Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

Sl.OOPor Year PALMETTO LAWMAKERS janitors Walter tai OMf*? 0P*ak at Lnftk tad Ottm .an ML Some "Warming Up." 'At the morning aeeaion of the-aan ata Friday Sanator Walker rseumed his argument against the rate bill He elated in the outset that he thought it eminently, unwise to enact any rate legislation at this session. He spoke (or about one hour, quoting gener ously from newspaper articles and editorials tending to show the harm that will result from the lowering of passenger rates. He appealed to senators to vote against the bill as a mater of busi ness policy, as a protection to the present prosperity of the South and of South Carolina. In the first plaee, he said, there is no demand for sueo a law in this State ? the traveling men, who pay most to the railroads in the way of passenger fares, had made no demand or request for lower rates. And be reiterated bis assertion of the day before that politics is at the bot tom of tho whole proposition. He said that the eyes of the nation are upon us. That the commercial world is watching closely the general assembly of South Carolina. Last year this State pursued a policy of conservatism and had won the ap~ plaudits of the press and of capital. Senator Walker referred to the rivers and harbors convention recent ly held in Washington and of how 2, 000 representative men from every section of tho United States stood to gether in that great convention and pleaded for the preservation of tho country's prosperity ? for tho pro tection of its great wealth-producing industries. He declared that the manner in which John A. Johnson, governor of ? Minnesota, marshalled figures which told of tho unsurpassed industrial prosperity of America wa? something wonderful. By way of parenthesis he added that Oov. John son should be the next nominee of the Democratic party for tho presidency. Taxes Paid by Railroads. Senator Walker gave the following figures as to taxes paid in this State, which he said lie had obtained from the comptroller general's office :Total taxes paid in State, $3,962,912.42. Total taxes paid in the State by the railroads, $593,224.48; amount paid by railroads in way of licenses,$l7, 834, making the total amount paid by the railroads for carrying on the State goverment, $611,058.48, or more than 15 per cent, of the total taxes paid in the Stato for all purposes. Are the railroads outlaws f he asked. Are ihey aliens T Are they trespassers upon the territory of South Carolina? Unless they are, there is no excuse for enacting such a law. The rail roads are part of the common house hold and bear their part of the bur den. True it is that they havo made money in the past, but they have made every section of the State prosperous. Towns and cities havo sprung up where the railroads have gone; fail h products havo been brought nearer the markets; lands have increased in price, and everywhere, and in every business, prosperity has followed in the wake of tho transportation lines. May Injure State's Prosperity. To pass a law which will take from the railroads a part of their earnings may cripplo them, and along with them every business interest in the State may be affected. It is a danger ous experiment .nnd he warned tho senators that in voting. to lower the passenger rates they may be striking a severe blow at the very foundation of tho State's prosperity. He said that in Georgetown things had undergone wonderful changes since the Atlantic Coast Lumber company carao in. The population of the city had increased, business in terests of every kind have been im proved. more money in in circulation, ctc. This company has a monthly pay roll of $55,000 and recently when they found it necessary to shut down for a month the peoplo of George town felt it. Everybody was waiting for tho next pay day. If the rate bill is passed it may affect the railroad.-j so seriously that the general public will feel the effects more than many of the senators who favor this legis lation may contemplate. He believ ed that the efforts of such legislation would do the Stato incalcuahle injury ? would tend to stifle business in dustry and would frighten away cap ital which might otherwise be invent ed here. A Farcical Proposition. Senator Walker declared that, while an effort is being made to reduce rates and thereby curtail the revenue of the railroads, the proposition ad vanced by tho special railroad investi gating committee to compel the rail roads to standardize their lines in this State is absurd ? it is farcical. Senator Sinklcr interrupted to ask if he thought that when it is shown* through an expert on railroad affairs, that the roadbeds in tbi* State are in a dangerous condition the legislature should kcjp hands off. Senator Walker replied that ho did not