The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1900-12-28

| pie are pondering over the great meas
ures pending in congress. There are
diversions in the direction of prepare
tons for the reinauguration of Presl-
dent Mckinley and the social season
which Will follow the reassembling of
congress the first week in the new
year But the anxiety of the people to
have placed in law two or three great
measures s@der discussion and which
the predominant party promised to
have enacted constitutes the all con-
Stunning theme of discussion.
-.
1t is yet believed that the Nicaragua
canal treaty will in some satisfactory
form be ratified, and then will follow
the adoption of the Nicaragua canal
| bill. 1t Is a question whether there
will be in the bill finally adopted an
outright appropriation providing for
the complete construction or whether
there will be pledge for the construc-
ton of the canal and a small appropri-
alton for the requirement OF all the
rights and the completion of the sur
vey and the appointment of a commits
sion and the making ready of every
thing for the final contract when con.
gress meets again next December.
1t is generally felt that some provi-
sion must be made for the marketing
on the high seas to our new market
places of the surplus products Of our
country. The uncNampled growth of
our export markets must be not only
maintained, but continued. If the
merchant marine bill is passed and
provision made for the construction OF
the Nicaragua canal, new impetus
will be given to the growth OF our eX-
port markets, and it will not be neces-
saly to wait until each of these ac-
complishments has been perfected to
make very perceptible impress upon
the expansion of our markets and the
frightening Of the prices for our prod
ucts. The opposition that pertained I'm
some quarters to the adoption of the
merchant marine bill on account OF the
odious name subsidy" is disappearing.
In some quarters there was hesitation
on account Of the proposition to admit
to American registry foreign built
ships because Of a disposition to con-
me the construction Of all ships that
would PROFIT under the proposed law to
those constructed in American ship
yards. But now that ii Is understood
that tie only object to be attained by
the bill is the establishment OF ships
under the control OF American laws to
carry American products into foreign
markets and create the greatest posi-.
BILE amount Of rivalry, thus assuring
the lowest possible freight rates, this
prejudice and hesitation are disappear.
Ing. 1t is proposed that the foreign
built ships shall only profit to the eX-
tent If one-half of the amount OF the
ships built within the United States,
but the foreign built ships are required
to furnish the same means OF transpor-
tation and enter fully as much into the
rivalry for the reducing of freight
rates, so that the producer is only in
terested In getting good markets and
low freight rates, while American ship
builders and the producers of articles
which will enter into the construction
of ships are fully satisfied TO know that
they are given double the advantage.
while only 80 per cent of the bounty
goes to the ships built abroad, but reg
istered under American laws and sub.
ject to American discipline.
1t has just dawned upon many Of
those who have adversely criticised the
shipping bill that but very small per-
centage of our goods are not marketed
In American ships that more than
nlne-tenths of our produce goes abroad
In ships owned and controlled by for
eigners, and should any rivalry or jeal-
Ousy occur our farmers and manufac-
turers would be the ones to suffer and
not the United States government. But
the only question now in dispute as to
this measure lies in the question Of
whether the bounty is to be paid on the
tonnage carried or on the capacity OF
the ships making regular sailings to
given ports, taking our exports without
respect to their cargoes, just 80 the lat
ter are made up entirely of American
products.
President Mckinley has snuffed out
the idea that he may have an extra SEES
sion of congress. A few disappointed
men in each branch Of congress-
who We're defeated for reelection and
must on the 4th Of March retire to pri-
vate llfe-returned to their posts OF
congressional duties with the idea that
they would be dogs in the manger and
prevent legislation. Some OF them even
threatened TO talk to death any mems
ure that might be proposed. In the
house there is a committee on rules
which may at any time report a reso-
luton advancing as IA privileged meas
ure any bill to be discussed, and the
resolution may fix the time limit of de-