Chapter XII: Part 12

The year 1906 is an off year in politics. No National tickets will be in the field; but National issues will be emphasized and direction given to the next campaign. It will be well for us to look the field over and examine our bearings. For many years we have trusted the great political parties to make up the issues that we, by ballot, are to decide; but experience has taught us that political parties make up blind issues, in which the people are not interested. The great issue before the people of this Government today is the enforcement of the law. The great monopolies, who are law defying in their tendencies, must be compelled to obey the law. The law-defying elements that are moved by selfish motives alone, must be made to bend to the will of the people.—_Lockwood (Mo.) Times._

* * * * *

Berlin, the capital of Germany, has solved the vexed sewage problem in a way that should commend itself to American cities, where we are away behind in the disposal of harmful and polluting refuse. The municipality of Berlin purchased thousands of acres of unproductive sand land near the city and fertilizing this with the sewage, raises big crops for the city’s benefit. Of course the plant is costly, but the proceeds of the farm repay all cost, besides a good profit.—_The American Farmer._

* * * * *

The Citizen regrets very much the domestic infelicity which seems to exist under the roof of the _Atlanta, Ga., News_. It is unfortunate. Hon. John Temple Graves, as the Rome Tribune puts it, “is the Atlanta News.” We would not give a thrip of our finger for it without him. He is the life of it, and his brain and energy have made it. He has kept it free from furtherance of his political ambitions, and has made it these years the impartial commentator of men and affairs. The whole trouble is, no doubt, the result of corporate greed, and the desire on the part of certain influences to control its policy.—_Dalton (Ga.) Citizen._

The next political campaign in this county will be more than interesting. Neither party has a “walkover” any longer. No candidate has a “cinch,” but those who win will have to work and satisfy the people. Moreover, our people are not going to vote for men they know to be bad, merely because nominated by their party. The object of our system of ballots is to give every voter a chance to exercise his individual opinion and our people, Democrats and Republicans, will do it.—_Bloomfield (Mo.) Courier._

* * * * *

If there are 80,000 populists in Georgia, Clark Howell had just as well come out of the race, for his attack on Tom Watson is an attack on each of them, and the result will be that every one of them will vote with him. They follow him wherever he leads with that same spirit of loyalty exhibited by the grenadiers who followed the matchless Napoleon. It is a bad political move to disturb this sleeping lion, who is, perhaps, the matchless master of the Queen’s English in Georgia. His store of information seems inexhaustable, and his logic irresistible. True, regardless of his politics.—_Marietta (Ga.) Courier._

Right, you are, neighbor. Watson’s reply to Howell on the Sibley letter was the hottest, the strongest, the most cutting and most biting political epistle that we have ever read.

Every word in it was as sharp as a two-edged sword and went as straight to the mark as a rifle ball.

We care but little what some writers say about us, but there are two people in Georgia, Mrs. Felton and Tom Watson, with whom we hope forever to keep on terms.

And Tom Watson is a man of convictions. He isn’t afraid of abuse when it comes to taking a stand for what he considers right.

Smart as he is, he sees through the political scheme being worked in Georgia to defeat Hoke Smith and he denounces it in no uncertain terms.

Listen to him: “If Hoke Smith succeeds, if the people will but realize that Hoke Smith is the only anti-ring candidate in the field, if they will but realize that the candidacies of Clark Howell, Jim Smith, Dick Russell, J. H. Estill, Jack Robinson, and Hiram-Fat-and-Go-Last all tend to the same object; if they will but realize that these different candidates are jumping-jacks which Hamp McWhorter has strung upon the same string, and that when Hamp strikes the string with the straw they all dance in the most diverting and uniform manner: if the people will but use their common sense and refuse to be divided, then Hoke Smith’s triumph is assured.”

Listen again to this patriotic paragraph: “And in my purpose there is a motive so dominant, and a plan so full of the promise of glorious results for Georgia and the South, that I shall not allow the rigid limits of party lines to tie my hands; but shall hold myself perfectly free to serve my people in the best way that circumstances allow, and as duty directs.”

And nobody will close Watson’s mouth. On that score he says: “One-horse politicians devoted to the ring need not think that their permission is necessary for me to advise with the people of Georgia. Their consent will not be asked. As a Georgian I have a right to be heard. My people came here when the Indians still roamed in the woods, and have been a part of Georgia ever since, serving her dutifully in the time of peace, fighting for her manfully in the time of war. There never lived a man who was more devoted than I to the best interests of my state and of the South. As a Southern man, I resent from the depth of my heart the political degradation into which our state has fallen, and I am going to do my level best to help Hoke Smith redeem it.”—_Lawrenceville (Ga.) Gwinnett Journal._

* * * * *

The bankers want more “currency”—so did the farmers a few years ago. At that time it was a crazy scheme—today it is sound finance!—_Penns Grove (N. J.) Record._

* * * * *

Senator Depew is reported to be in failing health, owing to the storm of criticism which has forced him from many places of honor, and which may lose him his Senate seat. And this is the witty Chauncey who was wont to laugh away opposition and carry his points so easily! “Great will be the fall thereof.”—_Hogansville (Ga.) News._

* * * * *

We move to amend Secretary Shaw’s motion for an elastic currency by striking out elastic and substituting adhesive.—_Republican City (Mo.) Ranger._

* * * * *

Secretary Shaw’s scheme for an elastic currency is to authorize the national banks to strike from their notes as now issued the words “secured by United States bonds deposited with the treasury of the United States,” and to issue 50 per cent more notes whenever the demand seems to exist. Thus, if the National City Bank of New York had issued all the notes it could against Government bonds, and a big stock gambler asked for a loan of $1,000,000, the bank would issue notes in that sum, charge him, say 10 per cent, retire the notes when the loan was paid, and pocket the interest in excess of the 6 per cent tax to the Government. Very nice arrangement that for the national banks. Little wonder that Wall Street takes kindly to the candidacy of Mr. Shaw for the presidency.—_Rushville (Ill.) Times._

* * * * *

Let’s see: Does this country lead the civilized world in progress? Well, hardly, since every other civilized country on the face of the earth, with the exception of Honduras and Costa Rica, own and operate their own telegraph lines and give a far more satisfactory service to the public for a far less consideration than it costs the dear people in this country of progress, where corporations, have, by robbing the people, accumulated untold wealth with which they are enabled to evade such laws as prove obnoxious to them, and can buy law-makers and have odious laws repealed and new ones made, giving them all the powers they seek.—_Cloverdale (Ind.) Graphic._

* * * * *

The Standard oil magnates have been again showing their contempt of law. Their attitude hatches more anarchists than all the Herr Most brand of incubators. The lawless rich and powerful are the real enemies of the republic.—_Pennsboro (W. Va.)_ News.

