West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1909-02-18
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER
Message to Congress on Country Life
In America.
PESSlMlSrlC REGARDING PANAMA
Senators Want Canal Plans Changed.
Senator Rnox's Eligibility for
Cabinet Questioned.
PESSIMlSrIC REGARDING PANAMA
From Our Regular Correspondont.

March the seasons will come and 90. but
we VIII not sec his like again--at least
not in the White House. Another Inn
portant message with the solemnity OF a
farewell address has been sent 10 con-
gress and there il no telling how many
more the president may bc intending to
send. The last message sent by the prcsi-
dent Is the outcome of the investigation
OF country life by the commission not
long since appointed by him. This mes
sage was sent with the report OF the COM
mission and it dealt with the disabilities
OF rural life and its needs, characteriEing
| IL tho foundation on which rests the
physical life of the nation which in turn
~ the substructure 10 the social and po-
| litical odiilce."
The document is didactic-almost ele-
giac in its seriousness. The commission
made no discovery; il invented nothing;
1t has really told nothing new; but it
cannot bc useless 10 have the attention of
the whole country rivoted, IL only for a
day, upon the important questions of inn
proving, refining, and clcvating indus
trial and social conditions in the soil in
That preponderant area from which not
only the means Of physical life are do
rived, but from which comes so much OF
the brain and Drawn that, however re-
fined and changed in school, university.
or city, must ever characterize people.
IL IL OF course interesting TO have con-
iirmation OF the fact, however well known,
that country life in America has attained
high level AK compared with former
times and other countries The two rene
dies suggested are cooperation and lead
ership. Much insistencc Is placed on
good roads and improved school teaching.
The president emphasizes the harm that
threatens the farmer in the encroaching
monopoly of water power for electrical
purposes, holding that this power should
be reserved for the farmer for the pur-
pose OF lighting and for farm motor uses.
IL will indeed be remarkable advance
when the stables, the 1s!!--s,, and other
outhouscs Of the farm and the residence
oil tho farmer can be cheaply illumined
like the streets Of the city. This IL, new
erthelcss, done in some localities and
need not appear too remote when Il il
remembered that farmers are now, some
OF them at least, riding in automobiles.
The commission appointed by the
president advises a sort Of rural settle
ment work and delares there is I'm this
country an opportunity for intelligent
and trained persons 90 effect rural re-
generation.
Certain senators have not been able to
await the return from Panama OF the
presldent-elect and the expert engineers
who went with him 10 express their peg
slmlsm with reference 10 canal condi-
tons. Senator Kittredge, chairman of
committee on inter-oceanic canals, with
Senators Foraker and Teller, have taken
time by the forelock and denounced the
present plan of lock canal aud shown
their intention Of urging a sea-leyel canal
before further outlay has been made in
construction under the present plans.
MIR. Taft is now in New Orleans and il is
understood that Inc will, in an address in
that city, make an announcement that
will express the opinion OF the adminis-
tratlon' fortified by a careful inspection
OF the canal with assistance Of competent
engineers; and this will at least settle the
administration policy with reference 10
the great work.
The question, IL will BE- remembered,
was thoroughly threshed out three or
four years ago when number OF distin-
guished engineers from all parts Of the
world went 10 the canal territory. and
when majority OF these engineers pro-
nounced In favor Of The sea-leyel canal.
President Roosevelt thou for tie reason
that II was understood that the a-leyel
canal would cost more and require a
longer time 20 complete, urged canal
with a system Of locks and his prefer
encc, although backed by only a minori-
ty Of the engineers, was potent in the
adoption Of the plans upon which work
has since been carried on.
II appears, however, that IL Is not too
lstc-though IL soon will be too late--to
adopt the sea-level canal system, and this
is the phase OF the question that IL at
present agitated in the senate and 10
some extent in the house. Doubtless
what President-clect Taft shall have 10
say will have the effect to elucidate and
possibly settle the controversy.
4EF
furry Of excitement has been caused
IN high official circles by the discovery
that Senator Knox Is ineligible for
cabinet position for the reason that he
voted 70 increase the pay Of cabinet ofH
GERS from 5000 to $1,000 year. It
viii no doubt surprise Efr. Taft when he
learns that the Office for the head Of his
cabinet which he had supposed was fixed
and settled Is anything but established
and Is on the contrary subject OF Sc
rious doubt. The senate has been dis
posed 70 remedy Mr.. Knox's iueligibility
by moving the salary Of the secretary Of
state back b the original and long-estab-
lished sum Of s., 900. This may or may
not do. There are constitutional lawyers
in the senate, both Democrats and Re-
publicans, ell Of whom are friends Of the
proposed secretary Of state, who are do
ing q great deal Of study and investiga-
ton, and Il is possible that some means
viii be evolved through which tho PENN