The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1912-09-05
Washington Whisperings.

WASHINGTON, D. c., September q.
An era of shipbuilding and increased
tonnage of foreign freight in American
bottoms may be looked for now that the
Panama Canal bill has been signed by
the President and the machinery for
operating the "Great Ditch" created by
Congress at last on the statute books.
''It means the re-habilitations of the
Americ an merchant MARINE" is favor
tie expression of scores of legislators,
while those who have been making the
fight of their lives for return to the old
order of things before the Civil War, as
it relates to our own shipping, see in
the Panama Canal bill consummation
much to be desired. President Taft in
his special message to Congress on the
Panama Canal bill, while in favor Of free
tolls for American vessels engaged in
the coast-wlse trade, very automatically
calls up on Congress to pass simple
joint resolution giving foreign powers
the right to try out the question of dis
elimination in favor of ourselves before
the Supreme Court. In this way it is
thought. will the alleged violation Of the
-Pauncefote treaty be overcome and
the rancor, over the legislation enacted,
be greatly allayed.
However it is triumph for America
and Americans and they have right to
expect wonderful things in the way OF
increased commerce when the Panama
Canal is open to the ships of the world.
The two Houses of Congress are in
the midst of the throes of conference
wrangles and frequent occasions to adjust
differences between the two bodies and
the White House. The chief difficulty
is that no regular Democrats, regular
Republicans or so called Progressives
can control the situation. Whatever
definite action is taken must come as
compromise result. This has been obvi-
GUS in the most important legislation
before the Congress, involving even the
regular supply bills, with the disposition
of one faction or another to tack upon
the appropriation bills favorite schemes
of legislation. There has been and will
be a good deal of trying out of these
particular efforts, Notwithstanding it is
perfectly plain that they must end either
in compromise or hope deferred.
In the meantime it is a singularly
happy circumstances that the general bust
ness of the country was never in better
condition than this year. 1t is largely
because of the assurance of bumper
staple crops in every section, the vigor-
Gus forward movement of industry
generally, including the railroads and
manufactures of all kinds, and because
the people in no quarter are seriously
disturbed by any political agitation. The
calamity however is not soaring anybody
to a noticeable extent anywhere. Ma
tional tickets and platforms are before
the people and they are going about
their business evidently undisturbed by
apprehensions that the general welfare,
with the grand impetus it is showing,
will be upset by any likely election re-
suit.
The Democratic House through the
initiati We of Representative Sherley, of
Kentucky, it's author, has adopted a
measure recommended by President
Taft which is intended to correct seri-
GUS defect in the pure food law. The
defect came through a decision of the
Supreme Court in effect that the Pure
Food and Drug Act did not cover false
claims regarding the curative properties
Of medicines and that manufacturers
complied with the law in stating merely
the ingredients of their goods. The
Sherley bill amends the law so as to pro-
vide that drugs shall be held "misbrand-
ed if the package or label shall bear any
statement, design or device regarding
the curative or therapeutic effect of
such article which is false and fraudu-
lent"