The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-01-02
FROM O7EER PENS
GOVERNMENT sH1PBU1LD1NG.

GOVERNMENT SH1PBU1LD1NG.
The navy department would aban-
don the construction of the battleship
New York at the Brooklyn navy yard
because the cost, in the judgment of
the departm ent, compares unfavorably
with the cost Of construction in private
yards. If the department estimates
are correct, and on this point there is
some room for doubt, the New York
would cost $7,300,000 if built by gov
eminent labor, while the Texas, an
other ship of the same type, can be
built for $5,860,000 by the Newport
News company. The difference of
s1,440, 900 is an argument in favor of
the navy departm attitude that is
bound to have weight with congress.
However, there is more than the
mere difference of estimates be taken
into account. The question is not en-
tirely one of dollars and cents. Ad-
hitting that the cost of building the
New York at the Brooklyn navy yard
is precisely as much in excess of the
cost of the privately built Texas as the
navy department says it is, what Will
be the consequence of turning the
concern? A cheaper ship? Undoubt-
edly, but that will not be all.s The
transfer would imply the definite
abandonment of the principle of gov
eminent construction and remove the
only possible check upon a resumption
of the big collusive practices once
prevalent among private building es-
ablishments.-Brookl Eagle.
SQUARE DEAL IN LAW COURTS.
The forms Of the law courts should
be revised and radically improved as
the forms of political science should
be improved. There are a good many
lawyers and juristS working on these
reforms.
But then there are changes needed
which go deeper than mere procedure.
The law itself as administered in the
courts should conform closely to the
life of the people. Hopeful examples
of what is meant are given today in
our courts and as auxiliary to the
courts. The parole system, the Juve-
nile courts, the free legal aid bureau,
etc. denote the tendency to make the
legal system something more than an
i'm passive arbiter between individuals
Reforms which will bring speedy
trials and give poor persons really,
as well as nominally, equal show for
| justice with that which rich persons
| have, are vastly important. They are
| the first step, too. But the same
| square deal progressive spirit that is
| molding legislation and execution of
| laws must also be ingrained into our
| sprudence.-Kansas City Star.
O.
WOMAN SHOULD APPRECIATE.
Sir Augustine Birrell, British states
man and gentleman, deserves well at
| the hands of the suffra gettes- For he
publishes statement that, in the dis
| turbances in London, no representative
of the militant seekers for suffrage
either struck or kicked him.
True he admits that his nose was in
jured during the scrimmage. But that
was his own fault. He stumbled in en-
| tering his carriage hastily. He does not
ST ygest whether the attitude and ac-
lions of the suffragettes had any in
| fluence in producing his haste
However, the knightly representative
| of British gallantry defends the women
like a gentleman. The suffragettes
ought to give pink tea in his honor
and present him some new sort Of
| decoration, as the innsbruck and I'M
| kicked witness of their doings.-Chi-
cagO Journal