oonsider that committee infolliblo nnd felt that he was right in char acterizing tho proposition as absurd. He declared that be co*ld sol see the consistency in the position taken by the senators who argned on the ene hand for reducing the revennes of the railroads and on the other for better service. If the earning cap acity of the railroads is restricted, 1 bow can we expect to secure improve ment in the service f Wfll Ansel Uae Veto Power? He called attention to Gov. Ansel 's message on the rate question. He said the messsge was not written in a dic tatorial style, but it wss good, whole some, eonservstire advice to the gen eral assembly to let the mstter of rate legislstion slone st this session. He said that Gov. Ansel wss a level headed man, .and about as fsr-seeing sb sny man in the State. "And I believe,"' declsred Senator Walker, "that if the general assem bly enacts a law at this session fot lower passenger rates Gov. Ansel will be man enough to veto it." Senator Sinkler'a Position. Senator Sinkler msde a brief ad dress in reply to the criticism msde by Senator Walker upon the special rail road investigating committee in re gard to the bill to standardize the railroada He called attention to cer tain features of the report filed by that committee as to the unsafe and dangerous condition of the railrosd tracks in ths Stste. He declsred that the rsilrosds have concentrated power and wealth be hind them and should be regulated. He did not believe that these danger ous conditions as reported by the committee ahould be overlooked. The protection of life aud limb demanded that the general assembly take some action to remedy matters. He said that the special railroad committee had established the fact that the railroads were discriminat ing against Charleston and against the State and he felt that something shonld be done. He said he had rathei pay a rate higher than the present rate in this State and have better ac commodations on the railroads?more satisfactory schedules, cleaner cars better rolling stock, and especially better roadbeds. Senator Sinkler did not argue in favor of the rate bill but plead with the senate to take definito and posi tive action in regard to the better ment of the tracks and the service on tho trains in the State. Senator Oraydon's Defense. Senator Graydon took exception to the expressions of Senator Walker a.s to rotten politics being behind this proposed rate legislation. He said that while tho senator from Georgetown had disclaimed any per sonal application in the terms he used he considered that he mado sorao very unkind reflections upon membera of tho senate. Senator Graydon said that he did not think it was pood policy or good taste to insinuate that an Opponent is actuated by improper motives. IIo said that while he knew that some of the members of the senate were rail road attorneys, he would not think for ono minute of accusing these sen ators of being actuated by other than proper motives. lie characterized the argument of Senator Walker as the most illogical utterance the latter had ever made in tho senate. In reply to the statement thai South Carolina always leads, never follows, Senator Oraydon declared that had it not been for the senator from Georgetown and somo others South Carolina would have led all other Southern States in into legis lation, nnd for one he did not pro pose to vote against the bill because perchance, North Carolina, Virginia, Georgia and other States had pre ceded us in the passage of such bills. At the night session of tho senate Mr. Graydon resumed his argument in favor of tho 2 1-2 cent Tate. He admitted that the railroads paid an nually a good per cent, of the taxes of the State, but he asserted that the |>eople made the railroads what they arc and made it possible for them to pay the taxes they arc paying. Tho people in many instances put up tnoney for building the railroads in the State, though, as a matter of fact, due to the incgnuity of railroad offi cials, tfie counties and local persona who took stock in order to help build do not often share in the way of divi dends. As to the reference made by the senator from Georgetown to flov. Johnson of Minnesota. Senntoi Graydon said that t.'iere wa? not a man in the country who had gono so far in the advocacy of government control of railroads, save perbap* William J. Bryan, as Gov. Johnson. Preen Criticized. Senator Graydon said thai the rail roads and the press had overworked the word "conservatism" in dealing with the rate qutstion. One can hard ly pick up a newspaper, ho said, with out seeing something about the "con servative" action of South Carolina last year and advising that tho same "conservatism" be followed by tho general assembly in this session. He said that this "confounded con servatism" had been