ITEMS OF INTEREST April 27, 1912 Issue

ITEMS OF INTEREST

The House committee on interstate and foreign commerce is expected to report favorably the Goeke bill providing for the government acquisition of the express companies and the establishment of a parcels express. The Goeke bill is the result of several years' work on the part of Representatives Goeke of Ohio and Lewis of Maryland. This measure as it will be reported from the committee provides that express contracts, operating equipment and property shall be condemned and appropriated "to and for the United States of America, to be used by it for such public purposes as may be proper in its various functions." Full compensation is given to the owners, the amount to be settled by the interstate commerce commission. The system thus come into possession of the government is to be run by the postmaster-general in connection with the postal service.

Secretary Knox and his party, after a diplomatic visit to the states bordering on the Caribbean sea, left Havana, Cuba, last week for Washington. Those who traveled with Secretary Knox say they have received the impression that he believes that in maintaining the Monroe doctrine the United States has assumed an obligation which it cannot evade. Having built a wall around these countries, making it impossible for European or other powers to step in for the purpose of restoring order or compelling these governments to fulfil their financial obligations, he believes that it is incumbent upon the United States to see that stable governments are maintained and that the governments live up to their international obligations.

Negotiations for a voluntary dissolution of the International Harvester Company have been abruptly broken off by the department of justice. Attorney-General Wickersham has definitely refused to consider a plan of the Harvester interests for a partition of the corporation into two parts, insisting that if competition is to be restored in the trade the company must agree to divide into six different concerns, each manufacturing only one of the patents now held by the trust.

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