* * * * *

The _American_ agrees most heartily with Dr. Charles W. Eliot, president of Harvard University, when he says the great movement of the world is toward democracy. This is the natural result of an advancing civilization.

America overthrew the false doctrine of the divine right of kings to rule when she wrote the Declaration of Independence and declared that all men were born equal. Since then we have created by law a person as great, as arrogant and tyrannical as the king—the Public Corporation.

How can all men have an equal footing in law when we give special privileges to the corporate person and enable that person to levy tribute at will on the wealth of the nation?

How can all have equal rights, when the corporate person can spend millions of dollars to corrupt our city councils, our state legislatures, our Congress and our courts?

The movement against these legalized law-created individuals is the awakening of the spirit of democracy, and it means the eventual wiping out of these public service corporations which occupy relatively the same position in this country that the king does in a monarchy. It means that genuine democracy, the rule of the people, will supplant the rule of the corporation. It means the public ownership of all public utilities.—_Creston (Ia.) Morning American._

* * * * *

Whatever is said of Tom Watson, no one will deny that he has convictions and the nerve to stand by them. He knows no party lines when it comes to fighting for the principles he has so long advocated, and that is the reason he is now supporting Hoke Smith.—_Dalton (Ga.) Citizen._

* * * * *

The Philippine tariff is a characteristic act of the present régime. We first shot and beat the poor savages into submission. We then took away the market for their goods and compelled them to sell to, and buy of, us. We followed this with the Dingley tariff both coming and going. The fact that this was simple highway robbery did not shame us. At the point of a gun they are compelled to stand and deliver. The House has now passed a bill providing that we will stop robbing these “wards” of ours except the poor Sugar Trust and Tobacco Trust and they shall only continue their robbery until 1909. And do you know that some Republicans are actually claiming some credit for such a law as that?—_Frankfort (Ind.) Crescent Standard._

* * * * *

The author of our “Washington Letter” slops over this week in fulsome praise of Paul Morton, who at one time admitted his long-continued violation of the anti-rebate law—a crime which no honorable man would commit under any circumstances. The _Herald_ approves of no such condoning of crime on the part of any man from the President down to the lowest.—_Waseca (Minn.) Herald._

* * * * *

Burton cares not who makes the laws of the country, provided he gets his salary and mileage.—_Cumberland (Md.) Independent._

* * * * *

By stepping inside of the door of the Senate chamber so that the journal clerk could view him for half a minute, Senator Burton of Kansas was enabled to claim attendance on the 59th Congress and draw $1,000 mileage therefore. No, Senator Burton will not resign while he can draw his salary of $5,000 a year and mileage, even though his reputation does rest under a cloud. That cloud has a silver lining.—_Alva (Okla.) Renfrews Record._

* * * * *

A few years ago there was considerable riot in the subsidized press about the “disgrace” that had been heaped upon Kansas by the “Pops.” All manner of fun was poked at Peffer’s whiskers—but he was never sent to jail. This country had a good deal of fun over “Sockless Jerry,” but he was never accused of working any get-rich-quick concern. No “Pop” state officer has ever involved the state in such a scandal as has been hanging over the state treasury for the last three years. The “Pop” state secretary never loaded the state school fund up with a batch of worthless bonds. Honest now, how much has the reputation of Kansas been improved by the crowd that “redeemed it from Populism.”—_Mankato (Kan.) Advocate._

* * * * *

It is an honor, not a crime, to hold a public office. It is a proper reward for activity in politics, but he who accepts an office should never forget that the moment he enters upon the discharge of his duties he becomes then an officer for all the people, not only those who voted for his election, but those who opposed it.—_Indianola (Miss.) Enterprise._

* * * * *

As an evidence of the wide extent of the reform sentiment among Oregon voters of today, one has but to notice how anxiously eager the would-be candidates for Congress are to get into the reform band-wagon. At least two of the Republican aspirants are old-time ring politicians and probably care but little for most of the reforms demanded by the people further than to ride into office on the reform wave. But reform is in the air, gentlemen, and if you keep in the swim you will have to join the throng, and be honest about it, too.—_Scio (Oregon) Santian News._

* * * * *

H. H. Rogers of the Standard Oil Company the concrete expression of the rank insolence of a hundred millions of ill-gotten wealth.—_Rush Springs (I. T.) Landmark._

* * * * *

All cities which have adopted municipal ownership of their lighting plant are glad they did it, and would not think of going back to private ownership. Why should Grand Island be a back number in the progress of the world?—_Grand Island (Neb.) Democrat_.

_His Grudge_

BY TOM P. MORGAN

“The Ladies’ Aid Society of the church have undertaken the task of collecting half a mile of pennies,” said the Old Codger’s niece, “for the purpose of sending our pastor on a vacation trip.”

“Humph!” answered the veteran, with all the suavity of a hyena.

“A row of cents half a mile long,” persisted the lady, “will amount, so Sister Eunice Tubman has figured out, to $420.00, and—”

“I don’t care what they amount to!” doggedly declared the venerable curmudgeon. “While I’ve got any sense nobody will get any cents out o’ me for any such purpose! I don’t care a contaminated drat whether ‘our pastor’ stays at home or goes to the Whangdoodle Islands—whatever he does won’t be at my expense, lemme just rise to remark!”

