The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1901-02-07
NOW BEFORE CONGRESS.
Work Accumulating and Both Sen.
ate and House Are Kept [
Very Busy. !
IMPORTANT MEASURES UNDER way.
adorable Attention,-Unanim Of
Opinion Regarding an Isthminn
Canal-Feeling ON Subsidy to Conn
merce.
Especial Correspondence
Washington. ID. c. Lar

Washington, ID. c., Jan. 80.
Appropriation bills are accommodating in
the senate and are rapidly being disposed
of in the house, and the chances for an ex.
ira session are beginning to hinge entirely
upon the willingness to be shown by the
senate in considering and disposing of in a
businesslike manner the great measures
which oil the machinery of government and
keep it from stopping. The house shows no
disposition to lag in its work, however dila.
tory the senate may be in emulating the
houses example. 1t cannot be doubted,
however, that with the increased response
bilities of our government, with its 75,O0O,-
900 Americans, to say nothing of its II, ,00O,.
600 or 100000 other dependents in dis
tant parts of the world, the short sessions
are proving quite inadequate for the proper
transaction of the public business that
crowds upon congress.
The fhbusters in the senate are bluster-
ing as hard as before regarding their disposi.
tion to "hold up" important administration
measures, in order to force the president to
call an extra session, the manifest purpose
of which is to endeavor to discredit the ad-
ministration before the country, and per.
haps lead to its defeat. The people, on the
other hand, while industrious Of wasting the
public funds, are equally desirous of secur
ing the benefits that flow from beneficial
legislation. To convene congress in extra
session in order to supply sufficient time for
the disposal of pressing and important mat
ters which are denied the proper time re-
quired for their consideration in the regular
sessions will always meet with the peoples
approval whenever the president finds him
self-for any reasons of congressional neg
lect or studied dilatoriness-forced to safe
guard the nations interests in that manner.
There is growing feeling among many Of
our more thoughtful statesmen that the
southern problem will be solved by those in
the south who are responsible for the dis
franchisement of colored voters. As soon
as the necessity for unity of political action
among the white voters is removed by the
elimination of the possibility of negro DOM
ination, Immediately there will be d.
vision among the white voters upon great
national problems that are not influenced
by race questions. The development of the
resources of the south, it is beginning to be
seen by the wiser of those of that section,
has been held in check by the oligarchy exer-
cised by white voters throughout that entire
section, an oligarchy that has been a con-
slant menace to representative government
and consequently deterrent to extensive
investment.
The possibilities beyond the construction
fan isthmian canal have opened the eyes
of many of the more progressive people of
the south, quickened as they have been by
their realization of the almost untouched
rich and all but exhaustless resources Of
their own section. This is finding express
sion in various forms, but nowhere more
pointedy than in the restive feeling shown
by advanced thinkers and real statesmen
among the congressional delegations repre-
sentng southern constituencies. Whenever
business men get together in the south to
discuss matters of public interest relating to
their section of the country, they find them
selves handicapped and restrained from
joining in unity for the legislation which
they deem essential to their rapid and per-
manent development by finding that the
only methods at their command clash with
the economic predictions of those who
manage their political affairs.
One of the most significant illustrations
of this is found in the unanimity with which
southern industrial and commercial organi-
cations unite in pettioning congress- to en-
act legislation that shall build up the coun
try's mercantile marine. Freed from the
shackles of racial controversies there would
be no difficulty in the real wishes Of south
ern business men finding clear and cogent
expressions SO frequently and so generally
as to force upon their representatives in
ob ~ al
change of representatives. The direct sub
sidy to commerce involved in the construc-
ton Of an isthmian canal cannot be gain
said, and the south to-day is almost unit
in it's behalf, for the very fortunate reason
that, although it is not new question, it has
never become partisan one.
But the very course OF reasoning that sup
ports the demand for the construction of an
isthmian canal, precisely the same basic
principles being involved as there are in the
improvement of rivers and harbors, apply
without deviation to the problem of restor-
ing our ships to the seas. The latter can
only be solved through government sub
sidy, just as the construction of an isthmian
canal has on all sides been conceded to be
mere matter of government "undertak-
ing'-the latter word taking the place Of
the tabooed word Subsidy" There can be
no doubt that if the word Subsidy" were
applied to an isthmian canal construction,
and to river and harbor improvements, as il
has been to mercantile marine construction
and Improvement, the prejudices against the
word would have long ago disappeared, SC
determined are our people to construct
canal and improve our rivers and llarbors,
and none the less determined are they to
build up merchant marine of our own.
Clearly it is seen in official circles here.
especially among the more progressive and
representative men of the south, that the
sunlight of reason is beginning to pierce the
gloom of prejudice upon economic matters
that has been the greatest drawback to the
souths development, and, as consequence,
to the symmetrical progress and develop.
ment of the whole nation. Equally obvious
is it to those minging with those people in
official life here at the capital still influenced
more by prejudice than by reason, that
nothing will so utterly dissipate the absurd
and groundless objection to the suggestion
of subsidy" as to put the policy into opera.
tion in an effective manner that shall result
in giving us powerful merchant marine in
which all sections can take pride and which
will SO substantially and enduringly strength
en- the nations defenses and promote its in.
dustries and its commerce.