The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1908-05-21
WASHINGTON LETTER.

Conference called by the Presi-
dent to meet at the White House
has wound up in a burst of en-
thusiasm and the governors of
the states and their lieutenants
have departed to their several
homes convinced of the import
ance of the movement to con-
serve the natural resources of the
country and determined to up
hold the hands of the President
in every proper manner. There
were no political lines drawn in
the conference and it was a truly
remarkable spectacle to see the
President enunciating his policies
and Democrats joining with Re-
publcans, governors from the
Southland as well as from the
North, cheering him to the echo.
Governor johnson of Minnesota
was enthusiastic in his support
of Mr.. Roosevelt, and so also was
Governor Glenn of North Caro-
lima, who, only a few months ago,
was defying the federal courts
and precipitating a situation
which threatened grave conflict
between the federal and state
authorities. No one doubts that
the utmost good will come from
the conference and when the
President suggested that another
be called in the not distant fut-
ure, the rebel yell joined with the
northern cheer in enthusiastic
appreciation of the prospect.
Meanwhile, a desperate effort is
being made in Congress to pass,
over the Presidents veto, a mea-
sure which he has denounced,
the so-called Rainy River dam
bill. His objection to the meas
ure is that it neither limits in
time the special privilege granted
to the men who proposed to build
this dam nor provides for any
compensation to the national gov
ernment and, as he has expressed
it, it gives to a private concern
the right in perpetuity to a re-
source which this generation has
no right to take from the gener-
ations to come. 1t is not expect
ed that the bill will be actually
passed by the necessary two
thirds votes, however.
Congress is making rapid pro-
gress toward adjournment and
every thing now points to a con-
clusion of the session on May %.
The House has passed the Vree-
land financial bill and the Senate
has substituted therefor a modi-
fled form of the Aldrich bill,
which is believed to be of far
greater merit. Both houses have
appointed their conferrees and
the measure which will be finally
enacted, if any is passed, will be
framed by them. In order to Sc
cure favorable action on the Vree-
land bill the House had to repu-
diate it's Banking and Currency
committee and the Fowlerites, as
they have come to be called, are
in a blind rage. There is an old
saying that, Whom the gods
would destroy they first make
mad," and the members Of the
House have paraphrased it to
read, Whom the Speaker would
destroy he first appoints to the
Banking and Currency commit
tee."
Of the thirteen great supply
bills of the government. all but
two have passed both houses.
The calendars of the two houses
are practically clear and House
committees have finally acted on
two measures which the Presi-
dent regards as of the utmost
Importance. One legally creates
the Inland Waterways Commits
sion, provides a salary for it's Sec
retary and quarters for it's Offices,
and the other makes the govern
ment liable to it's employees en-
gagged in hazardous labor for in
;,,v.;oc ircI1rrod in thn cn,.vioo