Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1904-12-06


not local in its application. 1t involves
multitude of transactions among the
people OF the different states and be-
tween Americans companies and for
eign governments. I urge that the con-
gress carefully consider whether the
power OF the bureau OF corporations
cannot constitutionalIy By extended TO
cove. interstate transactions in insur-
ance
Rebates.
Above all else we must strive to keep
the highways of commerce open 20 all
on equal terms. ard to do this it 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 ear and private terminal
track and side track systems must be
stopped. and the legislation Of the fif-
ty-eighth congress which declares 1t 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
portatlon 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 l am
OF the opinion that at present il would
be undesirable II it We're not impracti-
cable finally 10 clothe the Interstate
commerce commission with general au-
thority to fix railroad rates. | do be-
lieve that rs a 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
1ect 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 it IL reversed by the court Of re-
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 beaters corporally punished.I
Irrigation.
During the two and half years that
have elapsed since the passage of the
reclamation act rapid progress has
been made in the 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 a 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-
cial 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
the welfare Of every one Of the great
interests Of the west.
l have repeatedly called attention to
the confusion which exists In govern
ment forest matters because the work
is scattered among three independent
organizations. AS l 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 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
a claim upon the nation such as no
other body of our citizens possess. The
pension bureau has never In its history
been managed in q 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
lcers should be provided. l am not
prepared to say that a competitive sys-
tem of examinations for appointment
would work well, but by law 1t should
be provided that consuls should be
'amiliar according to places for which
hey apply, with the French, German
II Spanish language and should pos
ess acquaintance with the resources Of
he United States.
1t is desirable to enact proper ma
lonal quarantine law
call your attention to the great
in printing and binding
oyernment publications and especially
D the fact that altogether too many Of |
lese publications are printed.