Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1901-01-25

1
gress when the members resumed their
public duties after the holiday recess
They were: 1. The Shipping bill. 2.
The Army Reorganization bill. ). The
Nicaragua Canal Construction bill. 4.
The War Revenue Reduction bin.
8. The Reapportionment bill Three of
these measures have already been pass
ed by Tic House Of Representatives.
1. The Shipping bill: There are many
reasons why this is considered impor-
tant, IL few of which may be briefly re-
clred: Cp 1t aims to save to the Ameri-
can people the larger part of the $115,-
ooo,oOO IL year they now pay to foreign
ship owners. (b) 1t will effect Il very
substantial reduction in the rates of
ocean transportation, which will insure
to our producers, and especially to our
farmers, higher prices for their prod
ucts and larger foreign markets for
them. the latter entailing more profit
able employment for all those engaged
IN the many industries that contribute
their surplus for export. (c) 1t Will
make the nation strong upon the sea,
the only place where 1t is weak, and in
accomplishing this it will weaken the
auxiliary naval power of our foreign
rivals, to which power our neglect of
our own merchant marine and our en-
ployment of foreign shipping directly
contributes. Thus the national defense
and the general welfare of our people
are to n large extent bound up in the
Shipping bill.
=. The Army Reorganization bill:
This is of Importance. for the reason
that, under existing law, our army
must be reduced on June so next to but
2S.OCO men, requirement that will
compel our complete withdrawal from
the Philippines and the abandonment
Of those islands to the mercies of a half
civilized mob, led by band of advcn-
turerS. the whole representing less
than per cent of the population of the
islands. Tho urgency for the passage
of some measure that will enable the
President to prosecute the war in the
Philippines to an early conclusion must
be so. manifest that action to that end
by Congress before adjournment seems
to be inevitable.
3. The Nicaragua Canal Construction
dill: This is a measure of great interest
to our industrial and commercial de
vclopment. 1t will help to rapidly
populate our territory beyond the
Rocky Mountains; it will help to de-
velop our almost boundless resources
| i,, {1,C% CT, oh, 80
fertile and attractive area; it will place
nt tie command of the teeming work.
ers of the East the necessities and lllXu-
ries in mine, forest and farm obtain
able from the development of our Pa
citic Slope section; it will enormously
augment our domestic shipping: it will
make easier our access to the Orient
with our surplus products; it will
cheapen the cost of reaching the west
coast of South America with our goods,
and, If wisdom prevails With respect to
measure No. /. it will become an i'm
mense factor in the development of
our foreign-going shipping.
4. The War Revenue Reduction Bill:
With Il surplus of approximately
eighty millions year, and
the consequent boarding of a
large portion of our currency
that should be in circulation stimula-
ing Investment and employment, there
Is urgent necessity for reduction in
the nations revenue. While it is con-
ceded that it would be unwise to lop
off all of the present surplus revenue,
ut the same time an enormous reduc-
ton is imperative. 1t is generally CON
ceded that the sum of the reduction
will amount to at least forty millions
annually, and the remainder will act
as safeguard to any possible shortage
that may arise in the general revenues
Of the nation. Another reason for the
exercise of caution in the amount of
the reduction is the fact that the war is
still in progress in the Philippines and
the more speedily it is brought to a
termination the better for the nation.
wh:tever the expense.
j. The Reapportionment Bill: The
completion of the statistics of popula-
ton by the Census Bureau demands Mt
the hands of Congress IL reapportion-
mcnt of the number of inhabitants that
shall be comprised within each Con-
gressional district. The necessity for
action at this session of Congress lies
in the fact that in many of the States
their legislatures meet only once in two
years. The task of redistrictng the
States devolves upon their legislatures.
and in order that those elected to the
F'ifty-eighth Congress may represent
the actual inhabitants of their respcc-
tive districts and States, more equita-
bly, than they do at present sufficient
time should be at the disposal of these
several State Legislatures without sub
jecting them to the annoyance and ex-
pense of extra sessions for this single
purpose.
Should the Senate get right down to
business and its members devote them
selves to that reasonable consideration
of these great public measures which
i :,o ;,l nj,