received, thinks it would
be a fair "compromise" for Taylor to
yield to him an office to which he has
no shadow of moral claim, and no color
of legal claim that is not obscured by
fraud.
The firemen's judgment against the
city for $13,000 back pay does not ma
terialize in the coin of the realm as
rapidly as the attorney who worked it
up could desire. The motto of City At
torney Long in the case is, "Let all
things be done decently and in order,"
and, it may be added, it has the con
viction both of age and wisdom. This
claim upon the city is one of the fruits
of the loose methods of doing business
characteristic of the Pennoyer regime.
If it annoys the ex-mayor, there is
something like retribution in it.
The editor of a Yamhill paper has
taken the trouble to write to Colonel
Bryan to inquire if he favors the initi
ative and referendum. In reply, the
editor receiveo from Bryan's secretary
a copy of the platform adopted by the
silverites of Nebraska last August,
when Bryan w-as chairman of the plat
form committee. Of course, it favors
"direct legislation." For at least eight
years Bryan has been very much of a
populist. There is nothing emotional
and Irrational that does not appeal to
his type of mind.
The Boers, it is said, if they catch
Cecil Rhodes, will demand 510,000,000
as the nrlce of his release. The lord
of Rhodesia is what may be termed
decidedly rich picking, In a field which
he has picked industriously for some
years. The only thing between the
Boers and the realization of this rich
prize is embodied in the familiar
adage, "First catch your hare." Truth
to say, they do seem to have the net
very carefully spread for the game.
"Whether they make a live haul or not
depends. .
General O. O. Howard, at the dinner
of the Pine Tree State Club, in Boston
a few days ago. said': "If Dewey gave
us a new world, my boy gave his blood
to protect it, and we cannot afford to
throw such a dearly-bought heritage
away." .
There are 200,000 British troops in
South Africa today. If, as reported,
General Buller has less than 40,000 In
Natal, Lord Roberts must have at least
100,000 footloose for a movement
against the Boers from Cape Colony.
The best it is possible to say for the
democrats in the Kentucky legislature
is that they propose to take advan
tage of a legal right to do a moral
wrong. wmm mmmm mmmmmm . .
NOTE AXD COMMENT.
Some men are actually mean enough to
deserve the comic valentines that are sent
them.
Roosevelt appears to regard the vice
presidency offer as a gaudy and glittering
gold brick.
It will take a very virulent epidemic of
smallpox in Kentucky to cut much of a
figure in the death rate.
Bryan is In tho South, and yet he tells
iin that there Is no South. "Which con
firms the popular impression that he la
nowhere.
If his wife ever cuts bff his allowance,
Count Bonl de Castellano can make a
good l'vlng by posing for designers of
comic valentines.
The Atlanta Constitution Intimates that
the mantle of Lincoln has fallen on the
shoulders of "W. J. Bryan. Oh, what a fall
was there, my countrymen!
Lord "Wolesley now has a chance to use
some of the criticisms he made on the
conduct of our civil war In his Instructions
to his subordinates in South Africa.
Dr. Edward Everett Hale says he is
happy to say that 15 cats abide under his
front porch. Any one else but Dr. Hale
would be preparing to commit 135 mur
ders. Mrs. Lewis, the sister of Olive Schriener
and of Premier Schriener, of Cape Colony,
thinks that the Boer republics ought to be
swent from the face of the earth because
1 of their atrocious trpntmpnt. of the Alrl
can tribes. One of Mrs. Lewis' counts in
her arraignment Is the introduction of
spirituous liquors among the natives.
According to the annual treasury report,
at the Boston custom-house it costs 4S
mills to collect 51, at Detroit 113 mills, at
Chicago 2i mills, at San Francisco SB
mills, and at Tampa, Fla., 61 mills. These
are the lowest. The cost at the other
ports goe3 on increasing until it reaches
soma custom-houses where it costs 5100 to
collect a single dollar.
