Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1911-01-26
Washington Notes.


Washington, d. c., January 20, 1911.
There are indications that the most
pr nising Congress for a score Iof
years has lost its dynamic force six
weeks before it's end; but little of the
legislation begun in December is like
Iy to be enacted. Some are predicting
that the appropriation bills will not be
passed by March the 4th. 1t is almost
impossible for heterogeneous team of
over three hundred patriots, states
men, demagogues and cranks to pull
together as a harmonious whole. A
majority of Congress knows that the
country is demanding lowering of
certain tariff schedules. 1t knows that
the country wants parcels post and
many other important measures, but
with half dozen political factions and
ten times as many individuals pulling
n sixty six different directions, there
IS but little probability of urgently
needed legislation.
~
retary Hays of the Agricultural De-
partment were evidently not in har
monious consultation before they went
into print. Mr.. HAYS says the drift of
population to the cities makes it i'm
possible for low prices ever to return,
while Secretary Wilson, reports an in
creased production per acre, outstrip-
ping the increase in population, and
predicts decrease in the cost of food
stuffs. 1t is difficult to see how prices
can come down when farm lands and
farm hands are going up. There is
however, ground for expectation that
the denizeut of American cities may,
like the inhabitants Of the villages of
Europe, turn farmer. 1t is not un-
usual for Swiss and Russian farm
peasantry TO live considerable dis
tances from the land which they till.
However, they walk to their places of
work Possibly the time is not far dis
tant when many thousands of Ameri-
can farmers will live in towns aud
cities and be conveyed cheaply to and
from their fields by electric cars.
~
There is just now much agitation of
the question OF fortifying the Panama
Canal. Philanthrophiets, peace makers
or perhaps sentimentalists are opposed
to any step looking toward military
protection. Statesmen and militarists
on the other hand, are unable to see
safety except in fortresses and big
guns. Congress has been memorial
lied by distinguished men and women
who made much of the argument that
the Suez Canal was without fortifica-
tion and that inasmuch as England
had left this Canal open and undefend-
ed, there was no reason why the Pana-
ma Canal should be fortified. This
stutement, however, appears to have
been presented without complete
geographical or political knowledge
a sum equal TO the cost of the Pana-
ma Canal would not be sufficient to
tortify as the Suez Canal is fortified.
The fortification of this Canal begins
on the west at Gibraltar, it is continued
Malta, at Carlo and Alexandria and on
the east at Alden. In other words,
England has full amp tight control of
the Mediterranean at Gibraltar and of
the Red Sea at Alden. No enemy can
approach within hundreds of miles o
Suez without accounting to Great
Britain. 1t is true that there are
French and Spanish and Turkish and
Austrian ports on the Mediterranean
or connecting waters, but their naval
forces are insignificant as compared to
che fleet that England constantly
maintains in what is substantially a
British lake.