“But, Uncle, you know the laborer is worthy of his hire, and—”

“Yuss! And the less they labor the higher they want their hire to be! Labor!—_huh!_ If more preachers would—aw, well, I won’t give an inch of that ’ere half mile of cents, and that settles it!”

“Why, Uncle, how _can_ you talk so? You are generally ready to give to good causes, and—”

“Ah-yah! But _his name is Bertram_!”

“To be sure, it is! And he is in every way such a worthy young man, and so intellectual, too! What possible grudge can you have against him?”

“Just told ye!—his name is Bertram! He also says ‘eyther’ and ‘nyther’, which pronunciations cheat me out of all the good his sermons might otherwise do me. I could overlook that, though, if his name wasn’t Bertram. For years that’s been pretty nearly a fighting word with me. When I was a freckle-nosed schoolboy in the old Head-o’-the-River district, there was a boy named Bertram there, who had a swifter sled than mine, and didn’t have to wear his Pa’s cut-down-to-fit-him clothes like I did, and who spelt me down the last day of school, and took from me the bashful affection of the pantaletted little girl who was all the world to me at that particular time. I couldn’t get even with him then for he could lick me, and did. And ever since I’ve—”

“But, my goodness! This isn’t the same Bertram!”

“No, but he’s a Bertram, and somehow all Bertrams have looked alike to me ever since. All these years I’ve been hostile to Bertrams, and have never been able to conquer the feeling, try as I might. Any Bertram affects me the same way—a Bertram is a Bertram, to me, and I simply can’t help it. The Lord loves a cheerful giver, and as I couldn’t any more give cheerfully to this or any other Bertram than I could sing a hymn while sitting down on wet ice, I won’t add a cent to that ’ere half-mile of pennies. That’s all there is to it.”

FROM JANUARY 8 TO FEBRUARY 8, 1906

_Home News_

January 8.—Senator Rayner, of Maryland, attacks President Roosevelt’s attitude on the Santo Domingan question. He declares the President has twisted the Monroe Doctrine into a “Roosevelt Doctrine.”

President Roosevelt transmits the report of the Panama Canal
Commissioners and the Panama Railroad directors to the Senate.
The reports are accompanied by a letter from the President in
which he challenges an investigation of the canal work.

Senator Bacon, of Georgia, introduces a resolution in the
Senate asking President Roosevelt why the United States is
mixing in the quarrel over Morocco, which threatens to bring
about a European war.

A resolution is introduced in the House for a committee to
investigate the treatment of Mrs. Minor Morris at the White
House. On Jan. 4, Mrs. Morris was forcibly ejected by order of
Secretary Barnes.

Standard Oil interests organize a Glucose Trust to control the
entire glucose business of the country.

H. H. Rogers again testifies in the investigation of the
Standard Oil Co. brought by the State of Missouri. He follows
his tactics of refusing to answer questions, and expresses
contempt for the laws of Missouri, and the Missouri Supreme
Court.

A landslide at Haverstraw, N. Y., kills 22 persons.

January 9.—The treatment of Mrs. Minor Morris at the White House brings severe criticism on Mr. Roosevelt. Prominent senators and congressmen condemn the President’s treatment of them at the hands of his secretaries. The newspaper correspondents claim that he exerts a press censorship over the Departments and allows nothing to be given to the press except what suits him. Many acts of misconduct in the Departments have been kept a secret. A large force of secretaries and secret service men prevent officials from seeing the President on official business, unless the President cares to attend to such matters.

The House Committee on Postoffices and Post Roads requests
Postmaster General Cortelyou to supply the Committee with all
information he may have on the franking abuses.

The National Bank of Commerce, New York City, drops J. H. Hyde,
J. W. Alexander, Senator Depew and Richard A. McCurdy from its
board of directors.

Judge J. H. Paynter is elected United States senator from
Kentucky to succeed Senator Blackburn.

The Senate accepts the President’s challenge, and orders an
investigation of the Panama Canal affairs.

Speaker Cannon succeeds in winning John Sharp Williams’s
support for the Philippine Tariff bill. This insures its
passage.

A judge of the New York Supreme Court issues a writ ordering
H. H. Rogers to show cause for not answering the questions
of Attorney-General Hadley, of Missouri, in the Standard Oil
investigation.

January 10.—Secretary Taft replies to Poultney Bigelow’s charges of maladministration in Panama. He virtually calls Bigelow a liar, but admits that negro women were sent to the Isthmus to be distributed as wives among the laborers. The charge that a boat-load of negroes from Martinique were clubbed is also admitted.

The Federal Grand Jury at Utica, N. Y., indicts the New York
Central and Delaware and Hudson railroads for rebating.

Mrs. Minor Morris, the woman who was ejected from the White
House, is in a critical condition.

Dr. William R. Harper, President of the University of Chicago,
dies at his home in Chicago.

January 11.—The Senate committee, which has the Panama investigation in charge, subpœnas Poultney Bigelow to testify about mismanagement of the Canal affairs.

President Roosevelt declares that it will be the fault of
Southern senators if the treaty with Santo Domingo is not
ratified.

Ramon Caceres, who succeeded Morales as President of Santo
Domingo, declares that he favors the Roosevelt treaty, and
that peace will soon be restored.

Senator Bacon’s resolution of inquiry into the Moroccan
question is shelved.

January 12.—The House and Senate leaders reach an agreement to meet the retaliatory legislation of foreign countries with a maximum and minimum tariff. The minimum tariff is to be the Dingley law. The maximum is a 25 per cent. addition to the Dingley schedule.

Congressman Longworth, of Ohio, addresses the House on the
Philippine tariff bill, and declares the Philippines to be a
shiftless, worthless lot of people.

The Insurgent Congressmen, that is, the Republicans who
oppose Speaker Cannon on the joint statehood bill, claim that
they have 51 votes and will defeat the bill. Two of them are
from Missouri. The President sends for the entire Missouri
delegation and tries to whip the two members into line, but
fails.

