Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-12-25
TOBEHIT
This is the View Some Legislators
Take.
SAY HEPBURN MEASURE INEFFECTIVE
Think That the Sherman Antitrust
Law Is No Good and That Appropri.
alton Fathered by Iowa Congressman
is Thrown Away.
[BY H. ]. MAHIN.l

[BY H. J. MAHIN.]
Washington, D. c., Dec. 23-Will the
passing of the Hepburn bill be the
cause of no further antitrust legisla-
ton by congress? This is question
many are asking. 1t is said that those
who are not overly anxious to see any
trust legislation think this bill amounts
to little and will seize upon these cir
cumstances to declare that the vague
something" that all orators in the
campaign declared was going to be
done to the trusts has now been done
and nothing further is necessary.
There seems to be large percentage
of legislators who do not consider the
Sherman law effective. On the other
hand there are many who think that
| all the Sherman law lacks is the same
financial backing that is enjoyed by
the legislative department Of a trust.
1t canot be doubted that this is the
view taken of the matter by Mr.. Hep
burn. Unless he has been seriously
misunderstood, Mr. Hepburn believes
that his bill will correct the trust evil
to satisfying extent, and Col. Hep
burn is not in the habit of putting
forth ineffective measures.
Mr.. Hepburn's resourcefulness of de-
bate was wildly evinced the day he
secured the passage of his bill The
members crowded in to hear his
speech. There is no more able debat-
or on the floor than Mr.. Hepburn and
he INDUCES in it all too seldom for
those who enjoy his deliciously out
spoken and effective eloquence.
A local paper printed foolish criti-
cism on Secretary Wilson's recent
prompt action in stamping out the
terrible foot and mouth disease in
New England. The paper said: Sec,
rotary Wilson contends that the peo-
pie who kill their cattle afflicted with
the foot-and-mouth disease should be
paid for the same. What about the
man who sorts his potatoes and Is
obliged to throw away the bad ones?"
The Iowa delegation were rather in
dignant about it. st is a nonsensical
idea,' said Major Lacey. "The bad
potatoes man has are not going to
spread disease and destruction among
all the other potatoes in the country.
In cases of fire adjoining buildings
are often pulled down to save whole
blocks. This is good sense and good
law. A man who has a sick COW or a
, sick horse is not going to kill him Inn
mediately He hopes he will get well
and naturally will delay no matter
how contagious the disease may be"
Secretary Wilson had very little
trouble in getting the large appropria-
ton requested. In fact, Mr.. Wilson's
requests are very seldom questioned.
He is given a great sum of money by
congress each year but it is with the
assurance that every dollar will be
spent to the very best advantage. No
member of the administration has the
confidence of congress in higher de-
gree.
Congressman Lacey recently re
piled favorably to an urgent request tC
J write an article on forestry for Gun
tons Magazine, the well known eco
nomic publication of New York. Mr.
Lacey's article will appear in the Jan
uary number. Mr.. Lacey is consid
: cred an unsurpassed authority on this
, question. He had much to do in shap
ing the very first forestry Legislation
ever passed in congress This wa:
some eleven years ago when Mr.. La
CCy UTSl Cdlle W w III lil'
;, article tor Gunton's he takes the stant
. that there is yet much to be done il
! forestry legislation. He thinks tina
the forests of the United States shoul'
have much more and better care ant
!, attention than is the case at present
u They should not only be laid off il
s reserves and allowed to grow but thei
i growing should be watched and as
q sisted. The primary cause for fol
;, estry legislation is of course connect
3, ed with the lumber supply of tn
: country but other very important fes
lures that Mr.. Lacey explains are tn
connection of forests with the hea
" waters of rivers and with irrigation.
o At the first state dinner given b
l. President and Mrs. Roosevelt the othe
i, night, five Iowans were present.
J. is interesting to note the rank OF tn
Iowans in Washington as was evince
by the list of guests. OF course til
official family came first, and OF thes
!. Secretary and Mrs. Hay headed tt
l. list, with Secretary and Mrs. SHAY
second. Immediately after the list
the cabinet members came the tN
ranking army officers, then came Sc
ator Frye the president pro TEN OF tt
senate, then Speaker and Mrs. He
derson, and first of all the unoffici
/ guests came the name of Senator A
lison, Iowa's grand old man, thu
showing the unquestioned position tt
} senior senator occupies in the mind
the President and in Washington lif
= -
, Opposition to reciprocity with Cul
e is dwindling The sugar beet is rapi
S ly disappearing as a political factc
e | | In q few weeks it will not be heard {