On the gate of the cemetery in Rio
Janeiro is a notice in Spanish, French
and English, that no aogs are admitted
unless led by the owner. This ia how the
announcement is made in "English":
"Noble mesdames and gentlemen who may
desire a dog to follow in this tombs-yard
will not be permission unless him drawn
by a cable round him throttle."
"When Cupid, -with his deadly bow.
Had set the mortals by the ears.
And made the region here betow.
One dismal vale of sighs and tears.
The greater gods began to see
How high the rutJilesa urchin stood,
And all agreed forthwith that be
Was given too much latitude.
Whereon they delegated Mars
To reason frith the roguish sprite;
Until hie eyea beheld more stars
Than ever shone on any night.
But Cupid by a friend -was Upped
To their .deep-laid end dread design.
And like a prudent boy he skipped,
And hid behind1 St. Valentine.
Since then he'a blithely shattered hearts,
u enina tne portly saint concealed.
And from the viotlms of his darts.
Old Valentine has been his shield.
Evan P. Howell, of the Atlanta Consti
tution, says that some years ago a South
ern man brought suit against the South
Carolina railroad for damages to hla
property. He lost the case in the superior
court,-but Insisted upon carrying it to the
supreme court, where he represented his
own cause. He began his argument by
saying whimsically: "May It please the
court, there Is an old French adage which
says, 'A man who Is his own lawyer hath
a fool for a client.' " The next week the
supreme court pronounced Its decision,
which was adverse to the Southerner. He
was in Augusta at the time, but received
tho announcement of his second and final
disappointment by means of a telegram
sent to him by a prominent judge who
was an Intimate friend of his. Tne tele
gram read as follows: "Judgment for de
fendant In error. French adage affirmed
by supreme court"
4 0
A DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE.
Chief Demand Probably Springs
From Needy Politicians.
Baltimore Sun.
The success of the bureau of foreign
commerce of the department of state in
utilizing consular reports for the benefit of
the export trade of the country has sug
gested to some of the advocates of an ex
tended foreign trade the project of creat
ing a new "department" of "commerce
and industries," and a new member of the
cabinet to preside over It. Senator Frye
has Introduced a bill to give effect to the
idea, with the approval of certain manu
facturing and commercial interests There
Is to be, according to the bill, a "secre
tary of commerce and industries," with an
assistant Secretary and a large corps of
chiefs of bureaus, clerks and clerical as
sistants. Something for the new officials
to do will be provided by transferring to
their care various bureaus and "depart
ments" that now exist under the control
of other members of the cabinet.
The several bureaus of the department
of the treasury known as the lifesavlng
service, the lighthouse board, the marine
hospital service, the bureau of steamboat
inspection, the bureau of navigation and
the United States shipping commissioners,
the bureau of Immigration, the United
States coast and geodetic survey, together
with the bureau of statistics, are to be
thus transferred frdm the department of
the treasury to the department of com
merce and industries, together with the
department of labor and the bureau of
statistics of the department of state.
The bureau of statistics of the depart
ment of state and of the treasury are to
be consolidated with the department of
labor, and out of the three is to emerge
a new bureau, to be called the "bureau of
statistics- of commerce and industries,"
with a chief, who shall be appointed by
the president, and his appointment shall
be subject to confirmation by the senate.
The department of commerce and Indus
tries is to have general jurisdiction over
the foreign and internal commerce of the
United States, except as relates to the col
lection of the revenue and the administra
tion of the customs and internal revenue
laws; it is also to have jurisdiction over
all matters relating to the manufacturing
Interests of the United States, including
the extension of foreign markets, and
the increase of trade facilities with for
eign countries. The secretary of com
merce and industries Is to have all the
duties now Incumbent upon the secretary
of the treasury in relation to the trade
and commerce of the United State3,
whether upon land or water. The consuls
are to have a divided allegiance, remain
ing under control of the department of
state so far as their purely consular, or
quasi-diplomatic, functions are concerned,
but reporting on all trade matters to the
new department. In one particular the
bill Is exceedingly defective, namely, that
it does not provide for competitive exam
inations of persons appointed to the con
sular service. What the consular service
needs is to be taken out of the domain
of spoils and to be made to afford a career
for men who will by study and hard work
prepare themselves for the exacting du
ties of a modern consular ofiicer. Till
this is done, the new department, so far
as its effect on our foreign commerce is
concerned, will be worthless. It seems,
Indeed, to be uncalled for, except by hun
gry politicians, who aspire to the $8000
salary that goes to the new secretary.
