Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1904-09-29

carrying out involves. makes us realize
the overwhelming Importance Of broad,
work authorized by the statute, if effect
is to be given to that part of the plan that
relieves the country at large from ulti-
mate liability.
Panama Canal.
An isthmian canal has long been the
hope of our statesmen, and the avowed
aim of the two great parties. as their
platforms in the past show. The Panama
route having been selected, the building
of the canal should be pressed to compile
ton with all reasonable expedition.
The methods by which the executive ac-
CURED the Panama canal route and rights
are a source of regret to many. To them,
the statement that thereby a great public
work was assured to the profit of our peo-
pie is not a 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 argument or suggestion that
means employed to promote our welfare
They hold that adherence to principle.
whether 1t works for our good or Ill, will
future destiny than all our material up
building, and that we should ever remem-
Der that the idea of doing wrong to n
smaller. weaker nation that we. or even
is repugnant to the principles upon which
our government was founded.
Under the laws of the United States the
duty is imposed on the executive to pro.
constructing the canal. That duty should
be promptly performed.
American Shipping.
Our commerce in American bottoms
amounts to but per cent. Of our total
prior to 1861. when the republican party
came into power. our merchant marine
carried an average of so per cent. of our
died 70 per eent Row Wv We car as BUT
contemptibly small fraction of our exports
and imports.
American shipping in I. the re foreign trade trad
nearly hundred years ago--than 1t was
last year. In the face of the continuous
decline In the record Of American shipping
during the last forty-three years, the
promise Of the republican party to restore
it is without encouragement The record
of the democratic party gives assurance
that the task can be more wisely entrusted
TO 1t.
1t Is an artluous task to undo the effect
of forty years OF decadence, and requires
the study and invest.ga ton Of those best
which surely does not lie in the granting
of subsidies wrung from the pockets of
all the taxpayers.
Investigation Of Government Depart.
mcnts.
Recent disclosures, coupled with the
rapid augmentation of government expen-
ditrres, show need Of an investigation
of every department OF the government.
The democrats in congress demanded 1t.
The republican majority refused the de-
mand: The people can determine by their
honest and fh0rNllYh Investigation
democratic congress and executive will
assure IT.
Army and Navy.
We are justly proud Of the officers and
men of our army and navy: Both. how
ever. have suffered from the persistent
injection of personal and political intln
encc. promotions and appointments have
been, frequently based on favoritism in
have been set aside under circumstances
Indicating political interference. These
and other abuses should be corrected.
Pensions for Our Soldiers and Sailors
The national democracy favors liberal
pensions pc sLa to the surviving soldiers and
ground that they deserve liberal treat
mcnt. 1t pledges by its Platform adequate
legislation to that end. But 1t denies the
Of congress to legislate on that subject.
Such usurpation was attempted by pen
son order No. 70, and effect has been
given to 1t by a congress that dared not
resent the usurpation.. It is said that
this order. was made in the performance
of duty imposed upon the president by
act Of congress-" but the provision maxi
act to which the order refers which IS
the ono relating to pensions to civil war
veterans, does not authorize pensions on
the ground of age. It does grant pensions
physical disability, or disabilities, of q
permanent character. not the result of
their own vicious habits. which SO inca
manual labor as TO render them unable to
earn support" This specified require
ment OF incapacity Is in effect set aside
by order No. 7s as to all persons over 81.
The war closed nearly forty years ago.
In the meantime many of our soldiers aud
sailors long survived the age of 60. and
passed away without receiving pension.
skillful pension attorneys hunting through
the statute failed to And provision Civ
ing pension to all who had reached g.
Many prominent veterans urged the JUS
tice OF congressional action giving serv-
ice pension to all veterans Bills to that
not until March of this year did any one
ever claim to have made the discovery
that the president had power to treat the
had passed the age of 62 years he is neces-
sarily disabled one-half in ability to per-
form manual labor and therefore entitled
to pension.
1enefSl BLOCKS Break.
:, The 1Ia, president Of the civil service com
commissioner of pensions and commander
in-chief Of the Grand Army of the Repub
iic Indicated his view of the order when
dent for what he had done. and advised
his hearers to use their influence that law
might be passed TO the same effect Full
been placed on the defense of Justification
for 1t is pleaded in mitigation that for
mer democratic president did something
looking In that direction Even If that Were
duty would be none the less plain and i'm
pcrative. Our people must never tolerate
inc citation of one act of usurpntion Of
may possibly be due to mistake; the sec &C.,
cond. being biased on the first. cannot be.
In explanation however, 1t should be said
that the order relied on simply provided
that the age of rs years should be. re-
garded as evidence of inability to perform
manual labor Few men are able to per-
form manual labor at that age, but nearly
on a fact that experience teaches. the
other is based on the assertion of that
which Is not true as general rule.
Will Revoke Pension Order.
10 de e old inquiry What st are you going
form. It is said by the administration. in
sincerity in this matter The order In
question is revocable at the pleasure Of
the executive. If our opponents come into
power they can revoke this order and an
nounce that they will treat the veterans
of 60 and 20 as presumably in full bodily
X tse and not not entitled to pension win
tend. to do this. II so, we accept the is
This suggests the suspicion. at least,
that the order was made to create an is-
civ n11A 10 -
strong strategic position in the battle of
the ballots. On the assumption that the