Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-12-21

chant vessels Is so well established IN
general that subsidy equal to the |
tolls, an equivalent remission of tolls. |
cannot be held to be a 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 a burden of tolls the coast
wise trade between the Atlantic and
the Pacific coast could bear without
preventing its usefulness In comped.
ton with the transcontinental rail
roads. One Of the chief reasons for
building the canal was to set up this
competition and TO bring the two
shores closer together as practical
trade problem.
The Philippine Islands.
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 $5,000,O0O to 5000 900. 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 similar re-
sources, and the success which has at
tended the expenditure of the S5,000,-
600 in the useful improvements of the
harbors and other places in the islands
justifes and requires additional ex-
penditures for like purposes.
j also join In the recommendation
that the legislature of the Philippine
Islands be authorized to provide for
the naturalization of Filipinos and 9th
ers who by the present law are treated
as aliens, so as to enable them to be-
come citizens Of the Philippine Islands.
Pending an investigation by congress
at its 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 l 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.
0O0 00N Of hands hn
chase of the lands.
Rivers and Harbors.
The Estimates for the river and har
Dor improvements reach $50, 100000 for
the coming year L wish TO urge that
whenever a 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 inn
provement of the Mississippi river and
its large branches. 1t 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 {
permanent channel will reach $4,000,
600. There have been at least three
recommendations from the chief of en-
! gineers that If the improvement b,
adopted 100000 should be expended
upon it annually. l urgently recon
mend that the appropriation for thi'
| improvement be increased from 5000,
600, as recommended now in the com
pletion of a contract. to 100000 an
nually so that the work may be dom
in ten years.
Waterway From the Lakes to the Gull
The project for a nayigable water
way from Lake Michigan to the moutl
of the Illinois river and thence via tn
Mississippi to the gulf of Mexico /
one of national importance. In viey
of the work already accomplished b.
the sanitary district of Chicago, al
agency of the state of Illinois, whic
has constructed the most difficult an
costly stretch of this waterway an
made it an asset of the nation. and il
view of the fact that the people of Ill
nois have authorized the expenditur
of S20,000.o00 to carry this waterwa
sixty-two miles farther to Utica / fef
that 1t is fitting that this work shout
be supplemented by the government
and that the expenditures recommend
ed by the special board of engineer
on the waterway from Utica to th
mouth of the Illinois river be mad
upon lines which, while providing
waterway for the nation. should othel
! wise benefit that state to the fulIes
extent. l recommend that the term 9
service Of said special board of eI
gineers be continued and that it b
|. empowered to reopen the question G
the treatment of the lower Illinois riN
er.
The Department of Justice.
The report of the attorney gaiers
shows that he has subjected to clos
examination the accounts of the clerk
Of the federal courts, that he has foun
a good many which disclose irregular