run in tho ground ? that it had become nltra consorvatism. He laughed at the suggest iou made by one of the senators that President Finley had acted unwisely in making tho proposition he made to the gov ernor. IIo said that Mr. Finloy prob ably knew more about the p flairs if the Southern railway, and the cfi.cc I which the proposed lower rates have upon tho affaire of the system, than all of the members of the senate. Inasmuch as lower rate' are in ef fect in adjoining States ho said it seemed to him the height of foolish ness for South Carolina to refrain from passing a law for a lower rata in this Stats. As to the message of Got. Ansel bearing upon the rate question, Sens tor Graydon declared that the ehief executive had a right, the tame ss say other eitixen of the Stste, to ex press his opinion on this^er sny othtr question, hut he esred no more for the governor's opinion on thie question than he eared for the opinion of any member of the senate. It is the business of the legislature to enact laws snd the business of the governor to look after their enforce ment Senator Orifln Favors BilL Senator Griffin of Colleton spoke st length in fsvor of the bill. He insist ed thst there is s demand for lower rates and he had been urged by trav eling men to vote for the bill, not withstanding the statement made by Senstor Wslker to the contrary. He said that if he voted against this bill he would not be surprised on return ing to his home to be met with a writ providing for an examination as to bin lunacy. Senator Blease was opposed to the bill under discussion, because it pro vided for striking out all after the en acting words of a house bill and sub stituting an entirely new bill. Like Senator Smith of Hampton, he favor ed a flat rate of 2 1-2 cents without any concessions in the way of mileage books for the benefit of the wealthier class. He declared that Gov. Ansel would be justified in vetoing the bill under discussion if it should pass for Hie reason that it had not been read three time in both houses as required by tho constitution. What he wanted to see was better roadbeds, better equippment and bet ter schedules. He said he didn't think it possible for the Southern railway to give the people of the State poorer scrvice than they are giving today and lie favored remedying these con ditions rather than wastiiifc so much time in talking about a 1-2 cent re duction in the passenger rates. A Lick at ttao Courts. Senator Blease declared that it cut little ice as to what laws were passed affecting the railroads when these cor porations elect railroad lawyers as judges to try railroad cases. And men who for years have been in the em ploy of the railroads are sitting on the bench in this State. Senator Blease made the conclud ing argument in favor of the bill. He was in favor of the bill and he want ed it understood that so far as he is concerned "rotten politics" is not at the bottom of the matter. Other States around us are enjoying the lower rates and he could see no valid reason why South Carolina should re frain from passing a law giving to our citizens the same rates that the citizens of these other States enjoy. ^ At 10 o'clock discussion of the bill was continued until immediately after third reading bills. The senate con vened at 11 o'clock. ?Passed Third Reading. Tho following bills passed third rending in tho senate: Mr. Charles ? A bill to regulate the hours of railroad employes. Mr. ( 'arlisle ? A joint resolution proposing to amend section 7 , article 3. of the constitution, relating to municipal bonded indebtedness. Mr. Ravsor ? A joint resolution au thorizing and directing the comptrol ler general to draw his warrant on the State treasurer for $000 in favor of O. F. Ott, in payment for live stock killed for the public good. Mr. Brice ? A bill requiring the treasurer of York county to refund nil taxes assessed and collected dur ing the years 1007 and 1008 on prop erty outside of the corporate limits of the town of Yorkville, for the sup port and maintenance of tho York ville graded schools, to the proper pnrtiei Mr. Frost ? A bill to amend section 2021 of volume 1, of the civil code, by providing that the limitation of the ngivngate bonded indebtedness of any city or town in this Stato to 8 per centum of the assessed value of the taxable property thtrein, shall not ap ply to the cities of Columbia, Rock Hill. Charleston and Florence, the city of Georgetown and tho city of Greenville. Mr. ^>pelt ? A bill to amend an act cntitltd "An net to provide for the working of tho roads, building and ro pairing of bridges in tho county of Clarendon," approved February* 7, 1907. Mr. Cbristensen ? A bill to amend an act entitled "An act to incorporate I he Audubon Society of South Caro lina, and to provide for the preser vation of the wild birds, non-migra tory fish and animals of the State." .