The Washington herald., 1908-05-15
FRIDAY. MAY Is. 1908.
Agreements among the States.

Secretary Root, whose mind is essen
TALLY constructive, made suggestion to
the governors conference that is timely
and workable. The Constitution, he said,
forbade agreements among the States
without the consent. but there is no
limit TO the number OF agreements that
may be made with the consent Of Con-
gress. With respect TO forestry and
waterway improvements. il is often said
that the States alone cannot undertake
the necessary projects because more
than one State is interested. For this
reason, as in the case of the Appalachian
forest reserves. the Federal government
is asked TO assume the expense and to
undertake the project, But there is
nothing in the way of an agreement
among three or four States. by consent
of Congress, for the acquisition OF forest
reserves, or for the improvement Of
waterways Such agreements, in fact.
would prove ideal solutions OF the prob
lens involved, for they concern only the
States Immediately interested and not
the whole country, save in a remote
sense. As il is. the consent of the East
and South has to be obtained for projects
that are demanded in the West, and so
on. with the result that only after years
OF logrolling and agitation can anything
be accomplished.
Yet we do not apprehend any imme-
diate acceptance Of Mr. Roots sugges-
tion, for the very good reason that Uncle
Sam has money TO spend, and is willing
q se- -
magnet that draws the support Of State
rights men to plans for the extension of
Federal activity. The establishment Of
forest reserves In the South and in New
England costs money: therefore. the peo-
pie Of those regions demand that the
Federal government establish them A
canal connecting the waters Of one state
with those of another costs money;
therefore the people of those two States
demand that the Federal government
construct the canal As ar. Tawney has
said, When there is a demand either
from the people or from the States. for
the authorization Of a new Federal serv-
ice and an appropriation from the Fed
eral Treasury TO pay for the same, there
will almost always be found In both
Houses Of Congress a majority composed
OF men of all parties and from all sec
tions of the country who do not even
pause TO inquire whether the pro-
posed authorization and expenditure falls
within the legitimate function Of the
Federal government. Their own concern
is whether the revenues win be equal to
The consequent increased appropriations.
and even this consideration has but little
weight especially If their State or any
of their people are 10 be the beneA-
cisries"
Thus we are not likely to see many
agreements among States for the COM
mon prosecution Of enterprises that in
volve heavy expenditure, when that ex-
pendlture can be saddled upon a willing
and receptive general government The
money expended by the Federal govern
ment is raised by indirect taxation,
whereas that expended by the States is
raised by direct taxation as Mr.. Tawney
points out-an additional reason why ii is
difficult TO get the States 20 enter on in
ternal Improvements which their people
have been taught 10 regard as proper
objects Of Federal expenditure.