Mrs. Cassie Chadwick begins her term of imprisonment in the
Federal Penitentiary at Columbus, Ohio.

Congressman McCall, of Massachusetts, warns his Republican
colleagues that they must revise the tariff, or the Republican
Party will be defeated at the next election.

District Attorney Jerome, of New York City, prepares to
prosecute the guilty officials of the big life insurance
companies.

The Clyde Line steamship _Cherokee_ goes ashore on Brigantine
Shoals, off Atlantic City, N. J. Tugs and life-saving crews
have gone to the aid of the passengers and crew.

January 13.—President Roosevelt holds a conference with prominent New York Republicans with reference to ousting Odell from the leadership of New York State.

The President has a conference with Representative Hepburn and
indicates that he favors the Hepburn bill on railroad rate
regulation.

The notice to make H. H. Rogers testify in the Standard Oil
investigation is argued before Justice Gildersleeve in the New
York Supreme Court.

The debate on the Philippine tariff bill continues in the House.

Troops in the Philippines are being held in readiness to sail
for China in case the feelings against Americans cannot be
controlled by the Chinese Government.

Attorney General Mayer, of New York, prepares to bring suit
against the McCurdys and the directors of the Mutual Life
Insurance Co. for the restitution of illegal salaries and
commissions.

January 14.—All of the passengers and a part of the crew are rescued from the stranded steamer _Cherokee_. The captain, two mates and the ship’s carpenter refused to leave the vessel.

According to statistics gathered by insurance men, 17,700
persons were killed or wounded in the factories and steel
plants in Allegheny County, Penn., in 1905.

January 15.—Private Secretary Loeb denies that the President stated, while trying to whip the Missouri delegation into line on the Statehood bill last Friday, that money was being freely used by corporations to defeat the bill. About the time the denial is made, a delegation from Arizona returned from the White House, and stated that practically the same charge was made to them.

Secretary Taft declares that the Southern Pacific Railway,
through its ownership of the Pacific Mail Steamship Co., is
responsible for the congestion of freight on the Isthmus of
Panama, and consequent hindrance of canal work. The steamship
company refuses to move the freight on the Pacific side, hoping
to keep the blockade on the Atlantic side so great that no
Government boats can land there with more supplies. This will
force shipment via the Southern Pacific to San Francisco, and
from there to Panama via the Pacific Mail Steamship Co.

The captain with the remaining members of his crew abandons
the _Cherokee_. The rescue of passengers and crew was made by
Captain Casto, of Atlantic City, N. J., with his crew in his
schooner _Alberta_.

The debate on the Philippine tariff bill is brought to a close
in the House of Representatives.

The President prepares a message to Congress, favoring a lock
canal. The Canal Commission asks for $5,000,000 to continue the
work during the balance of the present fiscal year.

January 16.—Marshall Field, Chicago’s millionaire merchant, dies of pneumonia in New York City, at the age of 70.

The Panama Canal Commission decides to build the Canal by
contract. The President has approved the plan.

Congressman Hermann, of Oregon, who is under indictment for
participating in land frauds, takes the oath of office, and
begins to draw his salary.

January 16.—The House of Representatives passes the Philippine tariff bill. The bill admits goods the growth or product of the Philippines into the United States free of duty, except sugar, tobacco and rice, on which a tariff of 35 per cent of the Dingley rates is levied. Philippine goods coming to the United States are exempted from the export tax of the islands. The bill further provides that after April 11, 1909, there shall be absolute free trade each way between the United States and the Philippines.

The vote on the Statehood bill is indefinitely postponed
because Speaker Cannon fails to secure a sufficient number of
pledges to make its passage certain.

The annual meeting of the United Mine Workers of America is
held at Indianapolis.

The Senate debates the question whether Congress has the right
to delegate to the courts its power to fix railroad rates.

The resolution introduced in the New York State Senate, asking
Senator Depew to resign, is lost by a vote of 34 to 1. The
Democrats refused to vote on the resolution.

January 17.—Senator Tillman, of South Carolina, bitterly attacks President Roosevelt on account of Mrs. Minor Morris’ treatment at the White House. Senator Hale, of Maine, alone makes a protest, and that on the ground of propriety.

The House of Representatives passes 166 private pension bills.

Ex-Senator David B. Hill, of New York, asks that his connection
with the Equitable Life Assurance Society be investigated by
the New York State Bar Association.

Three midshipmen are dismissed from the United States Naval
Academy at Annapolis for hazing.

The 200th anniversary of the birth of Benjamin Franklin is
celebrated in Philadelphia and Boston.

Suits for $2,000,000 are filed by the city of Chicago against
two street railway companies for running cars overcrowded with
passengers.

January 18.—Poultney Bigelow refuses to answer questions about conditions as described by him in an article on the Isthmus of Panama, before members of the Senate Committee. He is arrested for contempt, but is later released.

Secretary Root states that the United States has no political
interest in the Moroccan conference, but has a trade interest,
and for that reason the United States is represented.

Senator Tillman’s resolution, calling for an investigation of
the expulsion of Mrs. Minor Morris from the White House is
tabled.

Secretary Taft advocates the construction of a direct cable
connecting the United States with Panama. The Secretary
declares this cable indispensable to the military control of
the Gulf of Mexico in time of war.

Eighteen miners are killed by an explosion at Paint Creek, W.
Va.

Congressman Sulzer, of New York, introduces a bill to increase
the President’s salary to $100,000 and the Vice-President’s to
$25,000 per year.

The Keep Commission, appointed by the President to investigate
the method of gathering statistics for crop reports, recommends
that the reports on the cotton crops be restricted to monthly
reports showing the condition of the growing crop during the
growing season. The acreage planted and the ginning statistics
of the Census Bureau should be the only Government reports on
those matters.

January 19.—Luke E. Wright, former Governor of the Philippines, is appointed first Ambassador to Japan.