-Mr. Townsend ? A bill to prohibit public drinking of intoxicants on pas senger cars and prescribe a penalty. Mr. Christensen ? A bill for the protection of game fish in the State of South Carolina, and for the repeal of certain laws relating thereto. Mr. Crouch ? A bill to amend an act entitled "An act to provide for the establishment of a new school dis trict in Edgefield county (now Saluda county), and to authorize a levy and collection of a special school tax therein/' so as to increaso the num ber o f trustees for said school dis trict, prcfride for their election and to define their qualifications tor of fice, their powers and duties. Mr. Bivins-^A bill to provide for the election of cotton weighers in Dor chester oounty end to prescribe their compensation. /Judiciary Committee? A bill relat ing to contracts between landlord and laorer, and to declare a violation of the same on the part of either a mis demeanor and provide a punishment therefor. The morning session of thfe house yesterday was taken up with*, a did cussion of foui second reading hills, three of which were passed, to third reading and on, the other discussions was postponed until the night session The first bill brought up was by Mr. Legare, which amended the act regu lating fisheries in South Carolina. The amendments raised the salaries of inspectors from $50 to $75 per month and- gives the board further powers relating to the reports from the industries. Mr. Norton's bill, creating a depat ment of land jurisdiction in Marion county, passed by a division vote, of 35 to 20. The act would provide for theregistration, transfer and titles of land. There was a long debate on Mr. McMaster's bill declaring unlawful the charging and receiving of usury. Mr. McMaster explained the operat ions of the money sharks in Columbia and their successful work in robbing the poor people who are compelled to pay as much as 40 per cent, on a loan of $10. Mr. Vauderhorst also favor ed the bill, telling of his experiences in Charleston, where a campaign had been waged against the money lend ing sharks with considerable success. Mr. Robinson opposed the bill- be cause of its stringent requirement which hesaid might sometimes wrong an innocent party in a loan transac tion. Mr. Rucker and several others offered amendments, all of which were rejected and the bill wns passed to third reading with the ctmmittee amendments. The amended bill reads as follows: "Section 1. That it slipll be unlaw i ful for any person, firm or corpor ation, to charge, accept, receive oi I contract to receive, as interest, com-> mission or other premium for the use of money, directly or indirectly, by any fiction, guise or pretense, any greater sum than shall equal the rate i>f 20 per cent per annum on the loan. "Sec. 2. Any person, firm or corpo ration violating the provisions of the preceding section shall be deemed "guilty of n , misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be pitnished by a fine of not more than 4400 or imprisoned for not exceeding 30 days for each and every offense. Provided, That nothing herein contained shall he construed to conllicl with present provision of law as to usury, but shall he taken as additional to sand provis ions." Third Reading Bills and Enrolled Acta. The following third reading bills passed the house and were ordered sent to the senate: Mr. Rocker ? A bill to require all secret orders or societies to apply to the clerk of court of the county in which they wish to operate for A license, providing that the issuing of said license shall be discretionary with said clerk or court, and making it a misdemeanor for any one to at tend any meeting of such order ov so ciety which has not such license. Mr. Reaves ? A bill to amend ?ec Hon 2 of an act entitled "An act to regulate the manner in whioh com mon carriers doing business in this State shall adjust freight charges and claims for loss of damage to freight, so as to include baggage, and to determine the time in which an ad jaurnmentTnT""T>a^^ made by comon carriers." Mr. Cosgrovc ? A bill grauting to the United States of America the title of this State to and tho jurisdic tion of this State over, certain lands on Sullivan's Island, in Charleston county, form ilitary purposes. Mr. Gary ? A bill to provido for tho distribution of the funds arising from the sale of aleholirt liquors in Abbeville county. Mr. Shipp (by request) ? A bill to make the reports of the West Pub lising company of St. Paul, Minn., evidence in this Stale of the decision of tho courts, Stale and federal, of which they publish evidences. Mr. Gyles ? A bill to appropriate certain money for tho payment of salaries of tl\e county officers of Aik en county. Mr. Clary ? A joint resolution