Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1911-01-20
ey GEORGE CLINTON.


1t question which upon its face per-
haps may not seem of great import
ant, but the answer to it, an answer
which must come in legislative form,
is being awaited anxiously in every
coast city of the United States which
boasts an ocean trade
The chairman of the committee on
interstate and foreign commerce has
had several conferences with Presi-
dent Taft Oh the subject of the tolls
which are to be charged for allowing
ships to pass through the Panama
canal. The question, which is of
great interest to the American ship
ping cities, is whether the United
States government itself shall bear
the expense of paying the tolls of
vessels which fly the American flag.
In way such a paying of the tolls
by the government would amount to
ship subsidy, but it is held that
the vessel owners themselves can
make return to the government by
agreeing to hold their ships In readi-
ness for Uncle Sans service in case
he ever becomes involved in trouble
with other nations of the world.
Arguments on Both Sides.
One ship subsidy bill, although it is
not so called. is now before congress.
Possibly it may pass at the present
session, but there is strong opposition
to its enactment. This bill provides
simply that the government shall pay
good sums for the transportation of
its mail in American ships to South
American, Australian and Oriental
ports If this bill becomes a law, and
free passage also is given to American
ships through the Panama waterway,
the argument is that the American
flag once more will be seen with some
frequency on the high seas
There are plenty of opponents to
both measures. 1t is urged by those
who object to both forms of legisla-
ton that the course suggested is pa
ternalism" of kind which should not
be tolerated in a republic. There are
other opponents who say that ship
building trust will be created and that
the United States will be put in the
position Of fostering another evil
which one day it will be obliged to
combat in the courts Goth matters
are full of public interest and in a
measure they are sectional matters,
for the inland districts are to a con-
siderable extent opposed to legislation
for which the coast districts have a
full heart
Revenue Cutter Men Thank Frye.
Writing of shipping matters makes
conformable" little story about Sen
ator William P. Frye of Maine who
after the retirement of Senator Hale
In March, will be the dean of the
senate of the United States A day or
two ago all the officers Of the United
States revenue cutter service who are
stationed within comparatively easy
Journeying distance of Washington
called in body upon the senator to
extend to him their congratulations
upon his long length of service in the
senate and. as they expressed it, to
show him that they were grateful for
what he had done on behalf of the
officers and men in the revenue cutter
line of duty
Senator Frye comes from "sea-go-
Ing state and when he first entered
congress he found that the revenue
cutter service was in a neglected
state, that its duties were not we'll
defined. that there was little prospect
of promotion for the officers and men
and that there was no retired list Tor
them as was the case in the army and
navy.
The senator's callers the other day
told him that everything he had tried
to do for the good of the service had
been done. That discipline was good,
that the duties were defined. that the
men of the service had an incentive
to good work in the knowledge that
IN their old age they would be cared
for, and that appreciation Of the de-
partment since its rehabilitation had
been shown by the government Off
Gals and by the country at large. The
revenue cutter service today is a
small navy department in itself 1t
might be said here that the acts Ut
heroism which are performed every
year on the sea fall in large share TO
the revenue cutter men.
Democrats Are Apprehensive.
Since congress came together after
the holiday recess some quiet express
sions of fear have come from mem
bers of the Democratic party in the
house lest irreconcilable differences
may arise in the party caucus which
is called for January 10. Thus far
the Democrats OF the house have
maintained apparent absolute har-
mong of purpose, and the leaders
today are trying TO guard against dis
cord in the caucus. but come concern