Representatives of the insurance departments of several states
confer with Armstrong Committee, which conducted the recent
insurance investigation in New York, with a view to bringing
about uniform insurance laws.

January 20.—The Senate Committee on the Philippines takes under consideration the Philippine tariff bill.

Robert H. Todd, Mayor of San Juan, Porto Rico, appears
before the House Committee in behalf of the Larrinaga bill
to reorganize the Porto Rican civil government. He declares
that American members of the executive council are doing the
insular Government a great injustice by occupying as residences
Government buildings needed for the housing of courts and
departments of the Government.

January 21.—Eighteen negroes are killed and fifty injured in a stampede following the discovery of fire in a church in Philadelphia.

The thermometer registers 86 degrees in Pittsburg. One person
is overcome by the heat. Cities all over the country report
much suffering from the heat.

Congressman Sulzer, of New York addresses a mass-meeting of
citizens at Washington, D. C., and declares that the Powers
must end Russian cruelty. Congressman Rainey, of Illinois, in
addressing the same meeting, said that the United States had
saved Russia from the victorious Japanese and ought now to save
her from herself. Congressman Towne, of New York, introduced a
resolution thanking the President for his efforts in bringing
about a cessation of the unspeakable crimes against the
oppressed people of Russia.

January 22.—Senator Burton, of Kansas, who has been convicted of malfeasance, appears in the United States Senate for thirty seconds. This entitles him to collect his $1,000 mileage.

Secretary Taft denies that any member of the Philippine
Commission or any army or naval officer owns directly, or
indirectly, any lands in the Philippine Islands.

January 23.—Senator Spooner, of Wisconsin, attempts to defend the President’s Santo Domingan policy in the Senate. Senators Tillman, of South Carolina, and Culberson, of Texas, make strong replies.

Both Republican and Democratic members of the House Committee
on Interstate and Foreign Commerce unanimously agree on the
railroad rate bill introduced by Congressman Hepburn, of Iowa.
The bill will be sent back to the House for passage at once.

Chief Engineer Stevens, of the Panama Canal Commission, appears
before the Senate Committee, and advocates a lock canal.

The Government opens its case against the Beef Trust at Chicago.

Kansas oil refiners appeal to Commissioner Garfield against
impositions of the Standard Oil Co.

A plot of anarchists to assassinate some of the leading men
of the country is unearthed at Washington, Pa. Governor
Pennypacker was one of the doomed number.

January 24.—Senator Lodge, of Massachusetts, addresses the Senate in defence of President Roosevelt’s Moroccan and Santo Domingan policies.

A rule for consideration of the Joint Statehood bill is passed
by the House of Representatives. This practically assures the
passage of the bill.

The Imperial Chinese Commissioners visiting this country are
received at the White House by President Roosevelt.

State Senator Raines, introduces a bill in the New York
Legislature providing for a recount of the vote cast in the
recent New York City mayoralty election.

January 25.—The Joint Statehood bill, providing for the admission of Oklahoma and Indian Territory as the State of Oklahoma, and New Mexico and Arizona as the State of Arizona is passed by the House.

Senator Mooney, of Mississippi, criticises President
Roosevelt’s Moroccan and Santo Domingan policies.

Attorney General Hadley, of Missouri, who is in Cleveland,
Ohio, taking testimony in the Standard Oil investigation,
charges the Standard’s officials with forgery committed in New
York City, and offers to submit the proof to District Attorney
Jerome in order that he may prosecute.

General Joseph Wheeler dies at the home of his sister in
Brooklyn, N. Y.

Stephen Decatur, great-grandnephew of the famous Stephen
Decatur, is expelled from the United States Naval Academy, at
Annapolis, for hazing.

Stuyvesant Fish, of New York, President of the Illinois Central
Railroad Co., declares that corporations need the knife of
reform.

January 26.—President Roosevelt makes a public statement that an attorney for the Beef Trust paid a Chicago newspaper reporter to write accounts of the Beef Trust Trial favorable to the trust.

The members of Wisconsin’s legislative committee to investigate
life insurance companies visit New York to confer with members
of the Armstrong Committee about points to guide them in their
investigation.

Luke Wright, former Governor of the Philippines, appears before
the Senate Committee on the Philippines, and advocates the
passage of the Philippine Tariff bill, recently passed by the
House.

Chairman Shonts of the Panama Canal Commission appears before
the Senate Interoceanic Canal Committee and tells what work
is being done on the Canal. He declares that a great amount
of work in the way of improving sanitary conditions and
building houses has been completed, and that the actual digging
will begin about July 1. Mr. Shonts admits that he is still
President of the Clover Leaf Railroad, at the salary of $12,000
per year.

Mayor Billock and the chief of police of Monongahela, Pa.,
request Gov. Pennypacker to send troops to that place to aid
in the capture of a band of anarchists. This is the same band
which planned the assassination of Gov. Pennypacker and many
other prominent men.

Attorney General Hadley, of Missouri, examines men engaged
in the independent oil business at Cleveland, Ohio, in the
investigation of the Standard Oil Co. by the State of Missouri.

The New York Legislature proposes investigation of the
banking system similar to the insurance investigation made
by the Armstrong Committee. The Iowa Legislature proposes an
investigation of Iowa insurance companies.

January 27.—The Panama Canal Commission decides in favor of a lock canal. The final decision will be made by Congress.

The House passes the Urgent Deficiency bill making the
appropriation to meet the present demands of the Panama
Commission. The eight hour law is eliminated so far as foreign
labor is concerned.

Insurance Commissioner R. E. Polk, of Tennessee, notifies all
of the insurance companies which made contributions to campaign
funds to return such funds or discontinue their business in
Tennessee.

Counsel for the Beef Trust denies the statements that money
was paid newspapermen to write accounts of the present trial
favorable to the Trust.

