Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-01-24
CONGRESS Is STARTLED
Hills Declaration Concerning
Inadequate Rail Facilities
an Eye Opener
BOOTS TO RIVERS AND HARRoRs


Supporters That They Will Get a
Liberal Appropriation for Improve
n,ents-HiIi Favors Water Transpor-
tation Facilities.
washington, Jan. 24.-Congress has
been startled out of Its lethargy to O
realization Of the present needs OF
commerce. When the rivers and har-
bors bill was reported out Of COMMITTEES
this week, every congressman found on
his desk a complete text Of the letter
written a few days ago by James j.
Hill, president OF the Great Northern
Railroad Company, to Governor john
son Of Minnesota. In this letter Mr..
Hill declares emphatically that the
railroads Of the country, In order TO
catch up with the growth Of commerce,
must spend in round numbers $5,500.-
100000 in development work. lie
would have this vast amount spread
over five years Of active work at an
average outlay Of $1,100,000,000 a year.
This enormous sum in the opinion OF
Mr.. Hill, must be spent before the
commerce of the country can be NOV
ed properly.
The immensely of Mr.. Hills figures
has caused the legislators at the cap
ital to gasp. To them the $5O,00O,00O
q year, which the national rivers and
harbors congress has been contending
for, pales into insignificance. Because
OF the disparity, 1t is highly probable
that the federal government will pro-
vide this sum each year hereafter for
the development of the rivers and har-
bors. It is believed that the railroads
scarcely can make such an enormous
outlay as Mr.. Hill suggests. The sum
of $500. 100000 is twice the amount
OF the bonded debt of the United
States at the close of the civil war; 1t
is more than twice the entire circu-
lation of the currency in the country.
and only little less than twice the
savings deposits in, all the savings
banks in the United States put to-
gether.
Congressman Joseph q. Ransdell OF
Louisiana, who, as president Of the ma
tional rivers and harbors congress, Is
probably the most thoroughly con-
versant man in the country today with
the question of water transportation,
nj 70 oil no
plan Of railroad improve
ment to go forward without the, devel-
opment OF a competing transportation
agency. With the railroads so highly
developed that they can handle all
traffic, provided such a thing is pos
sible, the country would be more COM
pletely in the grasp of the railroads
than 1t ever was before. If tho coun-
try develops its navigable waterways,
keeping pace with the railroad i'm
they will serve as II check
upon railroad aggression and railroad
abuses, two conditions which are Ger.
tain to arise If there is no competition
in transportation.
Peculiarly enough Mr.. Hill in his let
ter is an ardent advocate Of water
While he advocates
fifteen-foot channel in
The Mississippi river from st. Louis to
New Orleans. he always has been
champion Of this general plan Of de-
So far as the presidents right in
iischarging the three companies Of the
infantry for the Browns
Vile raid is concerned. the matter is
closed. Incidentally the president has
won another OF his notable victories.
'or the compromise resolution, which
was passed by the senate Monday rep
'esents a graceful surrender OH the
part Of Senator Foraker and his col
eagues, who have been waging war on
he presidents action. The compro-
Mise resolution is as follows:
Resolved, That without questioning
The legality or justice Of any act of
he president in relation thereto, the
committee on military affairs is hereby
and directed, by subcom-
nittee or otherwise, to take and have
printed testimony for the purpose OF
lscertaining all the facts with refer
,nce to or connected with the ARRAY
1t Brownsville, Texas, on the night Of
August 1874, 1906. Said committee is
to send for persons and pa
,ers, to administer oaths, to sit curing
SESSIONS or recess Of the senate, and,
( deemed advisable, at Brownsville or
elsewhere, the expenses Of the inves-,
igation to be paid from the contingent
unds of the senate"
The presidents sudden determine
ion, announced Saturday evening. that
he was in favor of the resolution of
Senator Blackburn and would insist
hat his friends In the senate vote for
t, brought the senate leaders up stand
ng. Senator Lodge. led the forces
which sough reconciliation, and it is
lue largely to him that the agreement
las been reached. The senate has sur
'endered at every point. and the presi-
lent gets even more than he had ex-
pected.
The republican enemies in the, adj
in the senate have not
,nly given up trying to discipline the
president, but they have passed reso-
ution which goes even further in its
praise Of the president than the Black
burn resolution. The threatened split
n the party has been removed.
VEN REFUSE TO DROP nEMANn