Omaha daily bee., 1906-09-16

Oh
sent to be himself silent on the subject
after the convention adjourns and certainly
not during his term OF once, II he should
be elected. Having received popular. en-
dorsement at the polls even though his
known views were suppressed as much
as possible, he sees the possibility Of 50
teaching the people from his thus en-
iarged forum during his first term that he
can win a second term on the main issue.
Several prominent political associates OF
Mr.. Bryan have expressed regret at what
they call the premature announcement Of
the Issue. Instead OF courageously attack
ing what many OF them admit is mos,
Incompatible with constitutional represen-
tative government they content them.
selves with mild regrets that the one man
who for ten years has been able TO dictate
the paramount issue Of his party and its
a re. should sntieipate the party trend md
party Is not yet ready. Not yet? When
will Il be? Mr.. Bryan does not seem to me
| TO be far In advance OF his party. The
platform adopted at the democratic state
convention in New York In 1902 declared
| In favor OF government ownership and
operation of anthracite coal mines. The
whole question may as well be fought out
| now as at later date when perchance
fering may distract the public mind and
prevent the expression of deliberate Judg-
ment on the subject ITO be forewarned is
to be forearmed." That the issue must
soon be met everyone who has studied the
evolution OF political sentiment within the
q demoSratie party has for several years
| Danger Very Remote.
In his zeal to criticise recent legislation
| Colonel Bryan points out a possible danger
appiIcaoie, however. to the new order Of
| Things which he recommends quite as much
as TO the rate bill against which he di-
| reefs 1t.
"lf an appointive board has the power"
| ne says, TO iix rates and can by the exer-
! else of that power increase or decrease by
hundreds of millions Of dollars the annual
roads feel that they have a large pecunlary
friendly to the railroSds?S If he were
| wholly frank, he might have said, and with
great force, IF an appointve board, re-
| movable by the executive, can fix rates,
and by the exercise Of that power increase
| or decrease by hundreds OF millions OF dol
| lars the revenues of the railroads. and can
| also Increase or decrease, to the limit of
! judicial forbearance, the rates to be paid
| by each and every community between the
seas may not the executive who Is both
ambitious and interruptions, by the ex-
| ercise of that imperiaistic power, per-
petuate himself in off1ce to the day of his
death, and then in effect bequeath to whom
ne WIFI? Possibly II was IN part to pre-
chance, some man of the type | have
described, shall be elected president, a
somewhat liberal court review was provided
Unless Colonel Bryan's fears that some
chief executive may abuse the discretion
groundless, then what might we not fear
| should the nearly ten thousand officials
lines Of road be made subject to executive
appointment or placed under civil service
subject to executive removal for captious
cause, or retention regardless CT inef-
| ficiency?
Nor is this the sole objection. Not long
ago the directors of trunk line Of rail-
road held their annual meeting. 1t finished
its business at a single session, but before
i adjourned. It had appropriated 100000
rolling stock, and bettering its tracks and
terminal facilities. How long would It take
congress to appropriate s1o,00o0o0 for a
! every state from Maine TO Oregon and from
/ Montana to the Gulf was asking equal APP
preparations for the improvement of their
influence of Local Interests.
Say all we please against the influence
| Of local interests, but the fact remains
| that no appropriation for the Improvement
Of rivers and harbors; however Imperative
tr its bounty SO as to include a few nom
navigable streams and some other unneces-
sary improvements. No public building bill
| can be parsed for the erection of a custom
| house, public store or postofice. though
its construction will save the government
| in rent an amount In excess of the interest
on the cost. that does not also provide for
a few postoffices in democratic and re-
nmaintenance after erection exceeds Ie
| rental now paid for adequate quarters,
and where the erection of a public building
| Is an absolute waste of money. River and
| harbor bills and public building bills are
nonpartisan measures. The opposition says
much in platform and more from the stump
| to appropriation there is remarkable nom
partisan unanimity. of opinion from every
as I do that public revenues come very
largely from the wealthy and well-to-do,
and that expenditures for rivers and har-
| tlrely to labor, do not wish this to be
understood as the registration OF an OBJ
| lection to the policy of internal improve
ments / admit them TO be against the
| teachings of Jefferson. and In the face OF
the early teachings of the democratic party.
well as on most other questions the party
of Jefferson has wandered far.
| II the trunk lines OF railroad were once
placed under the direct supervision and
| control of congress. does any one suppose
that one line could be double tracked and
other line were made equally good? Would
one road like the New York Central be
construction bridges while the Rock Island.
with more mileage and touching territory
having more votes in the house and sew
has but single track and crosses streams
on bridges with wooden piers? Would II
TO an and sopry ss6 service
between Chicago and Milwaukee, with
psrlor cars and diner service. and have
| only two trains a day between the homes
of several times as many senators scat
tered between Seattle and ST. Paul? Would
| IL be possible to have a through fast train
pass any town without stopping, and espe-
cially the home town of Congressman or
| senator?
Civil Service and Politics.
| There are over 5000 public servants, ex-
| elusive of presidential appointees, under
| the direct supervision of the department
| at the head of which I have the honor. TO
| temporarily preside They are a good con-
| scientious painstakIng body OF men and
| women, and yet IL the Treasury department
| were a private enterprise every whit as
| much work could be accomplished with a
| reduction Of one-third In number and one
| fourth in the salary OF those remaining
| This condition Is not to be charged TO
civil service rules and regulat lions, of which
l most heartily approve. but to the inherent
nature OF public service.
Some years ago, while walking through
Lincoln park, Chicago. l noticed a group OF
| twenty-five or more men pushing lawn
| mowers. Stopping TO make some Inquiry
| of a policeman. l innocently asked why the
city did not use mowers drawn by horses
| I shall long remember his reply: az guess
you don't live in Chicago, do you? How
long do you think the city administration
would live II 1t moved the park with
| horses7"
The cornerstone of the city hall In PhiIa-
delphia was laid July I. 1874. but the build
ing was not completed until during the
first year OF the present century. The capitol