Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1906-03-23

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President Roosevelt's special message
on the joint resolution authorizing the
Interstate Commerce Commission / o
make an investigation into the subject
Of railway Determinations n mo
nopolies in coal and oil contains some
reminders which the members of both
houses need. The resolution makes no
provision for the necessary expenses
Of the suggested inquiry and fails to
give the commission power to admins
ter oaths and compel the attendance OF
witnesses. While the President has
signed the resolution, he confesses that
he has misgivings as to it's utility. He
urges Congress to note that at least It
must make proper provision for The
prosecution of the inquiry if it is not
to be barren of results. The difficulties
encountered in the beef-trust investiga-
ton and in the effort to secure proper
punishment for railway officials yiolat
ing the laws against rebates have dem
onstrated the unwisdom of beginning
Investigations without thorough prepa-
ration and a full recognition of the nu-
merous problems to be solved by the
way.
Secretary of State Root, in Il letter
to Representative DENLY of Michigan,
explains the attitude of the American
government toward the alleged scan
dals in the Congo Free State in Cen
trail Africa. The Congressman had
written regarding the widespread feel
ing, that our government ought to do
something to bring about an internal
tioral adjudication Of the issues in
volved. In reply, the Secretary says
that our country Is not in a position to
take the initiative toward such a step,
because it has no possessions or spheres
of influence in Africa. In h general
act for the repression of he slave
trade, to which we are a party, it Is
expressly stipulated that he regula-
ton of FIREARMS and liquor traffic
shall be relegated to the powers having
possessions in Africa. Our relation to
the Congo State is that Of one sover-
eign to another consequently we are
without power to even Investigate eX-
listing conditions. We do not even have
diplomatic representatives in that coun-
try. -
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+ Since Congress has cut down the APP
preparation to the War Department, it
is interesting to note the comparison ct
our army budget with that of other
countries. The regular army in the
United States to-day amounts to about
10000 men, and it costs in round num-
bers about $~72,O0O,OOO. France main
tains an active army Of $4,000 men,
and it costs her $133,O00,00O. Germany
maintains an army which has upon its
active list 100000 men, and it costs her
$144 100000 a year. France has an
army about nine times the size of the
United States n it costs her less than
twice as much to maintain, while Ger
many has an army more than ten times
as large, costing her about double. The
greater cost of the army of the United
States is explained by h fact that this
country pays its army men something
like wages. While only a small and al
most nominal stipend is allowed the
troops of Germany, France, and other
european countries.
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Uncle Sam has discovered n real hero
and rewarded him. 1t took the old
fellow a year, but this caution makes
the reward all the more valuable. An
act Of Congress was approved On Feb
ruary %, 1905, which provided for te
bestowal of a bronze media az such per-
sons as risked tEeir lives to save 9th
crS in the railway service. The first
Il, - &c 1t this medal is George Poell,
vi Grand Island, Neb. Mr.. Poell was
a locomotive fireman on the st. Joe &
Grand Island Road, and on a run with
a heavy freight train a little boy, Paul
Ussary, was discovered on the rack.
The lad, two and a half years old, did
y not realize his danger, and needed not
the whistle. MI. Poell made his way
to the pilot and reached out for the
%youngster. In saving him the fireman
slipped from the pilot and was drag
ged for 125 feet, his left foot being torn
off and his arms broken. The boy had
been dropped in the grass and was I'M
hurt.
For the first time in the current
fiscal year a month has ended with a
surplus in the United States treasury.
at the close Of business Wednesday the
government receipts over expenditures
for the fiscal year were ST. ,0O2. It
is now believed that there will be a
substantial surplus by jun 80 next.
February's balalce amounted to $4,475,-
y27. 81
President Palma Of Cuba has re-
ceived from President Roosevelt a let
ter thanking him and the Cuban con-
gress for its touching and generous
memento of the marriage" Of his daugh-
ter. He congratulated President Palma
on the progress of the Cuban republic.
Since the United States life-saving
service was established, Nov. 1, 1871,
there have been 1861 marine dlsas-
tiers OF American coasts, involving ILL.,
! n-c IL 4 mo - -