NEWS WORTH REMEMBERING
News Worth Remembering THE past week has been given over to holiday festivities. The world's workers have taken a brief respite from their labors. By the time this issue will have reached its...
...This is of interest in connection with the failure recently of the compulsory arbitration law of New Zealand and New South Wales to prevent the most serious strike those countries have ever experienced...
...By the time this issue will have reached its readers the affairs of 1909 will have been closed and a new year started...
...Cook's name was dropped from the membership list of the Explorers' Club on December 24, after the board of governors examined the records of his alleged ascent of Mt...
...One of the most puzzling problems with which Taft will have to deal is the Sherman anti-trust law...
...Madriz was elected President of Nicaragua, but he has been unable to quell the revolution, and, in fact, the government forces were routed and defeated in two battles that occurred on the 21st and 23rd of December...
...The President, however, practically rules that any liquor containing a trace of whisky may be so called, provided the label states by what process it is made...
...Whether Cook deliberately lied or labored under a. mental delusion will probably never be known...
...Regulation of Railroad Capitalization Urged Next in importance, perhaps, to the recommendation for a physical valuation of all railroads, which the Interstate Commerce Commisssion made in its 23rd annual report, submitted on the 21st, was the recommendation that Congress make provision for the federal control of railway capitalization...
...The revolutionists under Estrada are sweeping everything before them and it is probable that Nicaragua will have another president within a week...
...In a decision handed down by United States District Judge Pollock of Kansas, the bank guaranty act of that state is declared invalid and in conflict with the fourteenth amendment to the United States Constitution...
...Of interest in this connection is the rumor that a gigantic water power trust is in process of formation, and that the interests back of it will seek to secure control of all the water power resources of the United States...
...The merger of practically all the large traction and light companies in Michigan last week, gives strength to this opinion...
...Is the Sherwan Law Effective...
...Senator Anselm J. McLaurin of Mississippi died at his home in Brandon on December 22 after a long political career...
...The Senate ratified his appointment by President Taft before adjourning, despite the opposition of organized labor...
...Strong protests have been made against the application of the word "whisky" to any but "straight" whisky...
...The President has steadily opposed an investigation of the charges brought against Mr...
...A resolution providing for a joint committee of both Houses will probably be introduced in Congress on January 5, when the houses reconvene...
...The rural delivery service was also operated at a loss...
...It is announced that two holding companies will be formed for the purpose of controlling practically all the traction, lighting, gas, and water power interests of Michigan, and the project is backed by eastern capital...
...1910 is full of promise...
...Cook'i Records Rejected The special committee of scientists appointed by the University of Copenhagen to examine the records of Dr...
...Zelaya, the deposed president, escaped from the country by taking refuge on a Mexican gunboat...
...While the commission does not ask for this power for itself, it asks for the power to prevent an increase in freight rates before it has made an investigation of the reasonableness of the new rates, and requests specific authorization to make investigations upon its own initiative and without formal complaint...
...On the other hand, should the Court decide in favor of Standard Oil, it is certain that a demand will be made for the passage of a law that will effectually prevent the formation and make possible the dissolution of the gigantic monopolies which have sprung up in the last decade...
...President's Messages Expected While Congress has been in adjournment over the holiday season, the President has been busy formulating the recommendations which he expects to make when it again convenes...
...The action of Switzerland in conserving her water power resources is receiving much attention in America...
...Never have we crossed the threshold of a New Year with so many assurances of progress...
...It is pointed out that the railways of the country are grossly overcapitalized and that in order to secure reasonable rates, the nation must prevent in the future the "watering" of stock which has been so extensive in the past...
...Both employees and employers, however, are hopeful of settling differences by arbitration...
...The case will probably be appealed by the state...
...This would seem to settle the polar controversy...
...Never has the outlook seemed so bright for the overthrow of the forces of evil in our social, industrial and political life...
...Ballinger, believing that the public would accept as final his public letter of vindication, but the growing distrust of the people has forced Congress to take action...
...Cook, on the 21st reported that the records which he submitted for their examination were insufficient and contained no proof that he had reached the North Pole...
...Taft Interprets Pure Food Law On the 27th, President Taft gave his decision in the famous "whisky case" which has been under consideration for many months...
...It is believed by the President that the interpretation put on the law by the court in its decision against the Standard Oil Company if upheld by the Supreme Court will "menace honest business" and that a national corporation law is needed...
...This reverses the opinion of President Roosevelt, Dr...
...News Notes The annual report of Postmaster General Hitchcock, made public on December 26, shows that the department will start on a new year with a deficit of about $17,500,-000, the largest in its history...
...Walter Wellman of the Chicago Record-Herald says it is generally believed that the President will submit his recommendations for amendments to the interstate commerce law and the anti-trust law together with a message pertaining to conservation, soon after January 5. Some time ago it was announced that the President's message on the anti-trust law would not be written before decisions had been handed down in the Standard Oil and Tobacco Trust cases, but it is now said that the President will make his recommendations without waiting for the settlement of these cases...
...At present the railroads are bending every energy to avert a coal famine in and about Chicago and the Middle West, and a strike would bring dire results...
...Water Power Trust Forming...
...Postmaster Hitchcock recommends a change in the rates for second class matter, on which the loss for last year was $64,000,000...
...McKinley and found them "unworthy of credence...
...The railroads insist, on the other hand, that it is utterly impossible to pay higher wages without increasing their rates...
...So far Canada's compulsory arbitration law has proved successful, and it has been proposed to put a like law in force in this country, but the failure of such a law in Australia has given rise to doubts as to its efficacy...
...Railway Strikes May be Near The demand by the railway trainmen of the country through their organizations for an increase in pay Will not be granted, according to railway officials, and unless the differences can be satisfactorily settled by arbitration, the country may pass through the throes of a strike involving several hundred thousand men...
...Judge Horace A. Lurton of the Court of Appeals resigned his place on December 25, to take his seat on the Supreme bench...
...Nicaragua Still in Turmoil On December 20, Dr...
...Wiley and Attorney General Bonaparte, and goes even farther than Solicitor General Bowers was apparently willing to go...
...Ballinger to be Investigated It now seems certain that Congress will order an investigation of the Interior Department and Secretary Ballinger...
...He was a member of many of the most important committees of the Senate...
...It is unlikely that this country will attempt to bring him to trial on the charges made by Secretary Knox...
...It is claimed by the men that the present cost of living is far in excess of the wages they receive and that they should share in the immense profits of the companies...
...And the press of the country reflects a general spirit of hopefulness, of good cheer, of faith that great advances will be made in 1910 in the movement toward fundamental democracy...
...Representative Steenerson cf Minnesota introduced a bill in the House giving the government the power to put railroads in temporary receivership, if necessary, to avert or end strikes...
...At present his whereabouts is unknown, though it is said that he is living in Europe...
...The controversy centered about the proper labelling of food products and the decision is expected to be applied to other articles than whisky...
Vol. 1 • January 1910 • No. 52
