The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1906-04-06
SOME SORT OF RATE Bill
President Takes up Matter of
Saving Niagara.
BIGGEST BATTLESHIP EVER.
To Cost Ten Millions. s.-Free
Use of Alcohol.

WEEKLY LETTER FROM WASHINGTON.
All the oratory possible under the
circumstances is being expended, one
is almost tempted to say being vast
ed, on the rate bill in the Senate.
Only one thing seems clear and that
is bill will be shortly passed with a
provision 10 it for court review.
That much the merest novice can see.
Further than that the most astute
might hesitate to go. Senators Knox,
Spooner and Tlllmau have locked
horns on the floor and the only thing
that seems certain through the haze
OF the melee is that Tillman has sus-
tained his previous reputation as a
fighter and that the bill will be
passed sometime with some sort of a
review amendment attached. 1t is
certain that any provision for court
review will be point gained IN favor
Of the railroad, for they have fought
strenuously for this provision ever
since they found that it was lnevita-
BILE that bill of some sort should be
passed. The only question that re-
mains in framing the amendment
will be to make it so that the rail-
roads with their superior capital and
superior legal talent will not be able
to wear out the small shipper in USE
less litigation and so render the whole
bill of non effect.
The president has sent special
message to the senate on the subject
OF the preservation Of Niagara Falls.
This is matter that has engaged
the attention both Of this and the
Canadian government for some time
past. Taking out water power from
the falls at first was not a serious
matter, but the power was found to
he SO cheap and so effective that it
has now reached point where it is
to be decided whether the falls shall
be allowed to remain one Of the great
scenic wonders OF the world or wheth-
er the beauties of Niagara shall be
turued into breakfast food for the
people of the United States or be
diverted to the running OF trolly lines
lighting plants and electric furnaces.
The president says in his message
that he sincerely hopes congress Will
pass a restraining law ia accord with
the recommendation Of the Inter
natioual Waterways commission that
will insure the preservation OF the
falls for all time.
The passage through the commit
tee of the Naval appropriation bill is
subject of great rejoicing in the
Navy Department. 1t not only as
sures the carrying out of the Nava
program for the next year, but it pro
vides for battleship that certainl.
will he the equal, possibly the su-
perior of the English levlathan jus
launched, the Dreadnaught. Th
augmentation for the hull alone Q
the new hattleship will be Sc, 900, O0
and this with the cosU of armor an'
armaments will bring it we'll up t
$4,000, 600. The displacement o
the new ship will push 20,0 ton
and there will be abundant room fo
the full offensive armament of j
inch guns that the experience both
the Spanish American war and tn
Russo Jap war proved TO be the mos
effective, Aside from this main bat
terry, the vessel will carry nothin
but light guns for repelling torped
boat attacks. This will be entirely
new departure in Atherican nav;
architecture, but it is thought thu
if the Dreadnaught proves succe
this cointrv ought to have at lea
bne battleship that coiild meet h
anywhere iii the world on equal term
And there is no question that whe
the new lighting wonder gets reat
for business she c6uld whip any
the other navies of the world in lar
sections, prosded only her aminur
tion held out.
There is compromise in the air (
the statehood bill. The measure b
not yet come out of conference, b