O P
The Puerto Ricnn Tariff.
Boston Herald.
"A satisfactory local tariff will never
be devised at "Washington for Puerto Rica
or the Philippines," declares the repub
lican Chicago Times-Herald. "This Is ab
solutely certain, because it will be passed
not for the good of the natives or of
the United States, but for the advantage
of various Interests in this country. Aa
well protect California against Florida
because they both raise oranges, or Vir
ginia against North Carolina because they
both raise and manufacture tobacco."
Perhaps our contemporary who says thl3
has not noted the fact that one of the
elaborate arguers for this Puerto RIcan
tariff takes the ground that it is in the
power of the states now to put In force a
tariff against the production of sister states
which they may find it inconvenient to
admit. There seems to be no limit to mod
ern constitutional interpretation. It will
be observed also that all these proposed
duties upon Puerto Rlcan productions are
based upon benefiting special American in
terests. The great army of consumers who
make up the masa of the nation are never
once mentioned In this connection.
i
The Matter In a Nutshell.
New York Press.
Who will make the most use of the
Nicaragua canal, if built? The United
States of America. Then, who has the
most Interest In the guarantee of Its neu
trality? The United States of America.
There is the whole question. That is
Why Great Britain neutralized the Suez
after both buying the canal and taking
possession of the country.
m O
Boer Sympathizers at the Cape.
London Chronicle.
A wounded officer, at one of the hos
pital establishments near Cape Town, met
in the grounds a little girl of about 6
years, with beautiful blue eyes, with whom
he got Into conversation. In the course
of their talk, Mlas Blue Eyes made the
follnwing rpmprfraWfc communications
"My papa says, you d d English are
killing the poor Boers!" "My papa says
you English catch the Boers and cook aad
eat them!" "My papa says, you English
take the poor Boers on the ships and throw
them into the sea. and drown them."
THE SEATTLE MORNING PAPER.
John I. Wilson Says It Ia Controlled
by Himself.
Walla Walla Statesman.
During its existence the Seattle Post
Intelligencer has been owned and eon
trolled by many men, and has been run in
all sorts of'lnterests, chiefly those of the
notorious "King county- ring," which
dominated the republican party of Wash
ington with unscrupulous bands for many
years, finally causing such a break in the
ranks of that party that the fusion forces
carried the state by a -Huge majority In
KS6.
After the election the paper passed from
"the Seattle ring" to Senator Turner and
other Spokane owners of the Le Rol, for
a song. They put the Piper brothers in
charge, and, with the luck that has fol
lowed Turner's Investments for a few
years, the Klondike rush made Seattle
a great outfitting point; pages of the
P.-I. were taken by steamship companies
and dealers in miners' outfits and. the
business of the establishment increased
so that big dividends were paid the own
ers. Last ran tne paper was soia to a
mysterious combination of capital, which
changed the editorial and business man
agement. Who were the purchasers was
not announced, though it was reported the
price paid was 50,000.
Now comes the Yakima Republic with
a statement that ex-Senator John L. Wil
son, In an interview with a North Yakima
friend, cleared up the mystery of the
ownership of the paper. Senator Wilson
Is reported as saying:
I own a oontrolllns Interest in the Post-Intel-lltreneer.
I acquired this interest in such a way
that neither any man nor corporation, nor any
faction or element of any political party, can
dictate to tae what shall be done with th
property or what shall be the policy of the
newspaper. I acquired it for two reasons: First,
as an Investment for profit, second, that the
republican party of the state might have the
Post-Intelligencer for a republican newspaper.
It ia not my intention to make a personal
organ of the paper, nor to uee It in any way
for my personal advancement. I cannot afford
to use a property so costly for eueh a purpose.
