The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1909-12-04
SOLONS READY
FOR OPENING
Continued From Page One)

| S~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~s~~
merce will meet, with Secretary Nagel
presiding There will be no lack OF
| live topics for discussion in congress
during the coming term. While it is
unlikely that President Taft will keep
the solons as busy reading messages
as did his predecessor, he has many
important projects to bring to the at
tention of them.
Among our old friends will be the
ship subsidy bill, one of the hardest
of the whole Bill family. During the
past decade statesmen in and out OF
session have rung the changes on this
subject until it is almost household
expression. The crux of the conten-
ton of the friends of this measure,
which has during its lifetime received
many a blow, is that the dignity of this
great nation requires a system of swift
Americana built and American manned
merchant steamers to carry the COM
merce of America on the seas.
Such a fleet would increase COM
merce and be a nucleus to the war
craft in the event of war. They de-
clare that the only way to get this
merchant marine is to give bonus or
subsidy to shipbuilders The opponents
of the measure have belabored the
proposition with charges that it would
be diverting public money to ship COM
bines and that it is an ugly form OF
paternalism President Taft has
strongly urged, in his recent speeches,
the upbuilding of the merchant marine,
and it will be interesting to watch the
renewal of the fight for this measure.
Conservation of national resources
and island waterway and river and
harbor improvements are also sub
jects which will be considered. All
have the backing of the president and
it is expected that steps will be taken
on an extensive scale in these direc-
tions. Bond issues, have been sug-
gested and the whole subject will be
threshed over.
Senator Dixon, of Montana, is the
chairman of the conservation COM
mittee in the senate, and being
westerner familiar With the great re-
sources there, will be the leader in legis-
lation following out the suggestions
for Their conservatism. In this con-
nection also, the question of irrigation
of arid lands will come up. 1t seems
as though a little too much was first
undertaken without the necessary
funds and the interior department hav-
ing tabooed the scrip" cong--.. Will
be called upon to provide for the car
rying On of this great work, which
has been of such an uplifting influence
to the western country in agricultural
development.
No one wants to see irrigation
dropped. During the past few months
the senate irrigation committee, head
ed by Senator Carter, of Montana, has
been looking over the irrigation pro-
jects in the west, and will no doubt
have some interesting recommendation
to make thereon. With these subjects
will also no doubt come up the row
between Ballinger and Pinchot.
l. no al
savings bank bill. For many years this
plan has been urged upon congress,
but the opposition of the private saw
ings banks has so far prevented it's es
tablishment. The president has also
come out strongly for this measure.
It's friends claim for it that it will
afford a safer deposit of their funds,
but the opponents declare it will ruin
the savings bank business. Senator
Carter of Montana has been in charge
of the measure in the senate and will
vigorously press it. He, together With
/ and now Secretary of State Knox,
| drafted the measure, which has met
| general approval in official circles here
| Efforts will also be made to create
| additional bureaus in the government
| There is quite a nagitation on for the
creation of two more cabinet places,
/ those of labor and public health. The
many friends of the proposed bureau
of mines in the interior department
will also work for the creation of such
a bureau. Senator Dixon has intro
duced a bill to this end and will press
| it.
Legislation affecting the territories
will also come up. The friends OF
statehood for the territories of New
| NTexioo and Arizona arc eucorra Ger