Evening star., 1901-09-02
CITY IMPROVEMENTS
Representative Metcalf Says They
Should Be Made.
THE SOUTH and PROTECTION
Would Be Unwise to Raise the
Tariff Issue at This Tine.
TIL E NAVAL P r OG r A M

II believe that the city of Washington
should be made an everlasting monument
to it's illustrious namesake,' said Repre-
sentative Victor H Metcalf Of California
to a Star man this morning, land to that
epd 1 approve of all local improvements
which will tend to make this city beauti-
full and heathful.
"As l am not on the District committee
1 am not in a position to know what ap-
preparations are contemplated beyond the
regular yearly expenditures, but any APP
preparation needed by the citizens Of the
District recommended by the committee
will have my hearty support. l believe In
appropriations for public improvements.
The money is expended at home and dis
tributed among classes of the employed
who need it, while the general public gain
by the completion of the projected i'm
pIovement.
The AnacOstfR F1nte.
II strongly favor the reclamation of the
Anacostia flats, and 1 hope that the COM
mendable efforts of the Washington board
of trade and other public-spirited citizens
who have worked SO faithfully to bring
about congressional action will ultimately
be rewarded by success l, at least, am
willing to do my part. The Improvement
of the Potomac flats show what may be
stone retaining walls greatly improve the
appearance of the harbor, while the low
tide lands are only matter OF memory.
L can readily see how similar retaining
walls with the flats filled In on the East
ern branch, the channel dredged out, would
make new harbor on that portion of the
river, and 1 should think, would give
greatly added facilities for shipping. Such
an Improvement would revOlutloniZe that
portion of the District, make 1t more
healthful and incoming visitors en- the
trains would catch as their first glimpse
of Washington trim, walled channel mar
Dor, instead of tidal flats. Perhaps 1t may
be possible at this session to secure an in
itial appropriation to begin the work
Mr.. Metcalf was asked as to the probable
action of Congress on the Babcock tarlH
bill.
Southern interests and Protection.
II have not examined the bill with suff1-
cient care to express a decided opinion at
this time regarding it's provisions he an
swered, but l will say that 1 do not con-
cur with the views expressed in some quar-
ters that the tariff question is to receive
much discussion, aside from positive act
ion, at the ensuing session. l think 1t
would be unwiSe to raise the question now,
in view of the fact our Industries require
protection and the government requires
revenue, both of which are afforded in the
present bill satisfactorily. Most people
now look upon the question of the tariff
been overwhelmingly defeated upon that
issue, and would be again, l believe, were 1t
raised
II think it would be found, were the
question to come up again, that the manu-
featuring interests of the south would join
with those in the north in resisting any at
tempts to tinker with the tariff. The south
was never more prosperous than now, ana
in some portions of it the manufacturing
interests are very strong. The idea of free
trade would be resented in these quarters
most vigorously, as democratic as they are,
for the maintenance of these new interests
there are possible only because of the re-
publican policy of protection. These inter-
ests are behind the southern members OF
Congress- and they could not with safety
ignore them. Louisiana largely owes her
wealth today to the protection of her great
industry and that the people there are
alive to their interests is shown by the
action of their representatives In both
branches of the Congress, when anything
comes up which may threaten them. There
is reason why the same feeling should
not prevail in those of the southern states
which have gone SO heavily into cotton
manufacturing. Their interests are tden-
tical only along different lines Every fac
tory and blast furnace erected in the south
emphasizes in that section the fruits OF
the policy of protection. While 1t Will not
be contended that the southern members
will experience Shift of base on the ques-
ton, it is human nature that ones own
interests cannot be permitted to be leopard
iZGd. AS tneSe mdnuIdCluTi1S INTERESTS
grow in the south it will be interesting to
observe the change of feeling, more or less
manifest on the part of the representatives
who come from the districts in which the
factories are situated.
The Naval Program.
1.-The committee on naval affairs, OF
which | am a member, has not decided
upon the program for new ships, but l be-
lieve that several new vessels of war will
be authorized, as an appropriation for new
ships was not made at the last session. l
am an advocate of a strong navy, and the
theory that the time of peace Is the time
to build it. l consider that this country Is
In greater need of a strong navy than of
a large army. 1t would be possible for us
to muster a million of fighting men in a
few months, but it takes three years to
build and place in commission a battle
ship. Wars come very quickly, but with a
powerful navy and adequate coast defenses,
with Europe 1900 miles away, we would be
in position TO resist attack even by con-
cert of powers. 1 hope to see at this ses-
far the