The editor works under no instructions from
me but these: To do all in his power through
the paper to build no the republican party and
cement its various elements together, to leave
my name out of his columns, aad to discharge
any subordinate who refers to Congressman
Cushman as the "Abraham; Lincoln of the
Northwest." My interest la the Post-Intelll-gencer
has nothing to do with any political am
bitions I may entertain; and in. that connection
I may say that I am not a candidate for any
office, and If I ever become a candidate here
after I shall be willing to take my chances in
a fair aaid open contest with my opponents
just as I have always taken them, before.
8
Failure of an Income-Tax Law.
Louisville Courier-Journal.
Tho Income-tax law, after two years
trial In South Carolina, has proved a
failure, and has been repealed.
It leyled a tax upon "the gross profit
and Income of every citizen of the state,
whether derived from reruts. Interest, div
ldents or salaries, or from any profession
or trade, or from any other source."
However, It exempted all incomes smaller
than $2000, fixing the rate thus:
Over ? 2,000 and up to 5 5.0CO 1 percent
Over 5,000 and up to 7,600 1 per cent
Over 7,600 and up to 10,000 2 percent
Over 10,000 and up to 16,000 2 per cent
Over 10.000 3 percent
During the first year of Its enforcement,
or of Its attempted enforcement, this law
yielded revenues In the magnificent sum
of $7000, In round numbers; but 19 coun
ties out of 40 in the state making any
returns whatever.
The people of South Carolina thus having
shown that they were in favor of an income-tax
law, "but agin Its enforcement,"
and tho paltry returns from it being in
sufficient to pay for the trouble, irritation
and wholesale lying which It entailed, the
law was summarily repealed.
o
Trying: to Dodge It.
It Is said that several senators who have
promised to vote for the admission of Quay
"have reserved the right to vote against
the question of consideration," and that
It Is hoped to defer the matter until the
adjournment of congress. This is not the
straightforward way of dealing with thi3
subject, but It Is as straightforward as the
devious Quay has any right to ask.
B
He Knew.
Philadelphia Press.
Pastor I suppose you know where the
bad little boys go?
Johnny (who has been told to stay in
the house) -Yes, I do. They go skatln and
sleddln', and have a Jolly good time.
Woes of tlie Disobedient.
Columbus (O.) State Journal.
Ethel, (to her younger brother, who bad
been whipped) Don't mind, brother, don't
mind.
Brother (between sobs) That's just what
I was licked fer.
. i o
The Emotions and Voting.
Boston Woman's Journal.
The woman suffrage associations may
now discuss the question, "Are the men
of Kentucky too emotional to be allowed
to take part in politics?'
a
Primitive Hardships.
Indianapolis Journal.
Lillian What awful, awful hardships
our forefathers must have experienced.
Blanche Yes, just think, they didn't have
olives.
B
Particulars DesIredV
Harlem Life.
Treetop A dollar for pulling one tooth?
Dentist Yes; you took gas.
Treetop How much a thousand do you
charge for that?
. o-
Progrcsilonal.
(Dedicated to Mr. Mudyard PipUns.)
The full text of the parody of Kipling by Sec
retary Reltz of the Transvaal Is as followsr
Gods of the Jingo Brass and Gold.
Lords of "the world by "Right Divine,
Under whose baneful sway they bold
Dominion over "Mine and Thine."
Such Lords as these have made them rotten.
They have forgotten they have forgotten.
The Nigger or the Chinee dies.
The Gladstones and the Pitts depart;
But "Bigger EngkmderB" arise
To teach the world the Raiders' art.
Such Lords as these have made them, rotten,
They have forgotten they have forgotten.
They've "got the Gold, the Ships, the Men,"
And are the Masters of Tomorrow,
And so mankind shall see again
The days of Sodom and Gomorrah.
These are the Lords that made them rotten,
They have forgotten they have forgotten.
Drunken with lust of Power and Pelf,
They hold nor man nor God in awe.
Bat care for naught but only Self,
And cent per cent's their only Law.
These are their Lords, for they are rotten.
They have forgotten they have forgotten.
