Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-01-23
Another Message to Con-
gress Commends
Subsidy Bill.
is AMPLE Precedent
Secretary Root Saw a Great
Light While Travelling In
the South.

Washington, Jan. 23.-The president
today sent a message 10 congress call
ing attention to the great desirability
of the enactment of legislation to help
American shipping trade by encourag-
ing building and running lines of large
swift steamers to South America and
the orient.
Root Saw the Need.
The urgent need of our country max
ing an effort to do something like its
share OF its own carrying trade on the
ocean has been called to his attention,
the president says, in striking fashion
by the experiences of Secretary Root
on the recent South American tour.
Is Not an Experiment.
State aid to steamship lines, the
president says, a proposed law for
which has been discussed i'm congress,
is in no sense experimental. II is
based on just and most successful pre-
as for instance in the recent
Cunard contract with the British gov
eminent
should Not Surrender.
The president discusses the bill now
before the committee and says 'it
would surely be discreditable for us to
to our commercial rivals
the great commerce of the orient, the
great commerce we should have with
South America, and even our own COM
with Hawaii and the Phil
ippines.
PASSES salary Increase.
Washington. Jan. 23.= The senate
today concurred in the house salary
increase proposition by vote of SO to
21. This increases the salaries of SEN
ators and representatives to $1,000,
and vice president, speaker of the house
and members of the cabinet to $4,000.
senate on Salary Bill.
Washington. Jan. 23.-The senate to-
day took up the question of increasing
the salaries of senator's, members of
the house, vice president. speaker Of
the house and cabinet officers, to all
Of which the house agreed TO as an
to the legislative. execu-
i've and judicial appropriation bill.
Berry of Arkansas took the floor in op-
position 10 tne increases.
PASSES Compromise Resolution.
Washington, Jan. 23-The senate
passed the compromise For
aker resolution authorizing the commit
tee on military affairs to investigate
he facts of the affray at Brownsville
Aug. 13 and II last, without question
ing the legality or justice of any act
Of the president in relation in, to, or
with the affray."
This action came after the. subject
1f the presidents discharge of the
negro troops had been under considera-
ion almost daily since the first day of
he present session, and every phase
Df the question discussed on all sides.
Light ON Patent Privileges.
Washington, Jan. 23.-It is likely the
house of representatives will order the
department of commerce and labor to
make an investigation into the owner
ship by civil and military officials Of
he government Of patents used in the
government service.
A resolution to this effect was intro.
iuced i'm the house today by Represen-
-ative Smith of Iowa. IL directs the
of the department named to
transmit to the house list of all pat
snts issued to or transferred by civil
and military officers, and which are
used by the government. the price
paid by the articles patented. and such
other information as may be Of value
n this connection.
Inspired by WaddeII.
The resolution was inspired by the
light which the independent powder
of the country, under
he leadership of Robert S. Waddell of
Peoria, Ill, have been making. Ten OF
hese men called upon Representatives
Smith and Graff of Illinois, and ex-
planned to them the killing effect upon
heir business of the policy of the pow
Ter trust. They claim that contracts
which the trust has with the govern
ment give such an enormous profit that
It is able to undersell the independ-
ents.