William H. Van Shaick, who was captain of the steamer _General
Slocum_, which was burned in the East River, New York City,
on June 15, 1904, causing the death of more than one thousand
persons, is found guilty of neglect of duty and sentenced to
ten years in the penitentiary.

January 29.—The House of Representatives passes the following resolution: “That the President is hereby requested to report to the House all facts within the knowledge of the Interstate Commerce Commission which show or tend to show that there exists at this time, or heretofore within the last twelve months has existed a combination or arrangement between the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, the Pennsylvania Company, the Norfolk and Western Railway Company, the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company, the Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington Railroad Company, the Northern Central Railway Company and the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Company, or any two or more of said railroad companies, in violation of the act of July 2, 1890.” The resolution was introduced several days ago by Mr. Gillespie, of Texas, and had been referred to a committee which had failed to make a report on it. Seeing that a majority of the railroad congressmen were absent from their seats, Mr. Gillespie put the resolution before the House and had it passed before the railroad men could be rallied.

Senator Heyburn charges that a press agency is maintained at
Government expense in the Forestry Bureau. He also states that
mining and agricultural interests are being interfered with in
Idaho by the Forestry Bureau.

Senator Tillman, of South Carolina, calls up his resolution
asking for an investigation of the Chinese boycott. The
resolution is referred to a committee.

Secretary Taft asks for a reserve army of 50,000 men, at a cost
of $2,000,000 per year. The reserves are to consist of men who
have served one term of enlistment in the regular army. They
are to be allowed to live wherever they wish in the United
States, but to be subject to call by the President of ten days
each year for instruction, and on the outbreak of a foreign war
to be called into active service.

Attorneys for the Beef Trust testify that Commissioner of
Corporations Garfield promised members of the Trust immunity
from criminal prosecution if they would give certain
information about Trust methods.

At Ormond Beach, Florida, an automobile is driven two miles in
58⅘ seconds.

General Wheeler’s body is buried at Arlington, the National
cemetery near Washington, D. C.

The Senate Committee on Territories reports favorably on the
Joint Statehood bill.

Secretary Taft states that it will be several years before any
contracts for Canal work are let.

January 30.—In response to Congressman Gillespie’s resolution, President Roosevelt asks the Interstate Commerce Commission for a report on the Pennsylvania Railroad merger.

The Hepburn Railroad Rate Regulation bill is taken up by the
House of Representatives. A vote on the bill is expected by
February 6.

A resolution is introduced in the New Jersey Senate directing
the Attorney General of that state to bring suits to forfeit
the charters of the Standard Oil and its subsidiary companies.

The earnings of the Steel Trust for the quarter ending December
31, are $35,278,688.

Edward Morris, of Nelson Morris Co., testifies that
Commissioner Garfield promised the beef packers immunity from
prosecution when he inspected their secret accounts. Samuel
McRoberts, Treasurer of Armour & Co., testifies to the same
effect.

January 31.—Senator Patterson, of Colorado, a Democrat, makes a speech in the Senate in support of President Roosevelt’s policies in Santo Domingo, Morocco and railroad rate regulation.

The debate on the Hepburn railroad rate regulation bill is
continued in the House of Representatives.

Justice Gildersleeve, in the New York Supreme Court, hands
down a decision in which he refuses to make H. H. Rogers
answer certain questions asked by Attorney General Hadley, in
the investigation of Standard Oil methods, until the Missouri
courts have decided on a similar case.

February 1.—Republican Senators deny that the President has issued an ultimatum to them on the railroad rate question.

The House of Representatives passes a resolution calling on the
Director of the Census for all cotton statistics.

The debate on the Hepburn bill continues in the House.

Lieutenant General Adna R. Chaffee retires from command of the
U. S. Army. Major General John C. Bates is nominated to succeed
him.

The Democratic Senators are alarmed by Senator Patterson’s
speech in favor of the Santo Domingo treaty, and call a caucus
for Saturday.

February 2.—The President holds several conferences with Senate leaders on a compromise railroad rate regulation bill. Some of the Republican Senators are opposed to the Hepburn bill which is now before the House.

The Democratic senators threaten to bar all Democrats from
future caucuses who support the Santo Domingan treaty.

The joint conference of coal operators and miners, held at
Indianapolis, adjourns without reaching an agreement on a wage
scale. The failure to reach an agreement is almost sure to
result in another great strike, beginning April 1.

The Government wrings an admission from the Beef Trust that the
National Packing Co. is simply a “holding” concern. It buys all
the cattle, but does all of its business through constituent
corporations.

February 3.—The caucus of Democratic senators at Washington adopts a resolution that it is the duty of every Democratic senator to oppose the Santo Domingan treaty.

The National Executive Board of the United Mine Workers decides
on a plan to raise $5,000,000 with which to carry on the strike
of the coal miners, beginning April 1.

The Panama Canal Commission decides on an 85-foot level lock
Canal. It is estimated that a lock Canal will cost $100,000,000
less than a sea-level canal.

February 5.—John F. Wallace, former chief engineer of the Panama Canal Commission, appears before the Senate Committee and explains why he resigned. He claims that incapable men were given greater authority than the chief engineer.

The leaders of the Pennsylvania coal miners are divided on the
question of ordering the great strike.

The Democratic members of the House Committee on appropriations
make a minority report opposing the appropriation of $600,000
for fortifying Manila and other cities in the Philippines.

The report of the Interstate Commerce Commission shows that the
Pennsylvania Railroad really controls the Baltimore and Ohio
and several other roads.

February 6.—President Roosevelt urges a modification of the hazing laws at the United States Naval Academy.

Thos. W. Lawson asks Gov. Cummins, of Iowa, to serve on a
committee of five to vote New York Life and Mutual Life
insurance proxies, given to Lawson by policy-holders.

There seems to be general dissatisfaction among the coal miners
over the proposed strike. The miners ask the resignation of
the president of the Pittsburg district, and the National
President, John Mitchell, is called on to settle the dispute.
The mine owners are laying up a reserve supply of 6,500,000
tons to meet the demand in case the strike takes place.

