Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1911-12-28

airecto1 toward the euecesuful main
tenancs Of the canal " "a avenue q
commerce, and that ail provisions fcf
the government d those who i've
within the zone should be subordinat
10 the main purpose.
ToIIo.
renew my Recommendation with
respect to the tolls Of the canal that
within limits, which shall seem wise
to congress. the power Of fixing tolls
be- given to the president. In order
to arrive at q proper conclusion, there
must be some experimenting. and
this cannot be done II congress does
not delegate the power to one who
can act expeditiously.
am very confident that the United
States has the power to relieve from
the payment Of tolls any part OF our
shipping that congress deems wise.
We own the canal. II was our money
that built 1t. We have the right to
charge tolls for its use. Those tolls
must be the same TO everyone; but
when we are dealing with our own
ships, the practice Of many govern
ments Of substituting their own mer-
chant vessels Is 30 well established in
general that q subsidy equal to the
tolls, an equivalent remission Of tolls,
cannot be held to be discrimination
In the use of the canal. The practice
In the suez canal makes this clear.
Tho Philippine Islands.
In respect to the Philippines. |
urgently Join in the recommendation
Of the secretary Of war that the act
of February 6, 1905, limiting the In
debtedness that may be incurred by
the Philippine government for the
construction Of public works, be In
creased from $5,OOO,OOO to $4,000. 900.
The finances OF that government are
in excellent condition. The maximum
sum mentioned is quite low as COM
pared with the amount OF indebted
ness of other governments with sim
liar resources, and the success which
has attended the expenditure OF the
,$5,O00,O0O In the useful improvements
of the harbors and other places In the
islands justifies and requires addi-
tional expenditures for like purposes.
Naturalization.
also join In the recommendation
that the legislature of the Philippine
Islands be authorized to provide for
the naturalization Of Filipinos and
others who by the present law are
treated as aliens, so as to enable
them to become citizens Of the Philip
pine Islands.
Rivers and Harbors.
The estimates for the river and
harbor improvements reach $4,000
900 for the coming year. wish to
urge that whenever project has
been adopted by congress as one to
be completed, the more money which
can be economically expended In its
construction In each year, the greater
the ultimate economy. This has es-
pecial application to the improvement
of the Mississippi river and its large
branches. It seems TO- me that an In
crease in the amount of money now
being annually expended in the i'm
provement OF the Ohio river which
has been formally adopted by con-
gress 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
Missouri river.
Waterway From Lakes to the Gulf.
The project for a navigable water
way from Lake Michigan to the mouth
Of the Illinois river, and thence via
the Mississippi to the Gulf Of Mexico
is one OF national importance. In
view of the work already accomplished
by THE saisieary district Of Chicago
an agency Of the state Of Illinois,
which has constructed the most diff
cult and costly stretch Of this water
way and made 1t an asset OF the ma
ton, and in view Of the fact that the
people OF Illinois have authorized the
expenditure OF s2O,OO0.000 to carry
this waterway 81 miles farther to
Utica. | feel that 1t is fitting that this
work should be supplemented by the
government, and that the expendi-
lures recommended by the special
board of engineers on the waterway
from Utica to the mouth of the Illinois
river be made upon lines which while
providing a waterway for the nation,
should otherwise benefit that state to
the fullest extent
The Department Of Justice.
The report Of the Encouragement
shows that he has subjected to close
examination the accounts Of the
clerks of the Federal courts; that he
has found a good many which disclose
Irregularities or dishonesty; but that
he has had considerable difficulty In
securing an effective prosecution or
removal Of the clerks thus derelict.
am certainly not unduly prejndiced
against the Federal courts, but the
fact is that the long and confidential
relations which grow out Of the ten
ure for life on the part Of Judge and
the practical tenure for life on the
part Of the clerk are not calculated TO