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About The commoner. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-1923 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 17, 1908)
s The Commoner. VOLUME 8, NUMBER 1 -. -XU4. CURR jfi3P F" GNT OPIGS w w it &g&yZ5&gm Zmr i-1 tjs nTTi.ii ir tlSll3 , gfcscoacgssg- " 'ffteaa rpINO NICW York World 1ooh not intend to J. rely upon a tdnglo oandidalo in (ho plans thiil. It Im miikliiK for tho democratic party for 1!)()8. The World Hays: "The World has already proHontod .John A. Johnson, governor of Minne sota, an an available woHlorn candidate for tlio democratic nomlnallon for president. It taken equal ploanuro In proHcnling Woodrow Wilson an a Houtlwrn candidate, no lens available and with proHldenllal qualifications exceeded by Uioho of no man whoso name will bo presented to any national convention." ACAHLIOflllAM under date of London, Jan nary S, carried by the Associated Press follows: "The exported meeting of the note holders of the Chicago (Ireat Western Railway company, with A. H. Slicknoy, president of tho company, was held this afternoon. It was de cided to appoint, a receiver for the company to maintain tho status quo' during the time neces sary to prepare a llrst mortgage bond covering all tho indebtedness of the road, and to obtain a voto of tho stockholders on this measure. There were many note-holders at the meeting. Subsequent to the meeting tho following notifi cation was Issued by the London agency of the company: 'At a meeting held today of some of tho holders of the Chicago Great Western rail way notes which mature shortly, the president of tho company announced that, In order to , maintain tho status quo, It had been decided by tho London finance committee that application should bo made to a United States court for tho creation of a temporary receivership until such time as tho company shall have obtained authorization from its stockholders for the Issue or first mortgage bonds to an amount sufneicnt to tlnanco Kh requirements.' " In tho federal court at St. Paul, Minn., Judge Sanborn appoint ed A. B. Stlckney and Charles 11. I Smith, both of St. Paul, as receivers for tho Chicago Great Western. rpIIOSH WHO havo waged war against graft .1 In San Francisco were greatly discouraged by tho decision of tho California Court of Ap peals which released former Mayor Schmit. from prison. A San Francisco dlspateh tells this story: Tho district court of appeals handed down a decision today setting aside tho judg ment in the case of former Mayor Eugene B Submit'., convicted of extortion in tho French restaurant cases. Abo Ruof also benefits by the ruling of the upper court, for, according to its decision, he pleaded guilty to an act that was not an offense against the laws of tho state According to the appellate judges tho compell ing of French restaurants to pay big "fees" vJ lb0i Uor was K0t Jl orlmo' ovcn though Ruof divided the "foes" with tho mayor. After dis cussing tho point tho court reversed the judg ment against Sen mite on tho ground that no acts constituting a crime had been proved against him. Abe Uuef, who pleaded guilty to ??,, f monVroni tho French restaurants is therefore equally guiltless. tween the master and servant. Justice Day con curred in the decision. Justice Moody dissented entirely, holding that the law is constitutional on all points. Ho expressed the opinion that congress had the general power to pass the act, and the court's position was an interference with the domain of the legislative branch of the government. Justices Harlan and MoKenna united in an opinion affirming the constitution ality of the act, but holding it to be applicable only to employes engaged at tho time in inter state commerce and not to those engaged wholly in tho state in which the accident happened. Justice Holmes also delivered a brief dissenting opinion. Summed up, the court stood five to four against the constitutionality of the law, Justices Harlan, McKenna, Holmes and Moody sustaining its validity, and the other members of tho court holding the opposite position." -O p RESIDENT ROOSEVELT caused to be made J. public two letters which he had written to Secretary of the Navy Metcalf relating to Ad miral Brownson. The Washington correspondent for the Cincinnati Enquirer says: "In the first of these letters the president devotes himself to Admiral Brownson's action in retiring when di rected to place a staff officer in command of a naval vessel because he adhered to the old naval precedent that only line officers should he in command of ships. He characterizes Admiral Brownson's actions as 'highly injurious to the service,' and adds, further, that his action has undoubtedly been prejudicial to the Interests of the navy, and may severely impair the con fidence which is essential to securing the legis lation sorely needed. In his last letter the presi dent defends the plan of placing a physician connected with the medical staff in command of a hospital ship in preference to a regular line officer, and cites the fact that Japanese hospital ships were put under the command of medical officers during the war with Russia. Mr. Roose velt's action in making these letters public just before tho reconvening of congress is taken as a defiance of the members of the senate and house who havo criticised his stand in this case. In fact, the president makes his deft a definite one in his last letter, in which he says that hospital ships of the navy will hereafter be in command of medical officers of the navy 'unless otherwise ordered by congress.' ' Y A VOTH nf llvn ir, f M. t,..., . . -V w ",yj iw iui i-uv uiuieu states hiiiM. ?um'omo cow,rt declared the employers' lia- --"--.' " wuoi mi uuiiui. a Washington diq patch says: "That tho congressional act known as tho emp oyors1 liability law' is not in accord ance with tho constitution of the United States because It goes beyond tho bounds permitted in the regulation of interstate commerce, was tl S VnUof raCl!0d ?y.tl10 8UI,romo co't o! to United States In deciding two damajro ci coining to the court from the fedo?a cons of Kentucky