Their valiant hearts have put their trust
In Maxim guns and Metrord rifles,
To knock the Niggers Into dust.
And such-like "unconsidered trifles"!
For boastful brag and fooHsh fake
Th' Imperialist shall "take the eake."
a i
At the War Office.
James Foley. Jr., In Bismarck Tribune.
A woman poor and a peeress proud,
A dingy room .and a crushing crowd-.
The gloom of death and grave and ehroHd,
A. stifled ory aad a sob aloud.
A heart has heard and an eye has read,
A soul has writhed and a lowered head
Is bowed, and a trembling tongue baa said:
"My God! My God! And he is dead."
A wall, a sob, and a bitter ory.
An anguished tear In a woman's eye,
A peeress's faee where agony
Is carved, and a mutely murmured "TVby?"
A woman stares and a peeress starts.
Without the din of traffic's marts
Throbs In the streets. Lie far apart
: TMriiTq, but nines, m dcee tbeu: heartal
gossip of inn natkwiai, cawtai
WASHINGTON. !b. U. wtor Mmon
asked unanimous isummmtot th senate to
day and secured it tor the pasngt of the
bill aporoprlatfitg $MW for a addition
to the Portland postoAc beMlag. This
bill will now so hi the bow Mmitteo
oa public bufldlBgg and grounds, and there
is a poselbuity of a iavoraM report, as
thte committee is determined to eeerch
a BWBaoer of nerftorlovs cm on where addi
tional appropriations are absolutely ne
cessary and report a few of then. If tho
committee of the bone does not aet, it
Is tho Intention of 8 a water SfaM have
the appropriation ptacad on the stmdry
civil bill, and try to get It through Jn that
way.
Palmer Democrat Gone to BryaB.
The list of men who attended the An
napofca convention aad Boenlmrteil Vatmer
aad Buekner, contained a large Mmber
of emtneat democrat". Some of these
who supported Palmer and Pwchnor or
McKlnley In the campaign four years ago,
are new with the Bryan democracy. The
list Is not very long, nor are the Barnes
particularly prominent In the party coun
cils. Some of the moat Important men of
this class are Governor Smith of Mary
land, Mayor Hayeg of Baltimore, Beurks
Cochran of New York, Ben Cable of Illi
nois, Michael Doran of Minnesota, D. H.
Chamberlain, ex-governor of South Caro
lina, Gamaliel Bradford. Thomas W. Hhr
glnsen and ex-Representative John Crosby
of Massachusetts. Oliver Behnent aad Ed
ward M. Shepard of New York. This
about completes the list of men who re
fused to support Bryan m ISM, hut wha
now accepts Bryaniem.
Some of these are s-apportlng' him bo
cause of their opposition to the expansion
idea, and others because they desire to
retain their party allegiance, aad And that
the silver men maintain a grip on the
party. Poestbiy Caffery of Louiatana, and
Lindsay of Kentucky, may joia the Bry
anites. though nobody knows their exact
position. Caffery aaye he does not know
whether to Join MeKlnley and imperial
ism or Bryan aad anarchy. Men Me ex
Governor Fraaefe, of Missouri, aad ex
Representatives Cobb aad Cuthwatte, of
Ohio, and By-rom, of ladtaaa, democrats
who were prominent fat their oeeeetttoa
to Bryan four years ago, are apparently,
unchanged.
Pnerto Rice Tariff.
There Is a great deal ef crWetem of
the administration m some circles heoauss
free trade has not been declared between
Puerto RSoo and this country. There are
some who think the president should not
have waited for congressional actios, hut.
as commander-in-chief of (he army, while
Puerto Rico was under military control.
declare the markets open.
It has been explained several times that
this was not done because It would leave
no method by which to raise money to
carry on the business of the Island. In
opposition to any such 3tep of this kind
also is the determination of the protec
tion element to prevent anything being
done which would establish free trade be
tween the island and the United States.
The position of the republican majority
In both houses will be attacked with somo
vigor in the next two weeks, when the
Puerto Rlcan bill Is under consideration.
Quay's Chances Less Favorahle.