to require the county superintnedent o{ education of Cherokee county to ap prove of claim for $Gfl in favor of W, C. MeArthur, administrator of W. F. McArthur, deceased, and the county treasurer to pay the same. I Mr. J. P. Gibson ? A bill to pre vent public drinking on passengei coaches. Mr. Legare ? A bill to amend sec tion f> 20, criminal code, volume 2, laws of South Carolina, relating to] stealing of oysters. Mr. Braan ? A bill to regulate th? timo of holding the courts of the ninth judicial circuit. Mr. Gothran ? A bill to amend sub division 17 of section 88 of the sec ond volume of the code of lawc, 1002, by allowing a change of venuo in magistrates' courts after new trial granted. Cotbrcyi ? A bill to provide foi tbo indexing of judgments i$ the of fice of tbe clcTk for OeeavWr; coun ty. Mr. Frost ? A bill to amsnd an act entitled "An act to code to the Unit ed States tho title of this State to, and the jurisdiction of this State over, certain lands in Charleston. Beaufort and Georgetown/' so. as to do away with the provisions for pay ment. Mr. Tonmans? rA bill to amend an aet providing for the curtailment of nptnwi of the county government oi Hampton, approved the 20th day ol February, A. D. 1907, Mating to var, ions expenditures and various penal ties for its violation. Mr Dodd ? A bill to fix the amount to be paid by persons liable to per form road duty in the county of Col leton. ' ' Mr. Aull ? A bill to repeal an act entitled "An aet to create a new school district in Newberry county, to be known as Wheeland school dis trict, and to authorise the levy and Collection of a local tax therein," ap proved December 24, A. D. 1902. Le County Delegation ? A bill to authorise and require the county board of commissioners of Lee coun ty to issue bonds for the purpose of providing additional funds for com pleting the Lee county cotirt house building and furnishing the same at Bishopville, snd to provide for an annual levy for the purpose of paying the interest on said bonds and creat ing a sinking fund to redeem same. Anderson County Delegation? A bill relating to the revision of the books of registration of Anderson county. Mr. Gyles ? A bill to amend section 195, code of laws of South Carolina, 1902, so as to provide for registra tion for special elections. Mr. Gvles A bill to amend section 3, act 273, statutes at large, entitled "An act to incorporate the city of Aiken and to provide registration for apeeiiU elections. ' * Mr. W annamaker ? A bill to pro vide for a public cotton weigher at Swansea. Edgefield Delegation ? A bill to en able the commissioners of the sinking fund to lend fuuds to Edgefield coun ty to be used for the payment of the past indebtedness of said county, and to provide for the repayment of the funds so loaned. Mr. Gyles ? A bill relating to the revision of the books of registration of Aiken county. . ^r' Hardin ? A bill lo tum-nd sec tion 750, code of laws of South Caro lina, 1902, volume 1, civil eode, so as to require the election of six county commissioners in Cherokee county, and to define their duties. Mr. Shipp ? A bill to amend section 229, code of laws of South Carolina, 190 J, volume 2, relating to disorderly conduct, obscene or profane language in public, so as lo lurther define said offenses. Acts For Enrollment. The following acts were ordered for enrollment: Mr. Weston ? A bill to authorize thee ity council of the eity of Co lumhia to issue coupon bonds at a rate of interest not exceeding 4 per cent per annum, lor the purpose of paying or exchanging the 4 per cent coupon bonds and scrip of said city maturing duly 3, 1010. Mr. Mauldin ? Adjoint "resolution to submit to the qualified electors of Ureenville county the question of erecting a court house in said county. Mr. Hi vens ? A bill to amend sec tion 1200 code of laws, volume 1, re lating to county boards of education. Two Special Judges. Senator Sullivan of Anderson has introduced a bill iu the senate to pro vide for the election of two special judges of circuit courts in this State. He believes that by making this bill a law the present cry about congested dockets will soon be eliminated. He is making a hard tight for the passage of the bill and has hopes of seeing it enacted into law. The bill is as fol lows : "Be it enacted by the genrnl as sembly of the State of South Caro lina : "Section 1. The general assembly shall, as soon after the approval of this act as practicable, elect two per sons from the State at large, learned iu the law, who shall be, and known as, special judges, who shall be elect ed and commissioned as now provid ed for circuit judges, and whose tetn of office, salaries, duties and powers shall be the same as circuit judges, except as herein otherwise provided. "Sec. 2. The said special judges shall hold courts of