The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1912-03-22

WA0alNdIUN LBIIEh.
Legislation to destroy railroad control
of water transportation, both upon inland
rivers and in the coastwise trade. is pro
posed in bill presented to the house by
Representative Coviugtou. of Maryland
member of the interstate commerce
commission
The bill is the direct result of proof
that water transportation between ports
of the United States. If not controlled
outright by the railroads, is controlled by
tie same combination that owns the
railroads, and that there is virtually no
competition either between the railroads
and the steamship lines or between the
steamship lines themselves.
~
That the future industrial growth and
the welfare of the people depend largely
on water power, that the control of
water power in the interest OF the entire
people is pressing duty Of the govern
ment, that gigantic trust is gradually
achieving monopoly of water power,
that this monopoly is largely founded on
the close community between the General
Electric Company and the money
monopoly headed by the house of J. p.
Morgan & Co !, are facts forced upon the
attentionsof President Taft through the
report of the tireless and fearless Herbert
Knox Smith, commissioner Of corpora
tons.
Mr.. Smith does not use the term
s'money monopoly" but he does tell The
president that gigantic monopoly is
grabbing the water power of the nation,
and that the General Electric Company.
a group of banks led by the house of ]
P. Morgan & Co., are big factors in the
monopoly.
T In this letter submitting the report.
Commissioner Smith speaks even more
forcibly on the necessity of action 10
prctectthe public interests
IN
President Taft and his supporters 10
the senate and the house will take heir
stand, so far as the tariff question is con-
cerned, upon the present Aldrich law,
with indefinite promises Of lower duties
in the future if the country again per-
mits thera to control the government
This was made clear when the finance
committee ofthe senate by strict party
vote, 8 to 6. decided to report adversely
the Democratic steel bill without any
substitute or other proposition looking TO
a lowering Of duties.
The full significance Of the action
taken is not revealed by mere state.
ment of what occurred in the committee.
The circumstances which preceded ii IL
Illuminate its meaning and show that Just
as TAFT and bis supporters have declared
their unalterable hostility to preference
primaries or any change in political
methods which would permit the public
to control the sactiou Of the nominating
convention. so they declare now that
they will permit no legislation to relieve
the public from the oppressive exactions
Of the Alhrich schedules.
II also means that the progressive Re
publicaus and the Democrats will again
combine in the senate to pass tariff bills
which would afford relief if the president
would permit then, to become laws.
~
If there is any way to escape interven-
ton BY the United States Government,
with honor. in the Mexican imbroglio, ii
may be depended on that both the Presi
dent and Congress will saize on that way.
The situation in the southern Republic
seems hourly to be growing more menac.
ing to foreigners within its boundaries
The struggle going on there is likely 10
continue for a long time. for the country
is large. means of communication are
imperfect and The government seems TO
be but inadequately equipped to cope
with the revolutionists.
Not only are American interests in
Mexico imperiled, but many business in
terests not in the country are menaced.
However, this government istaking every
means at its command to bring about
better conditions. and to make the send
ing Of troops across the border I'M
necessary.
In view of the fact that the city of San
Diego is just across the border from
Mexico. some persons may have suspect
ed that the feeling being manifested
among the Mexicaus would be prejudicial
to The biz Exposition on which San
l Diego IL inst now indusirionslv ENGAGED