The House of Representatives continues to discuss the Hepburn
Railroad Rate bill.

District Attorney Jerome orders witnesses to appear before the
New York City Grand Jury with a view to criminal prosecution of
the officials of life insurance companies.

The Standard Oil Co. is considering a plan to increase its
capital stock from $100,000,000 to $600,000,000.

February 7.—A large number of amendments to the Hepburn Rate Regulation bill are rejected. The bill stands as the House Committee reported it.

The Senate hears evidence against Senator Reed Smoot, the
Mormon from Utah. Professor Wolfe, a former Mormon, testifies
that the Mormon oath contains the “seed of treason.”

M. Taigny, former French chargé d’affaires who was forced to
leave Venezuela, reaches New York City.

Senator Patterson, of Colorado, who bolted the Democratic
caucus on the Santo Domingan treaty, introduces a resolution
declaring party caucus dictation unconstitutional. Senator
Bailey, of Texas, replies to Senator Patterson, and severely
criticises the President, the senator and the treaty.

February 8.—John A. McCall, former President of the New York Life Insurance Co., is seriously ill at Lakewood, N. J.

Richard A. McCurdy, former President of the Mutual Life
Insurance Co., plans to leave the United States and make his
home in Paris.

The New York Life Insurance Company’s “house cleaning”
committee reveal that Judge Andrew Hamilton has received
$1,347,382 from that company since 1892. This is $283,383
in excess of the total payments disclosed by the Armstrong
Committee. The committee recommends legal action against John
A. McCall for the recovery of the amount.

Senator La Follette, of Wisconsin, introduces a bill in the
Senate making it a penalty for any Government officer, official
or employee to accept a railroad pass or franking privilege
over telegraph lines.

By a vote of 346 to 7 the House of Representatives passes
the Hepburn Railroad Rate Regulation bill just as it came
from the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce and
declared by Chairman Hepburn to be exactly in accordance with
recommendations of President Roosevelt on the subject.

The House of Representatives passes the General Pension bill
for the year ending June 30, 1907. The bill appropriates
$140,245,000. Congressman Gardner, of Michigan, declares
that when the last pensioner on account of the civil war has
disappeared from the rolls, $12,000,000,000 will have been
expended.

_Foreign News_

January 8.—Another plot to kill the Czar of Russia is discovered.

The massacre of Jews in Russia is denounced at a public meeting
in England.

King Edward dissolves the existing parliament, and orders the
polling for the new one to begin January 13 and end January 27.

Negotiations for a settlement between the Bermudez Asphalt Co.
and Venezuela again fail. Secretary Root will probably ask
Congress to settle the dispute.

A few minor disturbances occur in Russia. Many arrests are made
by the police.

St. Pierre-Miquelon agrees to aid Newfoundland in her campaign
against American fishermen.

January 9.—A general uprising in Siberia is feared by the Russian Government. Martial law is being extended to more provinces. The peasants continue to burn and pillage in the Baltic provinces. Russia pledges some of her railroads to secure a loan from Paris bankers.

The Japanese Government plans to give $75,000,000 in pensions
and bonds to the soldiers and sailors who fought in the war
with Russia.

January 11.—The cost of the Russo-Japanese war to Russia reaches $1,050,000,000.

Premier Witte states that the Government will not yield to the
revolutionists’ demand for transforming the National Assembly
into a Constituent Assembly for the purpose of formulating a
constitution.

Russian troops kill 65 revolutionists who attempt to wreck a
military train in Livonia. The revolt in Esthonia ends.

The feeling against foreigners is growing stronger in the
Southern part of China.

Dispatches from Madrid, Spain, state that there is little fear
of a serious difficulty between Germany and France over the
Moroccan question.

January 12.—General Morales resigns as President of Santo Domingo, and prepares to leave for Cuba on the U. S. gunboat _Dubuque_.

Venezuela and France sever diplomatic relations. France
will push her claims against Venezuela until they are fully
recognized.

The worst of the insurrection in Siberia seems to be over.
The leading members of the Warsaw revolutionary committee
are arrested. Cossacks shell an Armenian seminary at Tiflis,
killing more than 300 persons.

German Socialists prepare to hold meetings in Berlin to
commemorate the Red Sunday in St. Petersburg, and to protest
against suffrage restrictions in Prussia.

Dispatches from London state that the European Powers will
aid France in her contentions against Germany on the Moroccan
question.

January 13.—A. J. Balfour, former Premier of England and leader of the Unionist party is defeated for re-election to Parliament by T. G. Horridge, Liberal and Free Trader. So far the Liberals and Labor Party have gained eighteen seats over the Unionists in the present election.

Fears prevail in Paris that the Emperor of Germany will be too
aggressive in the Moroccan dispute.

January 14.—France recalls her Minister from Venezuela. The French interests are placed in the hands of the American Minister.

The delegates are gathering at Algeciras, Spain, for the
conference on the Moroccan question.

Carlos F. Morales, former President of Santo Domingo, reaches
San Juan, Porto Rico. He declares in favor of the treaty
between Santo Domingo and the United States now before the
Senate for ratification.

The Santo Domingan troops rout the rebels in a battle at
Guayubin, Santo Domingo.

M. Durnovo is made Minister of the Interior by the Emperor of
Russia.

General Nogi is enthusiastically welcomed home by the people of
Tokio.

January 15.—The election of members of the British Parliament up to date shows a landslide. The Liberals have elected 132 members while the Unionists have elected thirty.

The peasants are said to be committing all manner of horrible
crimes in Orel, Russia. Maj. Gen. Lisooiki is assassinated
at Penza. Assassins kill three sergeants of police at Riga.
The revolutionists continue to resist the Government in the
Caucasus.

Dispatches from Paris state that France will send warships to
coerce Venezuela into paying France’s claims.

The Czar starts a movement to reorganize the Church in Russia.

January 16.—The Moroccan conference begins at Algeciras, Spain. The Duke of Almodovar, Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, is elected President of the conference.

