The Washington times., 1901-12-04
point required to meet our needs that are
genuine.
The Control of RniIyrnxr.

Those who complain of the manage
ment of the railways allege that estab-
lished rates are not maintained; that re-
bates and similar devices are habitusIly
resorted to; that these preferences are
usually in favor of the large shipper: that
they drive out of business the smaller
competitor. that while many rates are
100 low, many others are excessive: and
that gross preferences are made. Affect
ing both localities and commodities.
Upon the other hand. the railways assert
that the interstate commerce law, by its
very terms, tends to produce many OF
these Illegal practices by depriving car
riers of that right OF concerted action
which they claim is necessary to estab-
ish and maintain non-discriminating
rates.
Tie act should be amended The rail-
way is public servant Its rates should
be just to and open to all shippers alike.
The Government should see to it that
within its jurisdiction this is so and
should provide a speedy, inexpensive, and
effective remedy to that end. At the same
time nothing could be more foolish than
the enactment of legislation which would
unnecessarily interfere with the develop
ment and operation OF these commercial
agencies.
The Preservation of Forests.
"At present the protection of the forest
reserves rests with the General Land Of
fee, the mapping and description Of their
timber with the United States Geological
Survey. and the preparation of plans for
their conservative use with the Bureau of
Forestry, which is also charged with the
general advancement of practical forestry
in the United States. These various func-
tions snS.ld be united in the Bureau OF
forestry, TO which they properly belong.
''fhe President should have by law the
power Of transferring lands for use as
forest reserves TO the Department of Ag-
riculture.
The Importance of Irrigation.
THE forests are natural reservoirs.
They cannot. however. fully regulate and
conserve the waters of the arid regions.
Great storage works are necessary to
equalize the flow of streams and to save
the flocd waters. Their construction is
properly a national function, at least in
some of its features.
THE Government should construct and
maintain these reservoirs, as il does
other public works.
Settlement of the Arid Lands.
"The reclamation and settlement of the
arid lands will enrich every portion of
our country. The products of irrigation
will be consumed chiefly in upbuiIding
local centres of mining and other indus
tries, which would otherwise not come !
into existence at ALL Our people as a |
whole will profit, for successful home |
making is but another name for the up |
building of the nation.
"The recognition of private ownership. |
which has been permitted to grow up in |
the arid regions. should give way to a |
more enlightened and larger recognition |
of the rights of the public in the control |
and disposal of the public water supplies.
Laws founded upon conditions obtaining !
in humid regions, where water is too /
abundant to justify boarding it. have no |
proper application in dry country.
Hawaii.
I'VE must develop the Territory on the /
traditional American lines.
Porto Rico.
"The island is thriving as never before,
and it is being administered efficiently and |
honestly. We have given it's people the
great gift of free access for their pro-
ducts to the markets of the United States. |
Cuba.
I'm Cuba such progress has been made |
toward putting the independent govern
nent of the island upor. firm footing |
that before the present session OF the |
Congress closes this will be an accom-
plished fact In the case of Cuba there are /
veighty reasons of morality and of nation
Il interest why reciprocity should be held |
10 have peculiar application. and l
most earnestly ask your attention to the
wisdom, indeed to the vital need, ,~oi rro- !
giding for a substantial reduction in he |
tariff duties on Cuban imports into the
United States.
The Philippines.
Already a greater measure of material
and of governmental honesty
and efficiency has been attained in the
Philippines than ever before in their his
tory. We hope to do for the Filipinos
what has never before been done for any
people of the tropics-to make them At
for self-government after The fashion of
the really free nations.
In our anxiety fer the welfare and
progress of the Philippines it may be that
here and there we have gene too rapidly
in giving them local government. 1t
is on this side that our error, if any, has
been committed
There are still troubles ahead in the
Islands The insurrection has become an
affair Of local bandtti and marauders,
who deserve no higher regard than the
brigands of portions of the Old World.
THE time has come when there should
be additional legislation for the Philip
pines. Nothing better can be done for the
islands than to introduce industrial en-
terprises. 1t is necessary that the Con-
gress should pass laws by which the re-
sources of the islands can be developed;
so that franchises (for limited terms of
years) can be granted to companies doing
business in them. and every encourage
ment given TO the incoming of business
men of every kind.
a Pacific Cable.
81 call your attention most earnestly to
he crying need of a cable to Hawaii and
the Philippines. to be continued from the
Philippines to points in Asia. We should
not defer day longer than necessary the
of such a cable. 1t is de-
handed not merely for commercial but
or political and military considerations.
Either the Congress should Immediate
y provide for the construction of a Gov
,rnment cable or else an arrangement
should be made by which like advantages
o these accruing frOn. Government ca
Die may be secured to the Government by
contract with private cable company.
The Isthminn Canal.
NO single great material work which
.emains to be undertaken on this continent
S of such consequence to the American {
,eople as the building of 4 canal across
he isthmus connecting North and South
america. It's Importance to the nation is
" no means limited merely TO its materi-
| effects upon our business prosperity;
nd yet with view to these effects alone it
would be to the last degree important for
IS Immediately to begin it.