The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1908-01-03
Feeling the Effect.

more congress is feeling the pinch of
the antipass law, a statute that has
done much to cure congressman OF
the wanderlust. 1t is nearing Christ
mas, and the average member feels
that he ought to go out to his district
look over his own political fences,
and see how ''the boys" are feeling
on the paramount problem of who
is to succeed Roosevelt likewise on
the matter Of currency Legislation.
But it costs a lot of money to travel
all the way out to the Dakotas, to
Colorado, the remote southwest or
the Pacific coast, paying a fare,
sleeper expenses and cost of meals.
1t is not like the good old days be-
fore the rate law went into effect
and nearly every member OF the
house and the senate had fine IA
cilities for free transportation, both
for himself and family. The result
is that many members of congress
will stay in Washington through the
holidays, or will content themselves
with taking a trip to New York or
some place within easy reach.
1t is true the member of congress
is now paid $500 a year, instead of
5000. The Fifty-ninth congress re-
cognized the increased cost Of living
to this extent. But this increase of
salary does not make the average
member any more willing to pay rail-
road fare. He had the habit formed
from years of practice, of riding free,
getting his family carried free and
of getting his goods and chattels to a
considerable extent, transported free.
1t goes against the grain now to have
to pay for all these items. Besides,
the hotel keeper ard apartment house
manager have made certain arrange
ments for the separation of the extra
$4,000 a year from the member of
He has taken cognizance
of the increased cost of living, too,
and up to date has worked. out his
theories on the subject about as eff
fectiyely as has the member of con-
gress.
The result of it all is to make
The member of congress slow to visit
Washington when congress is not in
session, and slow to take trips home
when congress is in session. Covertly,
he grumbles at the antipass legisla-
ton, and signs for the days of the
pass and the free trip ticket. But he
these are gone forever. Too
many state legislatures have followed
the lead of congress in this matter;
too many political machines have
been broken by reason of it, and too
much public sentiment, has been
to make it possible for the
antipass legislation to be wiped out,
The Central American Treaties.
The peace conference of the Cen
trail American states has proved to
be more fruitful of profit than was
at first supposed. We commented
the other day upon the interesting
and in some respects novel scheme
Of international adjustication which
was reported to have been agreed up
on for the settlement of all contro-
versies which may hereafter arise,
Had the conference achieved moth
ing more than that it would have
been worth holding. But it now ap-
pears that it did much more, and
that some parts of it's work make
in a measure toward an organic
federal union of those states. Nc
specific mention is made Of union
which perhaps is just as we'll, see
Ing that union has been tried sc
many times and SO vainly that adj:
rect renewal Of it might well be re.
garded with more skepticism thar
an active and enlightened
cooperation is provided for, which
in It's effects may be almost tanta.
mount ito confederation.
A highly interesting feature Of the
is the naturalization OF
That alone, If faithfully
would go far toward max.
ing wars impossible, inasmlch as
1t would interpose a barrier between
the two parts Of the remainder %,
Central America. Guatemala and
Salvador might fight, as they, have
done many times, and 80 might Mica
ragua and Costa Rica, but a wa
would have to be confined to the twe
Neither Nicaragua nor Cost,
RIGA could fight either Guatemala
or Salvador, without violating the
neutral territory Of Honduras. I
will be a. grateful experience TO,
thus to play the part OF
modern Ellis, for thus that country
will itself be exempted from danger
OF var at the. same time that It boz.
theoretically and practically exertl
q potent influence for peacesuponSit,
In view OF that arrange
mentw we might wonder that til,
PLACE OF meeting of the internationa
court Of Justice, ofswhich we hay,
already spoken at length, was no
fixed In Honduras instead OF Cost,
Rica. s@
The creation ofS Central sAmerl
can unlyersityss With sco-prdinste dc
the various states,sf
another novel and suspicious device
At sis notsSurprising, and4certainly. n
no respect incongruous, since gu,
kadnsAmaricsn neighbers have loni
RAM ed G0c0nd To no other nA0nla 4,