The Western news., 1904-10-26
RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.

t "A vast eAptuSS VI COUNTY, I'LL tuc
West. portions of which are to be
found in each OF the sixteen States
and Territories. mentioned in the law.
is directly affected lw the National
statute-the outcome OF intelligent and
persistent efforts of leading citizens,
providing for the reclamat ton of the
arid lands for the benefit of homeseek-
ers. During the years of the develop
ment of the measure which finally re-
ceived the vote of every member or
the upper house Of Congress, it en-
cOuntered opposition, based to large
extent upon the view that the aim OF
it's prOmters was to secure the benefits
of irrigation to private owners at Gov
ernment expense. The aim OF the stat
ute is. however, to enable this vast ter
ritOry to reclaim its arid lands without
calling upon the taxpayers of the coun-
try at large to pay forit. Whether the
purposes of the bill will be fully ac-
complished must depend in large meas
IRE upon the ability. sobriety Of judg-
ment, independence and honesty of the
ofhcers OF the Interior Department
having this great work in charge.
In l9O2 the main canals and bitches
in the region affected aggregated more
thuA oO,VOO AJbCS Ale NOtk OL re-
clamatiOn is but in it's infancy. The
total cost Of construction of the neces-
'sary head-gates, dams, main canals.
bitches. reservoirs and pun ping sta
tions ut that time was' Il little over
S93,WO,OOO, which of itself suggests
the hundreds OF millions that may
eventually be invested In the territory
covered by the statute. The magnitude
n n SNp, /
pense it's carrying out involves, make
us realize the overwhelming impor-
tance of broad. capable and honest
administration of the work authorized
by the statute, ii effect IS to be given
to that part of the plan that relieves
the country ut large froI. ultimate lia-
bility.
NATIONAL. FAITH BROKEN.
An lsthmian canal has long been the
hope OF our statesmen, aud tre avOwed
ann or the two -"eat PARTIES, as their
Platforms in the past show. The Pan
ANA route having been selected. the
building of the canal should be pressed
to completion with III, reasonable ex-
pedtion.
The method, by which the Execu-
tive acquired the Panama Canal route
ana rights are Il source of regret to
many. To them the statement that
thereby Il great public work was as
sured to the profit of our people is not
Il sufficient answer to the charge of
violation of National good faith. They
appreciate that the principles and
healthy convictions which in their
working out have made US free and
great stand firmly against the argu-
ment or suggestion that we shall be
blind to the nature of the means EN-
ployed to promote our welfare. They
hold that adherence to principle.
whether it works for our good or i'll.
will have Il more beneticent influence
on our future destiny than all our ma
terial upbuilding. and that we should
ever remember that the idea of doing
Il wrong to a smaller, weaker nation
than We or even All mankind may
have Il resultant good is repuynant to
the principles upon which our govern
ment was founded
Under the laws of the United States
the duty is imposed on the Executive
TO proceed with due diligence in the
work of constructing the Canal That
duty should be promptly performed.
AMERICAN SHIPPING.
Our commerce in American bottoms
amounts to but nine per cent. of our
total exports and Imports. For forty
years prior 10 1861. when the Republ-
can party came into power. our mcr-
chant marine carried an average of
eighty per cent. of our foreign conf
merce. By 1877 it had dwind,e1 to
twenty seven per cent Now we carry
but u contemptibly small fraction of
our exports and imports.
American shipping in the foreign trade
was greater by almost one hundred
thousand tons in 1SlO-nearly hundred
years ago--than it was last year. In
The face Of the continuous decline in
the record of American shipping dur
ing the last fortythree years. the
promise of the Republican party to re-
store 1t is without encOura cement.
The record of the Democratic party
gives assurance that the task can be
more wisely entrusted to it.
1T is an arduOuS task to undo the eff
feet of forty years of decadence and
requires the study and investigation
IF those best fitted by experience to
ind the remedy-which surely does not
lie in the granting of subsidies. wrung
from the pockets of all the taxpayers.
Recent disclosures, cou .,led with the
apid augn entation of government ex
show a need OF an investi-
cation Of every department of the
government The Democrats in Con-
sresS demanded it, The Republican
refused the demand. The
people can determine by their vote in
whether they wish an hon.
.St and thorough investigation. A
Democratic Congress and Executive
will assure it.
ARMY AND NAVY
We are justly proud OF the officers
md men of our Army and Navy. Both.
however. have suffered from the per-
'istent injection of personal and poiiti-
al influence. Promotions and appoint
nents have been frequently based on
avOritism instead of merit. Trials
md courtmartials have been set f.
side under circumstances indicating
POLITICAL interference. These and other
buses should be corrected.
IN PENSION ORDER.
e.