The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-12-06

And, after ALL the question of lettering
| the merchant marine and encouraging
American manufacture and manning OF
ships to carry the ocean trade of this
country is only applying to the sea that
policy long in force on land-the protec-
tive policy. If protection be good to the
manufacture of products and TO the
American working man and agriculturist.
then, surely, it will be good for the
transportation of manufactured products;
| this. country. and for the very classes i'm
proved by the protective policy on land.
The shipping agitation and consumma-
ton is only continuation of the protec-
tive policy of the government and the
Republican party.
Various commercial bodies of this coHn-
try, including perhaps, among the fore
most, the New York Board of Trade and
transportation, have commenced the re-
newed agitation for improving the mer-
chant marine. They do not necessarily
request that there be subsidy bill
passed. but rather they invite on the part
Of the public and of congress an inquiry
improving the ocean carrying and maxi
ing it possible for the United States to
make it's own ships; to operate and man
them; to secure to this country the MIL
lions annually paid foreign carriers. These
bodies have invited propositions from sub
sidy advocates; from free-ship adherents.
and from all who may have opinions to
express on the subject. They hope that
some good may come out of it all, and
that the country will be the better for it.
But, as stated above, there viii likely
be no legislation along these lines at the
present session. Speaker Cannon is or
ganizing the committee on merchant ma
rine and fisheries in the house so that 1t
will be set against any subsidy legislation.
The speaker does not believe in this form
Of legislation. He has never exactly given
his reasons for it, but probably they will
come out later.
The senate, on the other hand, is more
favorable. Among the chief advocates OF
building up the merchant marine and re-
storing the position the United States for
merly held in respect to ocean carrying,
are Senator'S Frye and Hanna. Senator
Frye, besides being president pro tenn
pore of the senate, is chairman of the
committee on commerce. which has sew
eral times in recent years favorahly re-
ported shipping bill. Senator Hanna,
who knows about the lake carrying trade,
and is well informed on ocean carrying.
anS, above all, wishes to see the vast sums
annually given foreign ship owners re-
tanned at home, has for years advocated
some measure of this sort.
But congress and the country will have
to be educated up to the idea before it
will be put on the statute books Of the
nation, badly as it is needed now.
The question of agrostology is one which
the department of agriculture is giving
considerable attention to just now. Agros-
tology, which means the science of the
fields, treats more particularly of the
restoration of WORKOUT fields and .pas
lures Especially does it have reference
to growing new forage on the cattle pas
lures of Southwestern Kansas Expert
ments are being made all the time; and
the agrostologist of the department is
prepared to assist in a limited manner, all
those who Will give proper attention to ex-
periments. and report TO him the progress
they make. Senator Long has given this
matter considerable attention in the past
and Representative Murdoch. who is ex-
ceedingly partial to the west end of his
district, has also interested himself in
this subject The study of the question is
a fascinating one and from a mere
in the beginning. it has rapidly APP
preached a practical, tangible basis.
Now that the question of n federal
judge for Kansas has been settled there
is no great and momentous proposition 10
agitate the minds of the Kansas delega-
ton. The work done by Kansas the forth
coming session of congress. which will
open Monday of next week. will be of
the individual character. Each senator
and representative has his own matters to
attend TO. but there is no great issue or
question for the delegation as a whole
unless 1t be irrigation. and perhaps some
thing with reference to food prevention.
As to The former, the only relief is when
some practical and common sense method
of irrigatinG Western Kansas can be
found. when the delegation will go after
it, and as to the latter, there probably
will not Gene before the present session
anything more than the possible securing
of an item in the appropriation bill for
the Strengthening Of the Kansas river
channel.
Senator Burton is much interested in
the conservation of flood waters and is
trying to figure out how il can be &C
compIished. This is demanding most OF
his surplus time this winter. Senator
Long has nothing special at hand. save
that he will try TO secure. with the as
sistance ot Representative Murdoch.
public building for Newton The various
house members have nothing OF material
importance. save the usual pension and
local legislation. Mr.. Murdoch and Mr..
Reeder are interested in irrigation. Of
course. and the former in the Newton
public building. Mr. Curtis is taking his
usual active interest in Indian affairs.
and Mr. Miller. as member OF the conf
rnittee on the public lands. will he inter-
ested in the opening of the Kiowa. Com
manche and Apache pasture lands. agge-
eating nearly $4,000 acres. which. OF
course. is OF interest 70 Southern kan
sas Mr.. Long is also devoting some at
tention to this matter. Judge Calder
head has his hands full of pension mat
ters and Representative Campbell * lend
ing his best efforts TO securing legisla-
ton that will restrict the government IN
its public work to the eight-hour theory.
Mr.. Campbell's district IS largely a labor
,sfSr,;~, aud this accounts for HIS interest