The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1904-12-10

STARK CO., NORTH
tween American companies ouu lv,-.
eign governments. urge that the con-
gress carefully consider whether the
power Of the bureau Of corporations
cannot constitutioEally be extended to
cover interstate transactions In insur-
ance.
Rebates.
Above all else we must strive to keen
the highways of commerce open to all
on equal terms. and to do this it is nec-
essary to put a. complete stop to all re-
bates. Whether the shipper OF the rail-
road is to blame makes no difference.
The rebate must be stopped, the abuses
Of the private car anil private terminal
track and side track systems must be
stopped, ana the legislation of the Eff
ty-eighth congress which declares it to
be unlawful for any person or corpora
ton to offer, grant, give, solicit, accept
or receive any rebate, concession or
discrimination in respect of the trans
portation of any property in interstate
or foreign commerce whereby such
property shall by any device whatever
be transported at less rate than that
named in the tariffs published by the
carrier must be enforced. While I am
of the opinion that at present it would
be undesirable If it were not impractl-
cable finally to clothe the interstate
commerce commission with general au-
thority to fix railroad rates, I do be-
lieve that as fair security to ship
pers the commission should be vested
with the power where given rate has
been challenged and after full hearing
found to be unreasonable to decide, sub
ject to judicial review, what shall be a
reasonable rate to take its place, the
ruling Of the commission to take effect
Immediately and to obtain unless and
until 1t is reversed by the court of re-
view.
Steamship companies engaged in in
terstate commerce and protected in our
coastwise trade should be held to
strict observance of the interstate COM
merce act
1.-THE president here discusses the
city Of Washington, making numerous
recommendations looking to its better
government. He asks that laws be
passed preventing overcrowding in the
tenement districts, for the abolition of
blind alleys and the proper housing of
the poor. He also recommends changes
in the criminal code, and would have
wife beaters corporally punished.l
Irrigation.
During the two and q half years that
have elapsed since the passage of the
reclamation act rapid progress has
been made in the surveys and exani-
nations Of the opportunities for recla-
nation in the thirteen states and three
territories of the arid west. Construc-
ton has already been begun on the lar
gest and most important Of the irriga-
ton works, and plans are being COM
pleted for works which will utilize the
funds now available.
The forest policy of the government
is just now q subject of vivid public
interest throughout the west and to the
people Of the United States in general.
The forest reserves themselves are OF
extreme value to the present as we'll
US to the future welfare of all the
western public land states. They pow
erfully affect the use and disposal of
the public lands. They are Of spe-
cial Importance because they pre-
serve the water supply and the supply
of timber for domestic purposes and so
promote settlement under the reclama-
tion act. Indeed they are essential to
the welfare of every one Of the great
interests Of the west.
have repeatedly called attention to
the confusion which exists in govern
ment forest matters because the work
is scattered among three independent
organizations. AS have recommend
ed, all the forest work Of the govern
ment should be concentrated In the de-
partment of agriculture, where the
larger part Of that woSk is already
done. The Canyon of the Colorado
should be made national park, and
the national park system should in
clude the Yosemite and as many as
possible of the groves Of giant trees in
California.
Pensions.
The veterans of the civil war have
a claim upon the nation such as no
other body Of our citizens possess. The
1,oo f,~l lk<, {c{o
BEEN managed in more satisfactory
manner than is now the case.
Consular Service.
Our consular system needs improve
ment. Salaries should be substituted
for fees, and the proper classification,
grading and transfer of consular Of
flcers should bayprovided. am not
prepared to say 49ta competitive sys.
tenn of exami4 ens for appointment
would work vi Ssbut by law 1t should
be provided Z consuls should be
familiar, according to places for which
they apply, with the French, German
or Spanish language and should pos
sess acquaintance with the resources of
the United States.
1t is desirable. to enact proper ma
tonal quarantine law.
call your attention to the great
extravaganza in printing and binding
government publications and especially
to the fact that altogether too many Of
these publica tions are printed.
Currency.
The attentita Of the congress should
be especially given to the currency
question and that the standing commit
tees on the matter in the two houses
charged with the duty take up the mat
ter Of our currency and see whether 1t
Is not possible to secure an agreement
in the business world for bettering the
system. The committees should con-
slider the question of the retirement Of
the greenbacks and the problem of Sc
curing in our currency such elasticity
as Is consistent with safety. Every
silver dollar should be made by law re-
deemable in gold at the option of the
holder.
Merchant Marine.