The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1911-01-07

feeling exists throughout the country
as Is made known by the thousands
of letters on the subject which have
been received by senators and repre-
sentatives from their constituents. The
country, II the letter writer's represent
Its views, seems to fear that II civil
pension list is once established there
will be no end to 1t. In other words.
the argument is that II the department
clerks are pensioned the day will come
when senators and representatives,
cabinet ofncers. customs officials and
all other government employees will
be asking for money to care for them
In their old age.
The friends of the pension plan say
It is intended that no one shall receive
pension unless he has served the
government for 80 years and that this
will do away with the danger Of giving
pensions to appointive oficials who
are not under the civil service.
Ship Subsidy Prospects.
It seems to be virtually assured that
the senate will pass ship subsidy
bill before this session ends, and 1t Is
within the limit of possibilities that
the house will follow suit. Senators
and representatives found out that the
word subsidy" had hurt the cause Of
their particular legislation, and so
they avoid 1t whenever possible. The
present senate bill, which Is fathered
by Senator Gallinger of New Hamp-
shire, is called innocuously, an ocean
Mail Service Measure"
The subsidy which will be granted
to ship builders IL this bill becomes q
law is an indirect one. but none the
less 1t is subsidy. 1t provides a
round sum In payment for mail carry
ing service in steamships Of different
classes between the ports OF the
United States and ports Of South
America, the Philippines. japan. Aus
tralasia and Panama. The amount that
is to be paid is said to be sufficient to
induce Americans to build and to put
steamships into the service. thereby
strengthening the merchant marine
and to considerable measure restor-
ing the American flag to the seas.
Coast Districts Support II.
Ship subsidy in times past has had
stormy sailing In house and senate.
and while the measure is likely to
make harbor In the upper house at
the present session. 1t may be that the
lower house will deny 1t passage. and
II 1t does succeed in getting an az
firmative vote from the representa-
tives the majority will be exceedingly
small
Naturally the strength Of the sup
port for the bill comes from the coast
wise districts. The middle western
members are said to be largely against
the measure. 1t has been trouble
some theme for congressional discus
zion for years. 1t has produced one
investigation because of editorial
charges brought by advocates Of the
bill against members Of congress, and
1t has been shifted from one commit
tete to another until finally 1t was put
back into the committee where 1t
seems to belong, that on merchant ma
rine. congress certainly will be re-
lieved If the bill is given life or killed
beyond hope of resurrection, for 1t has
taken up a great amount Of legislative
time.
The holiday season in Washington
is one of cheer in every home which
has the heart to produce 1t. The White
House always. is joyful at the holiday
time, and 1t has been especially SO
since families of children have been In
stalled therein. At every army post
and on every ship In the naval service
there are dinners. entertainments and
general rejoicing from day or two
before Christmas until day or two
after New Year enters. This connec-
ton in one paragraph of cheer at the
White House and cheer In the armed
service has brought out White House
army story IA
Christmas Tale Of "SnowbIrd."
Early in November one year a man
who had deserted from the army re-
ported at Fort Sheridan, Illinois, and
gave himself up as deserter. His rec
ord was looked up. and 1t was found
that he was what he admitted himself
to be, a man who had forsaken the
colors. He was put In the guard house
to await trial.
Every year in November when the
cold weather comes on and the pinch
OF hunger and frost makes itself. felt
a good many deserters surrender them
selves, knowing that they will be
housed and well fed while waiting
trial, and that of course they may have
some chance of escaping conviction.
The soldiers call these desert
ers who surrender "snowbirds." A
few days before Christmas the snow
BIRD. who had surrendered at Fort
Sheridan became sorry that he had
given himself up, and so sat down in
the guard house and wrote an appeal
ing letter to Mrs. BENJAMIN Harrison,
wife of the President Of the United
States, and in It he told how repent
ant he was for deserving and what
an altogether dismal thing It was to be
behind the bars in the glad season Of
good will to men.
White House tradition has It that
this letter reached Mrs. Harrison on
Christmas eve, when everything was
49, H. ~xr~.~lA- - 49,