The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-11-10
WHAT | WOULD DO
Congressman Long Talks About
Work of Congress.
He is Greatly Interested in the
Merchant Marine.
WOULD BUILD 1T UP.
Will Labor to That End in
Legislative Hall.
Thinks the Nicaraguan Canal
Should Be Built.
WOULD BUILD 1T UP.

the city on political business, being en-
gagged in a final conference with his
friends. the chief object being how to
dispose of the candidacy of W. NJ Wal
lace, which is becoming exceedingly
troublesome. Mr. Long goes to begin
at this time the preliminary work of the
first session of congress in which his
term begins. For several weeks he will
be engaged in department WCrk and ex-
poets to be busy until the opening ses-
sion. To a Journal reporter today Mr..
Long talked of his plans for legislation
during the coming session of the ma
tiOnaI body of lawmakers.
There are three measures" he said,
lin which 1 am particularly interested.
The first is the Pacific cable; second,
the Nicara guam canal; third the mer-
chant marine.
ITO which of these attach the most
Importance is a difficult question to an
sWer. To all of them am devoted and
l believe they are three OF the principal
and most important subjects before the
American people today. On the subject
of the cable there is not much to be
said except that it should be owned or
controlled by the federal government
"Of the merchant marine there is
much to be said. Our merchant marine
has been on the downward grade for
years until now it amounts to prac-
ticaIIy nothing as compared with the
record of a few years ago.
In 1876 so per cent of our commerce
was carried on under our own flag. In
1866 go per cent of it was credited to
our flag, the remainder being developed
by ships sailing under foreign flags. In
1886 but IL per cent was carried by our
own flag. These conditions must be
remedied. I am in favor of doing busi-
ness under our own flag.
I am not ready to say in what way
this change in that particular class of
business shall be brought about. There
formerly used, discriminating tariffs;
the other method is by a system of sub
sides. There are many opponents of
the subsidy plan while many other
eminent men oppose the discriminating
tariffs. These tariffs were levied in fav-
or of vessels carrying our own flag.
That is to say, preferences were given
for vessels carrying the stars and
stripes. This, of course, created much
opposition in other countries and has
resulted in treaties with forty different
foreign powers, in which we have
agreed not to levy this tariff
Should we desire to change the plan
and return to the discriminating tariffs
we would be compelled to abrogate
those treaties. This feature of the
transaction would cause much OppOsi-
tion which might prove sufficient to
change the condition and bring us to
the plan of securing government aid.
While this plan does not please some
men, yet it does carry some advantages.
I am not now prepared to say which
method I shall favor, but there is one
thing I will say and that is that [ am
in favor of restoring the merchant ma
rine to its proper place-the front rank
among the nations of the world.
This is desirable for many reasons.
but the most important is the benefits
which it will carry to all the people
We have IS millions of people in the
United States, but we have inventive
genius enough to supply products for
$50 millions. We want to keep the home
market. We thought some years ago
that We would not but we have all
changed our minds and must protect
this important feature of our business
With the productive powers of the
country we will also desire to stimulate
our foreign trade. For this reason am
in favor of keeping the Philippine is
lands because in those islands believe
the future great development of our
commerce will take place. There are
business enterprises and business pos
sibilitieS in those islands which must
be developed and the most successful
method of doing this will be under the
protection of our own country. There
| fore, I say let us do it with the flag of
our own country flying over the vessels
which take the important part neces-
sary in this great enterprise"
Mr.. Long was asked if he believes
the government should control the con-
structiOn Of the Nicaraguan canal He
replied by saying:
That is a question which / have not
answered for myself Many men who
| nave IndQe IuG proposition one Tor
thought and study, are in favor of the
government controlling the canal from
! the beginning of its construction until
! it s completed and forever thereafter.
/ As to the latter proposition, I am con-
! Vinced that the best plan would be to
/ have the government own or control
/ the canal after it is completed. On the
| other phase of the question 7 have not
made up my mind. I am not yet con-
/ vinced as to the merits of the PROPOSE
/ tiOns, the construction of the canal by
! private enterprise or under the super
| vision Of the government. I stand
/ ready to support the plan which I be-
! lieve to be the most cOmmendable and
| embodying the most satisfactory results
| to the American people.
| I am not at this time ready to say
| that the canal should be constructed
| across Nicaragua A commission is
/ now investigating the land and will
/ opening OF congress The canal will
/ be built across the isthmus at some
/ point yet to be selected. 1t may be in
/ Panama or Nicaragua I am ready to
! make a selection of the location at the
/ proper time, but before casting my vote
| the whole matter and endeavOr to ally
| myself with the friends of the most
/ beneficial arrangement"
| Mr.. Long was asked if he favored the
| enactment of a service pension law. To
| this question he replied by saying:
Under the present system of dealing
| with the question of pensions I doubt
| whether a service pension law would be
| practicable, but in my opinion, the time
| is coming and not far in the future
| WHEN such a law will find q place upon
| our statute boks. I will support it, too
| if have the opportunity. At the pres
! ent time am in favor, as have al