Show WHY FUSS ABOUT THE LAW For fussy fUss hesitation and nice consid consideration cration erton of at legal points commend us s to the common garden variety arety of ot WashIngton Wash Vash Washington ington official when he is confronted with wIh a a technical question queston of ot duty Jn In n conflict with wih the statute Here Is Secretary Metcalf of ot the navy department hesitating and deliberating as to whether it Is right to ship coal for the Pacific Journey of ot the battle battleships batte battleships ships in foreign registered ships from one American Amerian port to another Amer American AmerIcan Amerlean ican lean port por If I he is to get a reasonable freight rate on the coal he will wi have to employ the bottoms of foreign register The law however seems to imply Impy that such shipments would be in violation of at the legal regulations made and pro provided provided provided vided vided to prevent foreign competition in coastwise trade Attorney General Generl Bonaparte has given his opinion that discretion vest vested vested vested ed In the president gives him the right to use the alien alen ships If t he thinks think the rates made by American owners owner are too high On the other hand W Yo L L I Marvin who assumes to speak spek for American interests says sas the proposed award of at the carrying caring con contracts contracts tracts to foreign ships ship would be an out outrage o outrage t rage against American owners and sea seamen seamen seamen men a violation of at the principle of or pro protection protection in the shipping laws and a fla flagrant fa flagrant grant violation of ot the law In the face of ot the protest Secretary Metcalf 1 it t Is la announced will wi probably refer the te matter mater to the president and let him assume the responsibility for awards that may be made Viewing ViewinG the question queston dispassionately the controversy seems almost foolish What need is there of ot considering the law if Ie the administration thinks best to disregard it I Why be so o technical about a little matter mater of ot this sort The trip of at the battleships may be needless and very costly cost but the pres president presIdent president ident has decided it I must be made and that ought to be enough As for shipping coal for American battleships to American Amerian ports in Amer American AmerIcan AmerIcan ican ships that Is la preposterous be because because because cause the president thinks itis preposterous preposterous preposterous It I is all al very vory well w l to mulct the common citizen by virtue of ot a pro protective protective tariff or protective maritime laws but when it I comes to making the government pay high rates that is an altogether different breed of ot cats so to speak Mr Marvin might as well wel have saved his breath and his temper The coal will wU go In foreign ships as the president president president dent wishes and the shipping laws may go hang u |