It seems to be practlesHy settled that
either Hawaii or Puerto Bico will crowd
out the consideration of the Quay case
as soon as the financial hill ht out of the
way, and some of the warmest friends of
Quay take this to mean that his chances
are less favorable. There Is some sugges
tion that it would be pushed over until It
Is really too kite for congress to take
any action, although the right to a seat
in the senate has always been considered
of highest privilege.
Demands of the Alaskans.
The delegation of Alashans who aro
looking after the Interests of that terri
tory In Washington thte whiter includes
several of the goverasaea emefaJs and
prominent residents of that country. First
and foremost Is Governor Brady, along
with "W. L. Dtetln, surveyor-general; "Will-
lam A, Kelly, supervisor ot census, ana
John G. Price, the man appointed as a
delegate by the Juneau convention. Rich
ard F. Lewis, of Juneau, Mr. Washburn,
manager of the Alaska Commercial Com
pany, and Louis Sloes, a business man,
from Skagway, are also here. These are
by no means all of the Alaskans here, but
Include some that have taken aa active
interest in the Alaskan matters before
the committees of congress.
The prime objeot sought seems to be an
adequate system of courts and judiciary
generally. These representatives' desire
to have three courts, one at Cape Nome or
3t. Michaels, another at Eagle, and a
third at Juneau or Skagway. They say
that these three courts will be a great
saving in time to the Alaskan people, and
be of great assistance in the proper ad
ministration of the law.
The delegation Is also seeking appro
priations for the construction of roadB, -,
Are departments, and ether purposes.
They point out that the government now
collects a revenue of from $36s,W to 00.
000 a year by taxation, and none of it Is
expended for the people who pay these
taxes, -ney are supposed to have public
schools in somo communities, but it ia
said that the funds for conducting tnem
are voluntarily contributed by the various
citizens. In other places. Are departments
are maintained hi the same manner. Not
a dollar of the taxes collected In Alaska
can be expended for any purpose with
out an exact and specino appropriation
by congress.
Attention la also being called to the faot
that not only Is legislation necessary to
protect the mining lands and miners of
the Cape Nome country hut eome pro
vision will have to be rahde to improve
the sanitary conditions there, whtefa aro
now reported as dreadful.
River and. Harbor Hearings.
During the past week the river and
harbor committee of the house has givea
hearings on two separate days to dele
gations from various cities or states, fav
oring river and harbor Improvements in
whfoh they are particularly interested.
On one occasion the committee heard a
delegation of about from Brunswick,
Ga. This delegation was headed by ex
Senator Gordon, and was made up of the
leading business men, representtagr the
commercial Interests of the city. They ap
peared In behalf of the improvement that
is being made at their town. Om an
other occasion a delegation to the som
ber of 40 from Sandusxy, O., aad from
Pittsburg, Peon., as well as from Pater
son, N. J., were heard at length by the
committee. Bach delegation made state
ments in behalf of Iraprovemeate that
were local to them. In every Instance the
delegations were composed of leading citi
zens of the respective localities. Ahobs
their number were governors, ex-members
of congress, and ex-senators, mayors and
aldermen of the different cities.
But these delegations were accompanied
by experts and competent engineers, men
familiar with all the details and particu
lars of the needed river aad harbor Im
provements. They brought along elabo
rate statistics of the trade aad commerce
of their respective localities, and were
able to answer every question raised or
suggested by the committee. This same
method was pursued ay each of these
Eastern delegations, aad which has 1n the
past been pursued hy such Sastera locali
ties as need large river and harbor im
provements. The hearings that are netag given now
are not with a view to securing- special
appropriations at this session, bat rather
In the hopes of so Impressing the commit
tee with the Importance and needs of cer
tain localities that when the river and
harbor bill Is drawn, -the improvements
that have thus been brought to the front
and made dear will be given a proper
recognition. It will be some time before a
river and harbor bill Is framed, aad In
the interim 4t Is expected that the exam
ple set by several prosperous localtles of
the Bast will be taken up, aad that the
committee will continue to. give heartnsa
to other deserving localities.