Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-12-17
OPPONENTS TO MEASURE TX
PRESENT NEW AND NOVEL
PLAN.
WOULD HAVE GOVERNMENT
BUILD AND OPERATE SHIPS
Proposal is to Put Federal Boats in
Commission to Handle Trade With
South American Ports - cummins
Reported to Favor the Plan-Fae-
tionaI Strife in South Dakota.
Especial Correspondence


Washington, Dec. 1e.-The ship sub
sidy measure is generally expected to
go thru congress at the present SEES
sion, but it will not do so until after
an interesting counter proposal has
been forced upon the attention of
congress.
This counter proposal is no less than
that the government build a number
of fast freight steamships and oper-
ate them in the South American trade,
on its own account. They would then
be available as naval auxilaries in time
Of war. and If there were any loss in
their operation, the government would
stand it directly. instead of indirectly
thru payment of subsidy.
The proposal of the government 60
ing into the shipping business is not
regarded as so startling as it might
have done a few years ago, for the
reason that the government is already
In that business. It operates a line Of
steamships in connection with the Pam
anna railroad and the Panama canal
construction work, from the ports on
the zone to United States ports These
boats handle freight for the govern
ment. and also freight and passengers
in general business. Moreover, the
governm ent is in the railroad business,
as the owner of the Panama railroad;
and it is urged by members of con-
gress who are going to present this
~
more than an extension of the enter
prise in which Uncle Sam is already
engaged
The names of Senators Newlands
and Cummins have both been connect
ed with this proposal, and it is said
THAT such an amendment to the ship
subsidy measure is certain to be Of
fered. The opponents of subsidy have
small doubt that the votes have been
listed to pass the measure thru the
house. Altho they are determined to
continue their fight against it, they
all expect it will carry. There is a
strong support for the plan of subsi-
dizing a line from the east coast of the
United States to the east coast Of
South America, and another line from
l
the west coast of South America. MOI
so much strength is available for the
support Of line to the far east, but
1t is believed the votes can be mus
tered to include it.
Suggestion of the government build.
Ing it's own boats and operating Their
has attracted much interest. The plar
commonly discussed is to increase the
number Of vessels owned by the Pana-
ma Railroad Company, and have then
put into the general South American
trade. This would do away with the
possible embarrassment of having the
government directly handling CONNER
clal business, which might cause diff.
fculties in relations with other coun;
| tries.
The political feud in South Dakota
has broken out anew, and gives ever,
promise Of blooming perennially. Fol
] four or five years it has been one of the
wonders of the national government
that anybody in South Dakota was able
to get mail from the postoffice; but the
state goes right on growing, ane
threatens to come up next year will
the biggest percentage of decennia
population gain of any state in the
union.
The South Dakota feud has become
Chronic. 1t began when Senator.
Gamble and Kittredge split, and Kit
Itredge set out to drive Gamble. out O.
the senate. The two congressman from
the state united with Kittredge, ane
4 Gamble trounced the combination A.
a result all three-Senator Kittredge
and Representatives Martin and Burk'
were left at home.
I Kittrdege is still there, and his plac,
has been taltn by Crawford, an all.
lof Gamble. There is entire harmon,
between the senator's, but meanwhile
:. Martin and Burke; after being ont
term in private life, have been renom
mated and reelected, and they arr
both members again.
The house members are harmonious
too-among themselves. But the hous,
and senate delegations don't speak a.
they pass, further than frigidly to pas
the time of day.
Now it happens that the postoffice.
are the perquisites OF the house mem
bers; but the right of confirmation
; lies with the senate. The house mem
> bers have been nominating postmast
ers, and the department has been nom
mating them in many cases; the sen
ators holding them up whenever
was possible. The war has been goin,
on so long that nobody remembers jus
) when it began. While Martin an,
Burke were in private life, Kibtredg
was still in his senatorial seat, and h,
, A 5o-cent bottle of