Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-01-15

AuSuCS - DelIS I6lC ana results evil
denced by a general revival of trust
talk at the capitol Mr.. Roosevelt IA
vors Attorney General Knox-s ideas
recently expressed in which he aims
at two chief ends-the prevention of
discrimination in favor of certain pro-
ducers as against others, and the
equipment Of the government with the
necessary machinery and power and
information to successfully prosecute.
Air.knox declares that the great danger
is in monopoly and that in this day
and age if small capital can get the
same rate and advantages as large
and Is not Disseminated against be-
cause 1t is small, the big companies
will have plenty of competition. His
recommendations in a nut shell are
to reassure the small producer of fair
play.
Washington, D. c., Jan. 9.-Politi-
cal on lockers say that the house of
representatives is being gradually
'Westernized, by the sensible system
OF doing away with rotation and keep
ing good men in Office for long terms
OF service. In no state has the adj
vantage OF this system been more
thoroughly realized and practiced in
past years than in Iowa and her ex-
ample and influence is having much
erect on other western states. Iowa
mas for years been one of the states
having a dominating influence in the
legislation because of her veteran
members, such as Henderson, Hep
burn, Lacey, Hull, etc., with the nota-
Bile example of Allison in the senate
Ten or fifteen years ago when the
west was newer, rotation was the rule
rather than the exception and as a
result the power lay mostly in the
hands of the eastern delegations be-
cause these states sent their good
men back term after term. Now, how
ever, rotation in the west seems to
have become the exception rather
than the rule, and the fact that a
member has served two terms instead
OF being an argument against his re-
nomination is becoming an argument
in his favor. Michigan, Wisconsin,
Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Minnesota, and
Iowa, states that now have a domin-
ating influence in house legislation,
each have several veteran members
whose service dates back in Six eight,
ten or twelve years; few even be-
yond that. This could not help but be
a factor in "westernizing" the house
since the fifty-fourth congress. Mr..
Reed gave New York state and New
England a great power by selecting
from those states a large number of
his chairmen. That was simply be-
cause those states had the greatest
on the floor Since then, as the old
ichairmen have dropped out, for one
reason or another the places have
gone to western men. The most re-
cent instance was the moving of the
Judiciary craftsmanship from New
York to Wisconsin. ~ver a dozen
similar cases might be cited during
the last six years together with those
in prospect in the next congress.
1t is cheerful and encouraging sign
that some of the congressman are
again beginning to talk about the oft
suggested proposition of increasing
the salary of the President of the Uni
ted States. Congress cheerfully passes
bill after bill appropriating enough
money for buildings or ships to pay
the salary of ..le President for gene
ration, but for some reason an actual
bill to double the pitifully small salary
the President now receives never
makes it's appearance. There are
some who are working up a determf
nation that this matter shall be at
tended to before the beginning of the
presidential term in March, 1905. at
is all right to talk of our conserva-
tism," said representative the other
day, but this does not justify the ex-
tension Of system thirty, forty or
sixty years old into times like the
present that have obviously outgrown
| it. It is disgraceful for this, the might
lest and richest nation on earth, to of.
fer its chief executive but $4,000 a
year. Our wealth is nearly equal to
| the combined wealth of England and
Russia or of Germany and Russia and
| it nearly equals that of Russia, Aus
tria, Italy and Spain combined. Eng
| lands Indebtedness is more than dou
BILE ours and her population less thar
half. TIL national debt of Germany is
nearly $1,000,000,000 more than ours
and her population one-third ours
The national debt of Russia is more
than double ours and her population
about one-half more than ours. Still
in the face of all this, Great Britain
pays King Edward nearly 100000 6
year, not to mention what goes from
the exchequer to other members of the
| royal family The president of France
receives yearly salary of $4,000;
| the emperor of Germany nearly SO,
100000, the car of Russia $12,000,O00
the king of Greece 5000, 1000, the cover
nor general of Canada $4,000. Ever
the lord chancellor Of England re
ceives $4,000. And we pay our Pres
ident paltry $4,000 and our cabine
officers pittance of $4,000 ;
j year barely enough to pay tn,
rent of the right sort of house il
1 Washington-and expect them tt
maintain the dignity of the nation"
4 "Many insurance company Officials
get more than the President of tn
Il United States. Lots of railroad an,
banking executives would turn thei
back on such pay Salaries of $4,000
are comparatively common in thi
country in positions not requiring
1.-THE Of the ability, the tact and tn
} character of President of the Unite
States and not involving one-hun
} dredth part of his responsibility. And,
! concluded the gentleman. amid ar
r.. tas.