Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-12-23

ships tho practice Of many govern.
ments OF substituting their own mer-
chant vessels is so we'll established In
general that subsidy equal to the
tolls, an equivalent remission OF tolls
cannot be held to be discrimination
in the use of the canal. The practice
in the Suez canal makes this clear
The experiment in tolls to be made BY
the president would doubtless disclose
how great burden of tolls the coast.
wise trade between the Atlantic and
| the Pacific coast could bear without
| preventing its usefulness In compett
ton with the transcontinental rail.
roads. One Of the chief reasons foE
building the canal was to set up this
! competition and to bring the two
shores closer together as practical
1 trade problem.
| The Philippine lslands.
/, In respect to- the Philippines, ]
urgently join in the recommendation
| of the secretary of war that the act
Of Feb. 6, 1905, limiting the indebted
ness that may be incurred by the
Philippine government for the con-
struction Of public works, be increased
from $5.OOOOOO to $l5,00O,000. The
finances of that, government are In ex-
cellent condition. The maximum sum
mentioned is quite low as compared
with the amount Of Indebtedness OF
other governments with similsr re-
sources, and the success which has at
tended the expenditure of the $1,000
600 in the useful improvements OF the
harbors and other places In the islands
| justities and requires additional ex-
penditures for like purposes.
| \ also join in the recommendation
that the legislature Of the Philippine
! Islands be authorized to provide for
the natura iization Of Filipinos and 9th
ers who by the present law are treated
az aliens, so as to enable them to be-
come citizens of the Philippine Islands.
Pending an investigation by congress
at it's last session through one Of Its
committees into the disposition of the
! friars' lands Secretary Dickinson d.
rected that the friars' lands should
not be sold in excess Of the limits fix
| ed for the public lands until congress
should pass upon the subject or should
have concluded its investigation. This
order has been an obstruction to the
disposition OF the lands, and expect
| to direct the secretary OF war to re-
turn to the practice under the opinion
of the attorney general which will en-
able US to dispose Of the lands much
more promptly and to prepare sink
| ing fund with which to meet the ST.
100000 OF bonds issued for the pur-
| chase of the lands. $. rf .'.-1'<s
Rivers and Harbors. -~
The estimates for the river and har'
| Dor improvements reach $50, O0O.O 600 for
the coming year wish to urge that
whenever project has been adopted
by congress as one to be completed the
more money which can be economical
" expended in its construction in each
year the greater the ultimate economy
This has especial application to the i'm.
provement of the Mississippi river and
its large branches. It seems to me that
an increase in the amount of money
now being annually expended in the
! improvement Of the Ohio river which
has been formally adopted by congress
would be in the interest Of the public.
| A similar change ought to be made
| during the present congress in the
amount to be appropriated for the Mis-
souri, river. The engineers say that the
cost of the improvement of the Mis-
souri, river from Kansas City to St
Louis in order to secure six feet as o
permanent channel will reach $4,000.
600. There have been at least three
recommendations from the chief Of en-
gineers that If the Improvement be
adopted 100000 should be expended
upon it annually. urgently recon-
mend that the appropriation for this
improvement be increased from $500,
600, as recommended now in the com
pletion Of contract, to $2.OO0,OOO an
nually so that the work may be done
in ten years. lN
Waterway From the Lakes to the Gulf
The project for navigable water
way from Lake Michigan to the mouth
of the Illinois river and thence via the
Mississippi to the gulf of Mexico is
one Of national importance. In view
Of the work already. accomplished by
the sanitary district of Chicago, ar
agency of the state Of Illinois, which
has constructed the most difficult ant
costly stretch Of this waterway anC
made it an asset Of the nation, and IL
view Of the fact that the people Of I'LL
nois have authorized the expenditure
Of $2O,OOO.OOO to carry this waterway
sixty-two miles farther to Utica, I fee
that it is fitting that this work shoulC
be supplemented by the government
and that the expenditures recommend
ed by the special board of engineers
on the waterway from Utica to the
mouth Of the Illinois river be made
upon lines which, while providing 8
waterway for the nation, should other
wise benefit that state to the fullest
extent. l recommend that the term o.
service Of said special board Of en-
| uinoora no continued and that II he