common picas and general sessions in any and all coun ties in this State where and when di rected by the chief justice of the su preme court or the presiding asso ciate justice. "Sec. 3. It shall be the duty of the chief justice or the presiding asso ciate justice to assign the said special j judges to hold the courts of general sessions and common please whenever and wherever it shall be tnndc to ap pear that, a sj>ecial term of either of said courts is necessary. "Sec. 4. If for any reason any of the regular circuit judges shall be uu able to hold any regular term of court for the circuit in which they may be presiding, it shall be the duty of the chief justice of the presiding asso ciate justice, upon such fact b?ug made to appear, to assign one of the special judges herein provided for to hold such regular term of court. ] "8cc. 5. Each of taid tpeciai juges | snail have Uie right to appoint a rout stenographer- ? "See. 6. Nothing in tbis act con tained shall bs construed as repeal ing any law now existing as to spec ial terms of courts except where the same may be inconsistent with tbe ex press provisions of this set. "See. 7. This set shsll take effeet immedisely upon its spprovsl by the governor. "See. 8. All sets or psrts of acts inconsistent with this set be, and ths same are hereby, repealed." ENDING OF FEUDIST Judge Hargis, of Kentucky, b Slain By His Own Son CAREER OF BLOOD AND MURDER The Most Infamous Figure in ths Fends Which Hare Disrupted Breathitt County, Kentucky, For Many Years, is Shot and Killed by His Own Son, Following a QuarreL Jackson, Ky.f Special. ? Former County Judge James Hargis, for many years member of the State Democratic executive committee, ac cused of complicity in many killings and a prominent figure in the feuds which have disrupted Breathitt jounty for several years was shot and instantly killed in his general ?toro hero ahoue 330 p. m. Thursday by his son, Beach Hargis. The son fired five shots in rapid succession at his father, who fell dead while his clerks were waiting on custo mers. The exact cause of the mur der has not been learned, but it is supposed to have been the result of lifferenees which have existed be tween father and son for some time The two men are reported to havu had a severo quarrel several nights igo, when the father, it is alleged, was compelled to resort to violence :o restrain his son. Young Harris, it is said, had beeu drinking heavily of late. He came into the store in the afternoon and was apparently under the inuence of liquor. Judge Hargis, it is saia, spoke to his son about drinking and a quarrel resulted. Father and son stepped behind a counter, when the son, after a few minutes' conversation, drew a revol ver and fired five shots. Four look cffect, Judge Hargis falling dead. The young lady stenographer and the customers in the store Hod in fright. Young Hargis was arrested and placed in jail. He was raving like a maniac and the officers were compell ed to dr;ig him to jail. Judge Hargis has boon for years a prononcnt figure in Kentucky in po litical fetid criminal circles. He has figured in the courts in the mountains for years on account of the murders of Dr% Cox, Attorney Marcum and "Jim" ( ockrill. Judge Hargis was the political loader of the Democrats of the tenth district and was regarded ns the "boss" of Breathitt county. For years his sway was not opposed but. young Hnrgis and Marcum had the temerity to oppose Hargis in a law case. From that date ho was a marked man. Judge Hargis had been on trial at various time for complicity in the milder of Marcum, "Jim" Coekrill and Dr. Cox, but had been acquitted on all the charges. He was recent ly fniced to pay a judgment of $S,000 t.i Mrs. Marcum in connection with the death of her husband. Judge Hargis disposed of this, the last of the cases in which he had boon ilivoiv?d. when he paid the judgment of the com I. Mrs. Marcum had sued Judge Hnrgis and others for $100,000 alleging that they caused the death of her husband. The Harris-Cock rill feud had ils itu < pi ion in a political contest. The Hnrgis' had long been dominant ip Breathitt county, where they con ducted a general store nnd a lumbci business and were generally active. The biolhers, James, Alexander and Albert T>cre good business men and accumulated a fortune. Second Primary in Louisiana. Baton Rouge, La., Special ? The of fl f ? i a 1 count of Louisiana's recent Democratic primary elections issued Democratic primary elections issued Friday night. shows that a second election will be necessary for four of fices. These are Lieutenant Gover nor, State Auditor, Attorney General and Registrar of Land Ofliees. Paul Lambremon and J. J. Bailey will be ?he contestants for Lieutenant Gov ernor. .T. V. Sanders wos the con tests for Governor bv a plurality