The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1910-10-28


industries shall be the difference between
the cost of labor here and abroad. Tn
President is in hearty accord with thi
proposition and Congress has made ;
liberal appropriation to enable him tt
ascertain the facts touching labor costs
with view to taking up scientifically
one at time, the different schedules.
| OTHER IMPORTANT MEASURES OF
THIS ADMINISTRATION.
i Perhaps next in Importance in the
legislation accomplished under the pres
ent administration, is what is known as
the Railroad Bill, IAN act further extend
ing the regulative powers of the Govern
ment, acting through the Interstate
Commerce Commission, over railroad
freight and passenger tariffs. 1t seems
to be generally conceded that the time
has now arrived when greater regulative
power should be exercised. Vermont has
acted upon this assumption by materially
extending the powers of its Public Ser
vice Commission and there seems at
present no probability of backward step
in this progressive line of action.
Following in order of Importance comes
the so-called Conservation Measure, grant
ing authority to the President to with
draw from public entry certain classes
of lands, especially those containing
timber coal, oil and phosphate, and those
contiguous to power sites.
The Postal Savings Bank Bill is con-
sidered one of the important measures
of the last session. 1t was not demanded
by the East, but the Trans Mississippi
States nearly all favored such an act,
largely because of the fact that the Banks
of the far West do not command the
confidence of the average depositor to
an extent sufficient to induce him to
deposit his savings therein. The result
has been that large sums of money have
gone into hiding and it is believed that
this Postal Savings Bank Bill will bring
into circulation, to the great advantage
of the country and especially the West,
the millions upon millions now supposed
to be hidden away in old stockings and
buried in cellars.
The admission of New Mexico and
Arizona to statehood is another of the |
important measures passed by the last |
Congress. While those of us in the East |
who see the balance of power fast passing |
westward would have preferred to see
these two territories admitted as one state,
it has seemed best to meet thelocal wishes |
of the respective communities by authoriz-
ing separate statehood.
The creation of Bureau of Mines
may be passed to the credit of this Con-
gress as aforward!movement in the great
effort to reduce the astounding loss of
life which annually occurs in the mines
Of this country.
The act further restricting and regulat-
ing the character of immigration into
the United States and especially to regu-
late the White Slave traffic, is a measure
Of which our state has great reason to
be proud because it has been brought
about under the leadership of Senator
Dillingham;.
Time forbids that / enumerate in
ietail the many other important bills
which might be rightfully credited to
he Taft administration, for all of which
voted with the single exception,
believe, of the bill authorizing two
irst-class battieships. These battleships,
when built and fully equipped, are ex-
,ected to cost about Sl50O0,000 each.
Ny contention was that the building of
me large battleship each year, with the
everal smaller naval vessels which we
re annually constructing, was sufficient
nd / voted for an amendment offered
o reduce the number from two to one.
n doing so l believe / conformed to
he judgment and wishes of substantial
majority of the good people of Vermont,
of parties.
THE INCOME TAX.
Governor Mead has called your atten-
ion to the proposed amendment to our
ederal constitution authorizing the levy
f an income tax by the federal govern
nent without reference to population.
regard this as one OF the most important,
,erhaps it may be said to be The most
important matter, which will come