Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-02-08
Opposition to Shipping Measure
Have Hopes of Defeat
ing 1t
MAY BE AMENDED TO DEATH
Nelson's Coal Land Bill Ha. Approval
of President and Will supercede La
Toilette Misunderstanding Expert
mental Stations to Be Established at
Omaha.

4
| the house representatives indicates
close vote on the shipping subsidy Dill
which comes up next week. The OPP
position is not doing much talking anc
there is nothing like an insurgent move
on foot, but there seems to be some
sort of an understanding among mem
bers who will either oppose the OIL
outright or amend it to death.
| Representative f. c. Stevens of MIN
nesota. who served several years on the
merchant marine committee, said ina
the bill would be very materially
changed from the original measure a.
it came from the senate.
For several days negotiations Tor al
agreement that will eliminate the Pac-
ific lines have been under way. A lie"
republicans. who announced that they
never would vote to substitute the
Pacific lines, have expressed a willing
ness to vote for the bill, If the racine
lines are cut out.
The senate is not willing to agree
to any such bill as the house is pro-
posing to pass. Senators who are es-
pecfally interested in the subsidizing OF
the Pacific lines, have served notice on
the house leaders that, If the Dill is s.
amended as to limit the payments te
lines running only to South America
the senate will feel under no ooliga-
tons to accept the work of the mouse
1t was tacit!y agreed, some weeks ago
that. if the house would pass mai
subsidy bill, providing for liberal sub
sides for lines to South America and
to the orient, the senate would accept
it as an opening wedge"
Another special message may be
sent to congress by the president oe-
fore adjournment on March 4, recon-
mending legislation in relation to the
withdrawal of all coal and mineral
lands in the public domain from entry
to individuals or corporations. Ihere
was an important conference at the
White House on this subject late yes
terday. and the president is represented
as having yielded to a compromise OF
the views expressed that too drastic
action slong the lines of the La FOL
lette bill could not be accomplished TINS
session.
Senator Nelson's bill in relation TO
this subject, which is far more conser-
yatiye than that of Senator La Fol-
slette. who was the first to suggest the
government retention of these fuel de-
posits. was adopted as a basis for the
compromise legislation by the admins
tration and the senate committee on
public lands, of which Mr.. Nelson is
member.
Senators Hansbrough. Garter, New
lands and McLaurin were members OF
the committee who attended the White
House conference. With the president
were Commissioner Garfield, who soon
will become secretary of the interior;
Chief Forester Pinchot, who Is slated
to succeed Secretary Wilson as the
head of the department of agriculture;
Director walcott, of the geological sur
yey. and G. H. Holmes, chief statls-
tician of the department of agricul-
ture.
Quietly, but with determination to
satisfy himself thoroughly on the sub
ject General Allen, chief signal officer
of the army, has been making prepara-
lions for the most extensive expert
ment in balloons, air ships and aero
planes. with the view to settling upon
some system of aerial navigation for
use in operations of the army, either In
times of peace or war.
Recently there arrived in this coun-
try from France type of balloon used
by the French army, which was pur-
chased by the signal corps in order
that its merits might be tested in COM
petition with balloons of American
make, while in New York there is being
constructed an immense balloon In
which it is proposed that the men OF
the corps shall make their trial ascents.
1t is the intention to conduct the ex-
periments at Fort Omaha, just outside
of Omaha, Neb., and for this purpose
$50, 900 of money, already appropriated,
has been allotted for fitting up the fort
with all the necessary appliances, in
GLIDING gas tanks, repair shops, etc.
General Allen said yesterday that he
will be prepared to conduct expert
ments with every conceivable kind OF
mdcl1ne OUeT0O"duO dll VIII OS 3o1SSl1
a trial before board of officers-but
the department under no circumstances
will purchase plans of balloons or ma
chimes not already put to practical
tests.
General Allen further stated that he
believed this country was far ahead of
any other in the matter of flying ma
chimes. Already, he said, there had
been developed some which would fur
nish few surprises.
1t is stated that the balloon corps
of the French army numbers at least
600 men, all expert aeronauts. and it is
expected by the department that before
long the American army will have an
equipment superior to that of any other
army in the world.
Just how soon the experiments will
be made is not known, but General AL
len proposes to lose no time in COM
pleting his plant, and he hopes before
,,,op,, m onths to have the tests under