Jasper County Democrat, Volume 8, Number 9, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 June 1905 — WASHINGTON LETTER. [ARTICLE]

WASHINGTON LETTER.

Political and General Oossip of the National Capitol. Special Correspondence to The Democrat: We are assured ou the highest authority that all is serene within the President’s cabinet and that there is not a suggestion of a split as a result of the conflicting views of the President and some of his advisors on the subject of tariff readjustment. This may be true and it may not. For instance, Secretary Taft has just told the Ohio convention that the next Congress must make some provision to prevent the continual piling up of a deficit and the Secretary proposes, without committing himself to either alternative, a return to the old war taxes, or a readjustment of the tariff schedules along the lines which will produce more revenue as the two methods of preventing further deficits and recouping the government for the amount it has already expended in excess of its receipts. Secretary Shaw, on the other hand, speaking for the administration, has just told the newspaper men at St. Louis that, “We are worrying about the deficit.” Of course it may be said that Secretary Shaw is not the kind of a man to worry ; that he could go through the world treading on volcanoes with a smile on his countenance, or enjoy his afternoon’s smoke, and his siesta in a powder magazine, entirely oblivious of the probable consequences. On the other band Secretary Taft is by no means of the worrying kind, and when Mr. Taft declared that Congress must take some action to prevent its increase he was not “worrying” but merely stating a bold proposition which must appeal to every bussiness man who has heard or read his presentation of the case. t t t

If the truth were known, it would probably be discovered that it is Secretay Shaw who is doing the worrying in this instance, however- He iB really much worried because, being a violent stand patter, he fears that the people will demand in no uncertain tones that the sacred Dingley schedules be reduced. He knows that would be the logical course for his party but he wants to slip into the White House with the votes and the assistance of the protected monopolies and he greatly fears the result to his presidential aspirations if the tariff is touched. Consequently Mr. Shaw will not admit in public that there is anything in the nation’s financial affairs to worry about and he hopes it will come out right in the end. In any event, Mr. Shaw retires from the Treasury next February and if disaster follows his retirhe will be able to charge the blame to his successor, but if the tariff schedules are reduced by the administration of which he happens to be a member the protected interests will not contribute the golden slieckels so necessary to the votes of “the colored brothers” who come as delegates to every Republican National convention.

t ft After perpetrating one of the most extraordinary farces ever witnessed in Washington, the Senate Committee on Interstate Commerce has adjourned to meet again two weeks bbfore the next meeting of Congress. The committee has taken an immense amount of testimony which no one will ever read, most of it favorable to the railroads and that which was not, was so distorted by interruptions and so mangled by the presistent browbeating of the witnesses opposed to the railways, thiit its force was lost. After the committee adjourned Senator Kean had the temerity to go to the White House and advise the President not to convene Congress in special session next fall because, said the Senator, “it would do no good.” So far bb can be learned the President has not altered his purpose of calling Congress into session on October 16, although, between the standpatters who fear some change of the tariff schedules and the railway men who fear some legislation which will curtail their prerogatives, there is tremendous pressure being brought to bear on Mr. Roosevelt, pressure to which he may eventually yield. t tt

For some inscrutable reason a number of the sensational newspapers of the country, and some not ordinarily bo, have taken to publishing lurid stories about the desertions from the navy. It has been alleged that there are hundreds of desertions each year and that the navy officers are. distraught in their efforts to end suoh demoralization of the servioe. Borne papers have sent out men to interview disgruntled navy cooks and gallery boys and then

published their statements as if they came from able-bodied seamen, etc. The facts are that there are no extraordiary number of desertions from the navy and no unusual amount of dissatisfaction. There are always some desertions, and the peculiar part of this fact is that they come in the most unexpected places and often in ships where the greatest contentment seems to prevail. Naval officers are inclined to the belief that their men, every once in a while, become homesick or form some attachment ashore, either of which state of mind is quite sufficient to make the average man desert. The Navy Department officials are now preparing statistics to support their statements that the navy desertions are not abnormal this year. t t + Considerable interest attached, in militia circles throughout the country, to the coming meeting of the Interstate National Guard association, which will occur in St. Paul, Minnesota, on June 19 Assistant secretary of warOlliver is making preparations to attend, as are General Elliot, commandant of the 'Marine Corps, and General Hall, who has charge of militia affairs in the war department. One of the important moves which it is expected the association will take will be the inauguration of a systematic campaign to secure the apportionment of the federal militia fund according to the number of militia maintained in each state, instead of according to the congressional representation of the several states, as is npw required by law. Bring in your eggs, highest prices paid. Fendig’s Fair.