Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-10-16
large enough to become state by It

large enough to become a state by It.
self.
Many Bills introduced.
| I'm the last session of congress there
were introduced about $4,000 bills,
varying from one to $50 printed pages
we did not have time to even read all
of these. We passed moro than 5000
Of these measures. For seven months
congress toiled to pass these bills for
the benefit Of the people. We may
have omitted some bills that should
have been passed. ] am certain that
we omitted some that should not
have been passed
There used to be republican party
that believed in q strong central gov
eminent, and the republican party still
believes the s-me way. Again there
used to be democratic party that
believed in a weak central govern
ment. That party has entirely passed
away. There is now universally a
great enthusiasm for the flag. Before
the last session of congress came tho
state Of Louisiana with her yellow
fever problem. Congress made an ap-
preparation of 100000 to fight the
mosquito that carries death and dis
ease to the peopl, Of Louisiana. Not
so many years ago our democratic
friends In that southern state would
have felt outraged at such step. They
would have felt it an infringement
upon state rights.
An Imposition.
"a few years ago we passed meas
ure for the irrigation of the public
lands. This I favored because it ap-
pealed to me in the light of a good
business proposition. Do you know
that there are no government lands in
Texas? When that state was admitted
into the Union it refused to give any
OF the state lands to the government.
1t Is the only state ever admitted into
the United A.ates that did not give
some of it's land to the central govern
ment. Out Of this land it has built its
capital and endowed its public school
system. For this I honor the state of
Texas. But it did seem to me the
height of imposition when at the last
session of congress the state of Texas
appeared with measure proposing
1
al irrigation law into northwest Texas
I'm spite Of a strenuous fight against
the measure by Major John F. Lacey
from the Sixth district of Iowa this
bill was adopted. Minnesota also pre-
sented bill asking the government
to drain the swamp lands in that state
which the central government origin
ally gave to the state absolutely free.
Won't guarantee to Do Everything.
I'VE are getting so now that we
want the central government to do
everything for us. In the times of our
mothers, they used to test the beef
that went onto the family table by the
simple process of smelling it. And they
seemed to get along with pretty good
success at that Now we pay $3,OOO,-
900 year to have a government
smeller to do the work. There is no
limit to the thing when you get
i started"
i The speaker then spoke of the pro.
posed goods roads bill. ell stated that
he desired goods roads as much as
anyone but thought that at present
was going too far.
i Mr.. Smith. said: ITO pike the
roads of the United States would cost
thirty billions of dollars, or five times
the cost of carrying on the civil war
felt that this was little large and
ought to be postponed.
"We', continued the speaker in part
must draw the line somewhere be.
tween what the government is to dc
and what it is to leave to the individ
ual. l now come to the latest idea OF
the peerless leader of the democratic
party. MI Bryan was charged with
talking before he went abroad Ger
tainly he has talked since his return
What he did while away we can only
conjecture.
A New Doctrine.
"Since his return Mr.. Bryan has pro
! mulgated a new doctrine. say new
; doctrine since it one to which no re
ponsible American has heretofore Civ
: en- his support He has declared for the
: national ownership of trunk lines Of
J railway and the state ownership Of
!, the rest. I do not know exactly what
|; he means by trunk lines but suppose
: he uses that term to distinguish be
tween main lines and the branches.
Now the most casual student o.
railway statistics knows that the
branch lines, considered by themselves
lose vast sums of money every year
Where they make profit for the rail
road companies is by feeding the grea
main lines. Does Mr. Bryan want the
| states TO operate these branch lines a
an annual loss in order that the gov
eminent lines MY be conducted witt
, profit?
"That is exactly what he says hi
wants, for he says he wants the nation
to buy and operate all the profitable
) lines and the states all the losing lines
: What lead him off onto this line O
J thought? l may misjudge him and if
do apologize here and now. You know