Warren sheaf., 1910-07-28

OF the National defense which act has
met universal approval and was es-
| pecIally commended in the last re-
publican platform as one of the most
important acts Of congress.
| Fe was one of the first members
OF congress if not the first, to advo-
cate the creation of tariff commits.
sion,, with authority to keep the tariff
SO revised that the import duties
cover the difference in cost of pro-
ducJ1on here and in foreign countries,
tariff that would protect the Ameri-
| can manufacturer, but not give him
a chance to charge the American con-
sumer an unjust margin CT profit.
He has always looked after the
needs of the people of the district
very thoroughly. Not many people,
probably, have OCCASION to call for help
in getting something settled in the
government departments at Washing
ton, but those who do, appreciate such
help as Mr.. Steenerson has always
been ready to give them. The old
soldiers have found him a good friend
and the settlers on the government
lands have always found him ready to
lend helping hand. He has secured
drainage survey Of the northern part
Of the district, and took leading part
in securing the passage Of the present
federal drainage law, which allows of
the assessment OF government lands
for drainage, and by the help OF which
several hundred miles Of bitches are
now being built in eastern Marshall
county, and right here we wish to-
mention the fact that Professor W. R.
Hoag, engineer in charge of the big
drainage work in eastern Marshall
county, has stated at different times.
that without the preliminary survey
which Mr.. Steenerson secured, this
drainage work could never have been
undertaken or successfully carried
out. He has secured a survey Of the
headwaters of all the rivers enlptying
into the Red, with the object in view
Of securing, if possible. reservoirs to.
hold back the hoodwaters in these
rivers, and in the Red river, which are
being caused by the construction of so
many new drainage 6itches.
During the last days OF the last con-
gress Mr.. Steenerson took the lead in
opposition to the so-called ship-sub-
sidy BILL which contemplates the ap-
preparation from the postal receipts Of
between three and four million dollars
per year for the establishment OF sub
sidized lines from the Pacific coast to
the Orient and Australia. and from
the Atlantic coast to South America,
and it was defeated by a narrow mar
gin. He thereby incurred the enmity
of the Merchants Marine League,
composed largely of iron and steel
manufacturers, including two direct
ors Of the e. S. steel trust and several
ship builders, who apparently were
directly Interested in obtaining the
subsidy. When the present session
commenced the ship subsidy fight was
renewed, and when these interests
failed to pursuade Mr.. Steenerson to-
abandon the fight, they sought to in
tinidate him and other members who
opposed their bill Mr.. Steenerson de.
manded, and after hard fight secur-
ed an Investigation which is now uni
versally conceded can have no other
result than the killing of the subsidy
proposition "deader than door nail. 80
The Importance of this can hardly be
realized by the public generally. The
present subsidy proposition contempt
lates only three or four millions ex-
penditures annually, but it's advocates,
do not conceal the fact that it is only
an opening wedge for an expenditure,
which to be effective to supply and
maintain merchant marine capable
of carrying the bulk of our foreign
commerce will require from fifty to d
hundred million dollars annually, and
this without the slightest prospects of
reducing: tran Sc ortation rates upon
that sea-.
The deficit IN the postal receipts has
already compelled a postponement Of
service on many rural routes. Mr..
Steenerson contends, rightfully, that
to further increase the postal deficit
by ship subsidy would be hostile to
the extension of the. rural free deIiv-
cry service to the newer sections, who
are now anXiously awaiting early in
stallation, and with this out Of the
way the work Of extending this. SER,
vice can tegfn with the rext fiscal
year.
The interests antagonized by Mr.
Steenerson IN this ship subsidy fight,
are the most powerful, both financial
ly and politically. in the. country and