and Tennessee which were bromrhf under tho provisions of tho law. The decision was announced by Justice White, the court standing five to four on tho provision of the S Among the men who voted not to sii,tnn ?h MuTn?l0rVVOr m 3Sa& o Sop nlon Much interest was manifested in tho result if THE ATTACK upon Admiral Brownson by the president was a general surprise. The Lnquirors correspondent says: "In ofilciil circles here it is a matter of general comment that tho stand taken by Admiral Brownson is indorsed by all line officers. Immediately after Admiral Brownson retired Captain Cameron Mc J ?. Winslow, who succeeded to the command of tho bureau of navigation temporarily callo l Wn010.11 u ecpolllpy of the navy to 55 fact that Surgeon-General Rixey had violated the naval code in criticising a superior officer No attention was paid to this protest by the' president or the secretary of the navy, however and Captain John E. Pillsbury was selected to tako permanent command of the bureau r aln Pillsbury, while he refuses to be Sawntato the controversy, is known to hold the sin o views entertained by Admiral Brownson" p OLLOWING THE publication of Mr. Roose X1 volt's letters to Secretary Metca f th was considerable criticism because Aclmi?S Brownson's letter of resiirniHrm !! A(jmInu made public Later thTfcSidoSt gave1 o, t tl Brownson letter with the following line- "t following correspondence was iniivprt I) omitted from that made Dublin ti,i2 rt?ntly Brownson's letter foTo ws? g5r iS Trnin,g 1 was detached by your ? order from Z" InSt mand of the United States Liiti? ShVom ordered to Washington M aM the most important bureau in the iinvv 5i .f mont, the bureau which Ilmim. vy tlenar -charged with mattms relattog J fnT ? tho discipline and the Tefflcfencv of Ph FS0 5ne ' This transfer from a command mm thQ, fleet' ond in importance aflSFHne whichT.860; to none on shore coming on the eve of mye- tirement from active service, while not to my personal liking, was deeply gratifying to mo, as it appeared to be an evidence of your con fidence in my professional ability. In order, however, that any efforts of mine to maintain a high standard of efficiency and discipline in the service be attended with success, it- is abso lutely essential that I should have the confidence of the service at large as well as that of higher authority. The efficiency of the fleet can only be maintained when the officers and men feel that the chief of the bureau of navigation has the confidence of the commander-in-chief of the army and navy when a strong military spirit exists in the service. Anything that shows a lack of confidence or that tends to break down this military spirit, which has been the "safe guard and principal asset of the navy since its beginning, can but impair such efficiency. The recent order placing a medical officer in com mand of a hospital ship is, in my opinion, and as I have endeavored on several occasions to point out to you, clearly opposed to the intent of the law; is a radical departure from estab lished naval usage and is fraught with danger to the efficiency of the fleet, will tend, I believe, to break down the military spirit of the service, and shows a want of your confidence in my advice regarding a matter so vital to the best interests of the service. I am left, therefore, with no alternative but to tender my resigna tion as chief of the bureau' of navigation, much as I regret to sever my active connection with the service to which I have been devoted and to which I have given my best 'efforts for over forty-six years. Very respectfully, Willard H. ' Brownson, chief of bureau." The president's letter of acceptance is as follows: "Sir: I ac cept your resignation to take effect immediately. You will this afternoon turn over your office to your assistant, Captain Winslow, informing him that he is to act until sucji time as' your successor is appointed and qualified. Very truly yours. Theodore Roosevelt." ' A NUMBER OF senators and representatives are quoted as saying that there will cer iff?i? be,an, lnvestigation of the Brownson affair, and it is understood among Admiral Brownson's friends that he may demand a court of inquiry. It is pointed out by some of the president's critics that he took it upon himself to denounce as "disloyal" a naval officer and simply because the naval officer disagreed with the president on a matter of detail. Naval offl- . cers have not discussed the matter in public, but Park Benjamin, a lawyer, who was formerly a YoTwnHied ?T iUlQ navy' save the New Yoik World an interesting statement. Mr. Ben jamin said: "I agree with the president that it is the duty of those highest Jink to set an example because of the far-reaching effect and therefore the example which he has set h imse If will naturally be the most effective of all. I know of no law or custom which per mits any one connected with the military or ?ifJaln8ePVlce, th,e United States Sdins the commander-in-chief, to scold in public SI way of disciplinary punishment. If in the exer cise of his undoubted discretion he saw nf to give an order to any subordinate and that sub ordinate declined to carry it into effect his in a dignified, lawful manner. He might have ordered him before a court-martial to answer a charge of disobedience of orders, or in cm5 of a commissioned officer he might nossihlv hnlt dismissed him from the navy unaer the clafile n the commission of that officer which reads? This commission to continue in force durine qMti1?aBUle 2f th.e Presient of the United ,?fr Ihe tirae beins'' If on the other hand he did not consider that the officer had com mitted so grave an offense, as disobedience rf orders, hut nevertheless had done sotShw tZ Jing 8lffp!y 0f a inland it may Sf pointed out that a reprimand is one of the wSl recognized punishments always to hi tZ by tho action of a court-martia? 1. inflated the mew will or whta ofiper n0tThl S!if2.e;iKnaB n.0t Been flt to adPt etthVr couwe but on the contrary merely to rail ntthl ??' ing subordinate in a public proclamation li ever an officer of the navy should foffow tSe e i v ,mivfi-- ,4 ,.f 1-irtft