The Liberals continue to gain over the Unionists in the
election now being held in England. John Burns, President of
the Local Government Board and a prominent labor leader, is
re-elected by 1,800 majority.

St. Petersburg Police raid a meeting of the Workman’s Council
and capture 22 members. Revolutionary documents, correspondence
and the headquarters from which propaganda is conducted to
the army and navy are discovered. In the Caucasus the rebels
continue their resistance to the Government.

January 17.—Joseph Chamberlain and his seven candidates are returned to Parliament from Birmingham, England.

M. Fallières, President of the French Senate, is elected
President of the French Republic to succeed M. Loubet.

Venezuelan officials prohibit M. Taigny, the French chargé
d’affaires, from landing in Venezuela. The heads of the French
cable officers at Caracas and La Guayra are also expelled.

January 18.—Delegates to the Moroccan conference agree that the shipping of contraband arms into Morocco must be stopped.

After giving M. Maubourguet the Venezuelan chargé d’affaires,
his passport, the French Government has him escorted to the
Belgian frontier by special police.

Serious riots occur in Hamburg, Germany, between the police and
Socialists. About 20 policemen and 15 Socialists are wounded
when the police attempt to disperse a crowd of Socialists
erecting a barricade in the street.

The Constitutional Democrats of Russia meet in convention in
St. Petersburg.

Trouble continues in the Baltic and Southern Provinces, and the
Czar is still afraid to leave his palace.

January 19.—The Constitutional Democrats of Russia vote to take part in the elections to the duma.

Dispatches state that three French warships have appeared off
the coast of Venezuela.

The insurgent forces capture Quito, the capital of Ecuador.
Vice-president Baquerizo Moreno assumes executive power and
will appoint a new Cabinet.

According to advices received at the Japanese Embassy, at
Washington, 680,000 persons are starving in the Northern
Provinces of Japan. The condition is due to the short rice
crops, which is only 15 per cent of the average.

January 20.—The new Government of Ecuador lasts one hour. Baquerizo Moreno is overthrown and General Eloy Alfaro made President. About two hundred persons were killed or wounded during the fighting.

The Venezuelan Government continues to garrison the ports and
collect supplies for the troops.

January 22.—Two hundred and twelve men were killed and thirty-six injured by an explosion on the Brazilian warship _Aquidaban_.

After winning a battle in which three hundred men were killed
and one hundred wounded, General Alfaro is recognized by all
factions as president of Ecuador.

January 23.—The United States leaves France free to act as she sees fit in the Venezuelan case. French warships are reported under way to Venezuela.

The Powers are all using their influence to bring about a
reconciliation between France and Germany over the Moroccan
dispute.

The steamship _Valencia_, from San Francisco, is driven ashore
on the coast of Vancouver Island. Grave fear is felt for the
ninety-four passengers and crew of sixty, as the storm is too
severe for any vessel to go to the rescue.

Fighting continues in the provinces of Southern Russia, where
the rebels are holding their own.

January 24.—Reports state that 139 persons lost their lives in the wreck of the steamer _Valencia_ near Cape Beale, Vancouver Island.

Reports from Algeciras, Spain, indicate that the Powers are
inclined to favor Germany’s contention.

The Russian troops are restoring order in the Caucasus, Black
Sea and Sidonia district.

The returns of the English elections show 578 members elected
to the House of Commons. Of the total, the Liberals returned
312, the Laborites 48, the Nationalists 81, and the Unionists
137.

The revolution in Ecuador spreads. Two provinces are in the
hands of the revolutionists.

January 25.—President Castro, of Venezuela, claims that the French Minister, M. Taigny, violated the laws of port in denying Venezuelan police and boarding a French vessel for protection.

Report from the Russian Baltic provinces show that the
revolution is by no means suppressed. As soon as the troops
capture one town, fighting breaks out in another.

January 26.—General Selivanoff, commander of the Russian troops at Vladivostok, is seriously wounded. The revolution has taken on new life at that place. Count Witte opposes giving any more concessions to the people.

The Cuban Senate appropriates $25,000 with which to buy Miss
Alice Roosevelt a wedding present.

Dispatches from French West Africa state that the Sultan of
Morocco is endeavoring to get the natives of the Soudan to
organize a holy-war against France.

Thirty-seven persons are saved from the steamer, _Valencia_,
which was wrecked near Cape Beale, Vancouver’s Island. All 154
persons left on board the vessel were drowned.

The revolution in the Russian Caucasus continues to spread.

France decides to boycott all Venezuelan products before making
a naval demonstration.

French and German envoys to the Moroccan conference are holding
meetings in hopes of reaching an agreement on the points in
dispute.

January 27.—Reports from Vladivostok show that the revolution has not been crushed. St. Petersburg dispatches claim that the revolution in the Russian Baltic provinces is drawing to a close. A fight between troops and revolutionists takes place at Gomel and the town is burned.

Discussion of the dispute of Germany and France continues at
Algeciras, Spain.

Twenty-five members of the diplomatic corps at Caracas send a
note to the Venezuelan Government disapproving of the treatment
of M. Taigny, the French Minister.

Fighting between Raisuli and the Anjera tribesmen is renewed
near Tangiers, Morocco.

January 28.—General Linevitch reports that the mutinous sailors at Vladivostok have been disarmed. Reports from Viatka show that school children held a fort against a battalion of Russian soldiers for fifteen hours.

Fighting continues in Morocco. The rebels are victorious in
several fights.

January 29.—King Christian IX of Denmark dies suddenly at Copenhagen. The King was the father of Crown Prince Christian Frederick, of Denmark, Alexandra, Queen of England, Dagmar, Dowager Empress of Russia, King George, of Greece, Thyra, the Duchess of Cumberland, and Prince Valdemar of Orleans. He was the grandfather of the Czar of Russia and of King Haakon of Norway.

The Russian authorities again claim that the Vladivostok
trouble has been terminated.

President Castro is making active preparations for a war with
France.