Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1904-12-09

tween American companies and for
eign governments. urge that the con-
gress carefully consider whether the
power OF the bureau Of corporations
cannot constitutionally be extended to
cover interstate transactions in insur
ance.
Rebates.
Above all else we must strive TO keep
the highways OF commerce open TO all
on equal terms. and TO do this II Is nee
essary to put complete stop TO all re-
bates. Whether the shipper or the rail-
road is 10 blame makes no difference.
The rebate must be stopped. the abuses
Of the private car and private terminal
track and side track systems must be
stopped. and the legislation of the Fiji
ty-eishth congress which declares II 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 amy property in interstate
or foreign commerce whereby such
property shall by any device whatever
be transported at q less rate than that
named in the tariffs published by the
carrier must be enforced. While l am
OF the opinion that at present II would
be undesirable II II We're not impracti
cable finally to clothe the interstate
commerce commission with general au-
thority TO fix railroad rates, | do be-
lieve that as fair security TO ship
pers the commission should be vested
with the power where a given rate has
been challenged and after full hearing
found TO be unreasonable TO decide sub
tect to judicial review. what shall be
reasonable rate TO take its place, the
ruling Of the commission TO take effect
Immediately and 10 obtain unless and
until IT is reversed by the court OF 10
view,
Steamship companies engaged In In
terstate commerce and protected in our
coastwise trade should be held to a
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 heaters corporally punished.l
Irrigation.
During the two and half years that
have elapsed since the passage of the
reclamation act rapid progress has
been made 10 tie surveys and exami-
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 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 well
as 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-
ctal importance because they pre-
serve the water supply and the supply
Of timber for domestic purposes and so
promote settlement under the reclama-
ton act Indeed they are essential to
I the welfare OF every one of the great
/ interests Of the west.
l have repeatedly called attention to
the confusion which exists in govern
rnent forest matters because the work
Is scattered among three independent
| organizations. As | have recommend
/ ed, all the forest work of the govern
I melt should be concentrated In tie de-
partment OF agriculture, where the
larger part of that work 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
claim upon the nation such as no
other body of our citizens possess. The
| pension bureau has never in its history
teen 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
| ices should be provided. am not
| prepared TO say that competitive sys-
| tenn Of examinations for appointment
would work well. but by law it should
be provided that 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
| tional quarantine law.
call your attention to the great
extravaganza in printing and binding
government publications and especially
10 the fact that altogether too many Of
these publications are printed.
Currency.
The attention Of the congress shouid