Arizona republican., 1906-12-15

harbor work. as a clue to defeat the
 merchant marine bill As to Gompers.
 He managed to get the recent cOnven-
 ton of labor tO adopt a resolution
 against the ship bill. but it is in strong
 evidence that neither GompeIs nor the ! convention truly represents the atti-
 tude of labor on this question. In this
 connection comes the story of how | Speaker Cannon got in a little quie, | revenge on GOmpers. It will be remem- bered that Gompers made himself very active in trying to defeat Uncle Joe at the late election. Gompers claims to
 represent labor and that labor opposes the ship bill on the opening day of
 the session the Speaker. with a quiet
 but significant smile. presented more
 than three thousand petitions from la bor organizations asking for the prompt passage Of the senate bill. and as he
 has a few thousand more of the same
 kind to present. it speaks in very loud tones that Gompers does not represent the labor element.
 The bill will provoke discussion, not
 withstanding the Presidents very earn est desire for its passage the active
 support of every commercial organiza-
 tion in the country. many thousand labor organizations. every member of
 the cabinet. and it is believed. a very decided majority of the members of the house. IL Is pointed out by the advo- cates of the bill that for years the gov ernment has been expending millions to improve harbOrs for the use. almost exclusively. Of the ships of foreign na- tons. and they say that this must now stop if we are to have an American |, merchant marine.
 The rivers and harbors congress. ! composed of representatives of those | who are urging more complete sys- tenn of improving our interior wate ways. and the harbors on the coasts, | will meet here this week. MT Harvey N. Boulder of Cleveland. Ohio. is the president of the congress. He is also president of the merchant marine lea gue. organized to urge the rehabilita- ton of the American merchant marine. So it is more than likely the rivers and harboIs congress will take an advanced position in favor of the pending ship ping bill, and urge its speedy enact ment. All these things tend to make the advocates of American shipping very buoyant.
 Another measure that will in all probability. cause considerable discus sion. is the agricultural appropriation bill. IL Is generally conceded that the agricultural committee of the house will again omit from the bill the item appropriating S242. 900 for the purchase and distribution of common garden seeds. The committee omitted the item at the last session. but it was reinsta- ted by the house. after an animated discussion. Since the close of the last session nearly every organization of farmers throughout the entire country has passed resolutions condemning the system. and calling upon congress to refuse to further appropriate money for the free distribution of seeds. Hun dreds of such resolutions are now in the hands of the committee and many others will be presented at the hearing to be given by the committee on the 12th instant. For years the daily press have been almost unanimous in ridi- culing this distribution. and the agri- cultural press has been equally unani- nous in expressing condemnation. but NpiiS IAS tlullS AO liit DIiLt Ddtk- ages with a grim determination. It is safe. however. to now prophecy that the end has come to this pitiful graft of congressman.
 The Presidents reformed spelling is just now like the unfortunate ball be- tween two cOntending collegiate teams, snd is being kicked and knocked around until it will soon lose all appearance of a ball. The Supreme Court will have nothing to do with it, congress rejects it. but the President and some of the administrative departments cling to it. There is suspicion that the President is not taking a very great deal of in terest in the matter himself, having had his little spurt he is willing to let the baby die or live without further aid from him.
 Cuba. the Philippine tariff. Sar Francisco and the. Japs are some of the nuts congress will have to crack at this short session, and they are hard ones. The President has taken his stand on all three. and his attitude on that of the rights of the Japanese is of the belligerent order. While not antic- ipating war as the outcome of the San Francisco matter the President realizes the danger the country is in because of our inadequate coast defenses. On Y this subject he is especially cIear and urgent As there can be no political question arise on this subject. 1t is probable congress will take some steps to carry out the recommendations of of the President This is a matter that concerns all the people, and especially those in the cities on the coasts. Tn this correspondence recently the pres ent condition of our defenses has been strongly set forth, on information ob- tained from those directly interested.
 There is one recommendation in the