The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1907-03-27
CONGRESS REVIEWED.
CONTINUED from page one.)

the company. Until some method is
perfected to prevent stock of rail-
road companies being manipulated for
the purpose Of carrying on gigantic
schemes of gambling. it is safe to say
that Congress has farther work to
do.
Do you believe. in the long run,
any good will come of this legisla-
ton?
"Most certainly do: have no
doubt but what the granting of re-
bates, the most vicious and hurtful
practice of the railroads. has been
quite effectually stopped by the legis-
lation recently enacted: the record
shows that in many instances railroad
rates have been materially reduced
since this law went into effect. and in
many respects shippers and producers
have been benefited. :"
What important measure occupied
the attention of Congress at the last
session?
Nothing of unusual Importance
outside of the appropriation bills, the
session being the short one. little
time was given for the considera tion
OF other matters in addition to these
measures. The immigration bill
which was carried over from the first
session. was enacted into law toward
the close of this session, by means of
which. the seemingly strained rela-
tions existing between the Pacific
Coast States and Japan was disposed
of.
The Currency Bill providing for an
increase of small bills for actual use
and also for greater elasticity of
the currency was passed."
! What about the so called Ship
| Subsidy Bill. which past the House
and by reason of filibustering on
the part of the democrats in the Sen
ate did not receive considera lion there.
This bill, and those who supported it
were severely criticised in recent
issue of the Bulletin.
Undoubtedly the Bulletin wrote
its criticism before the bill passed
the House. because the arguments
used against it, were based on the
supposition that the Hill. Hartman
and Spreckles line of steamers were
in the bill when it passed. while as a
matter of fact. they were all strick-
en- out. and neither line to the Orient
or Australia was left in the bill as it
passed the House. 1t was simply a
bill to increase our mail facilities
and to extend our mail service to the
South American countries. This
country has reached a point where it
does not take any pride in sending its
mails to South America by way
of Europe. and the purpose is to
establish fast mali lines directly
between here and South Amer
lean sports. This country long
since adopted the Monroe Doctrine,
by which. in sense, it assumes the
guardianship over South American
republics, and it seems reasonable that
we should provide means by which
we can more directly communicate
with the people of these republics
The belief is entertained. that if we
can establish rapid transportation
lines between here and South Ameri.
can ports. that it will result in bring
ing the merchants from that country
to the United States to purchase goods
here. where now. on account of swift
European transportation lines they
prefer to go to Europe and naturally
purchase their goods there. rather
than recross the Atlantic Ocean tt
make their purchases here. A mer.
chant naturally seeks the market
which he can reach the quickest. other
conditions being equal, and as he car
reach the European markets in abou'
one half the time he can reach the
markets here. it is reasonable that he
will go to Europe rather than come
here to purchase his goods. 1t ma.
be said that these lines can be estab
lished without any Government aid
but the fact that in all the centurie!
which have past. no lines have beer
established. is sufficient answer to thi.
criticism
If we are to have lines established
and our mail facilities improved. W.
must adopt the same course that w.
have in other cases, where we hav.
extended our mail service upon tn,
ocean as we'll as on the land. we mus
expect to pay for it and get the bene
fits back in the increased facilitie.
of the transportation of the mail.
This is in no sense subsidy baset
on tonnage. nor is it in the nteres
of any corporation. or combination O
capital; the bill provides that al
ships that are to be used on the line!
provided for. shall be new ships ane
with a speed of not less than Is knot