of 13,447. Fire Damages Florida Town. Tampa, Fla.f Special. ? Fire earl} Saturday morning destroyed the bus iness portion of Waucbula. Among the losers were the City Bakery, Pre vatt & Swindell, A^ C. Clavol's store A. & T- Millinery Company's store Wbiteburs'. '& pool 10c in. J>ittTxu?n,i furniture store, Roman's storo, Citj Eetta'aract and Kelly's s. hoe storo The Peace Pi^er Hotel, in cours? if erection, wns damaged to tbr "?xtent of $1,500, but was saved bj hard work. REPLIES TO CRITICS President Roosevelt Answers Charge of Playing Politics GIVES REASONS FOR HIS ACTS Ohief Executive Characterizes the Charges as 1 'Folio and Malicious," and in an Exceedingly Lengthy Epistle to William Dudley Foulho* of Richmond, Indiana, He Enters Into a Detailed Defense. Washington, Special. ? President Roosevelt has made answer to the recent statements that he has mado use of Federal patronage to further the presidential interests of Secre tary Taft. The answer is in the form of a letter addressed to William Dud ley Foulke, of* liichmond, Indinan, and includes a letter from Mr. Foulko to the President suggesting the need of such a statement. The President begins by character izing the charges as "false and ma licious. " He follows lli is with an analysis of all appointments sent by him to (lie senate for its action to show that in no ease has (lie proxim ity of a presidential contest influenc ed his action. The President's let ter to Mr. Foul Ice in part follows: Tho President's Letter. The stateiuen! that 1 have used tho oflices in the eliovt to nominate any presidential candidal e is both false and malicious. It is the usual imagi native invention which (lows l'nun a desire t<? say m?. nothing injurious. Remember that iIm>-?> mow making iliis accusation were busily engaged two mouths ago in asserting that I was iisinj; the olliees to secure my own reuomiualinn. It is the kind of ac cusation which f<?r tho next few months will be rilV. This particular blander will be used until exploded, and when exploded those who liavo used it will promptly invent another. Such being the case, I almost question whether it is worth while answering; but as it is yon who ask why, the answer you shall have. Si net* the present Congress as sembled I wo months a go I have sent to the Senate the names of all the officials I have appointed for the en tire period since Congress adjourned on the 4th of March last, that is for II months. K winding army and navy officers, scientific experts, health of ficers, and those of the revenue cut ter service. I have made during this period ahout 1 appointments sub ject to I he confirmation hy the Sen ate, 1,1(54 being postmasters. Of these, appointments in (lie diplomat is and consular services and in the Indian service have been made with out regard to politics; in the diplo matic and consular services more Democrats than Republicans having been appointed, as we are trying to even up the <|iiotas of I lie Southern States. In nominting judges I have treated politics n* a wholly secondary consideration, and instead of relying solely upon the recommendations of either Senators of Congressmen, liavo always conducted independent iuquir ies myself personally through mem bers of the bench or I he bar whom I happen to know, or through Attorney (icncral Ronaparte. Secretary Tnfl. who was himself a judge. Secretary Root, because of his great experience at the bar, or Senator Knox, wlu? was formerly my Attorney General. In a number of the other offices, chiefly assistant secretaries or bends of burenus here at Washington, but also Governors of Territories or men holding peculiar position ? such for instance, as that of commissioner of education in Porto Rico ? and also in a few other cases, notably those of marshals in certain of the Western States, but including various officers also here and there throughout the lrnion, f have either fell that the- po sition was of such a character thai the initiative in the choice could on!~ with propriety come from me or f^if. one of tiie Cabinet officers, or else I have happened to know of n ifutn of such peculiar qualifications that 1 de sired to appoint him on my own ini tiative. The President goes at length into all his appointments, and shows that hf lias in no instance shown a purpolit to further the interests of any can didate, but hns had only the good of the public service in view. Pacific Decrees Aro Promulgated. London, By Cable. ? Decrees restor ing constitutional government, re extending immunity from prosecution to members of tbo Cortes, xeleaainp (deputies ajwc&tcd.b / former Dictatoa franco and restoring' tb** freedom o! the pjesf vexe gutitod in LiVbon according to dispatcher Correspond ents all agree that Lisbon is quiet and now believe that danger of fur I tber disorders is over.