Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1905-07-21
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The country generally will approve
President Roosevelt's decision not to
call the fifty-ninth congress in extra
ordinary session for the consideration
of the railroad rate bill 1t is believed
that sentiment in favor Of the legis-
lation is growing rapidly and that by
the time congress meets in regular
session it will be prepared to heed
public opinion. The original propo-
sition to call the session in October
was later discouraged no doubt by
the fact that many congressman
would be detained at home by press
Ing political engagements, and that
interest in any subject brought to the
attention of congress would be d.
vided With the beginning of the
regular session, the elections will be
over and there will be nothing to him
der congress giving careful considera-
Townsend bill will never become q
law is now certain, and curiosity cen
tiers in the possible features of the
substitute measure. 1t is believed that
the administration forces will fight
for government supervision in mOdi-
fed form and will prove their ability
to get such a measure enacted. With
the information gathered by the SEN
ate committee and that picked up by
congressman through personal inves-
tigation, it is thought that congress
can arrive at satisfactory conclu-
sion of the railway rate question with
out devoting months to 1t.
When some newspaper correspond
ents asked the Secretary of the Navy
for permission to go on battle-ship
during the recent maneuvers in Chesa-
peake Bay, he declined, saying that the
department. had learned something
from the Japanese. 1t had decided
that If the war game disclosed any
weak points in the coast defense, it
was better not to have the world know
them, for if such a discovery were
made and discussed in America 1t
would surely travel across the sea.
Secret-keeping is one Of the most diff
cult tasks of free government in deal
ing with an alert newspaper press, and
with a public that wants to know"
what Is going on. Japan has been as
tonishingly successful during the war
in keeping it's secrets. The destruction
Of great battle-ship was not known
till months afterward. Togo's where
abouts were quite unknown until he
bounced on the Russian fleet. No won
hot ri a0rrnSn0ndpnf
who went to Japan to report the war
returned disguised because of the small
chances open to him for news getting.
Japan could not afford to conduct war
for the sake Of furnishing a spectacu-
lar exhibit to the world. 1t is often
the part Of patriotism to help the ma
ton keep it's secrets. American news
papers have sometimes recognized this;
more frequently they have not done so.
Government crop reports have al
ways been regarded as valcable be-
cause they form a basis for an esti-
mate of the size of the crop of wheat
or corn or cotton, or whatever other
crop might be reported upon. Striking
tribute to the financial value Of early
knowledge of the governments fig
ures is contained in the demand of
the Southern Cotton Growers Asso-
citation that the Secretary Of Agricul-
ture discover and punish the man said
to be guilty Of giving out the figures
in advance Of their official publica-
ton. Men acting on advance infOr-
nation are said to have made money
in speculation in cotton futures, that
is, in cotton for future delivery. The
investigation will show whether any
employe Of the department has been
guilty Of giving out information, and
If he is proved guilty he will be pun
ished. The crop reports are not the
private property of any citizen. They
belong to the whole people. The at
tempt usually is made to secure their
simultaneous publication in all parts
Of the country.
President Roosevelt's appointment
Of a committee to investigate all the
executive branches of the government
with a view to placing them on mod
ern business basis promises to create
a revolution at the capital where red
tape has been supreme and precedent
unchallenged from time immemorial.
The committee consists of representa-
tives Of the various departments and
its instruction is to find out" 1t is
evident that the President has learned
enough about the running of the gov
ernment machinery to convince him
that there is an abundance Of waste
and extravaganza. It is current talk
that there are thousands Of people on
Uncle Sans pay roll who do little else
than draw their breath as a warrant