Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1912-05-31
VITAL WASHINGTON NEWS.
Special Correspondence, by c. H

Special Correspondence, by c. H.
Washington, May 27.-The Demo-
cratic House Of Representatives has
given the Good Roads Movement a
flying start.
This fact is Of mOmentOus impor-
lance to the people of this nation.
Ever since the Constitution was writ
ten there has been talk Of improving
the public highways. 1t remained for
this, the first session of the Sixty
second Congess, to actually do some
thing toward bringing about that end
1t required upward of a score of
years to make start toward stamp
ing out railroad rebating, and the law
prohibiting that practice was passed
IN month after the start was made
Likewise, the pure food law Jagged
for seventeen years until an actual
start was made. Within few weeks
after the talking was suDplanted by
action the law became a reality.
The Democrats in Congress
have injected the first breath of
HE into the agitation for better
roads. The House has actually pas
! red bill, and as the matter now
stands it is up to the Republican sem
ate and President to carry the work
along. If they refuse, the people will
know exactly where to place the re-
ponsibiAty. Now that the Democrats
have taken a step forward the issue
becomes clear cut and direct.
In all the Democratic speeches
supporting the bill for road improve
ment, which was introduced by Con-
gresham Dorsey W. Shackleford, of
Missouri, it was made plain that un-
der the Democratic program it is
proposed to spend that money which
IS now wasted for road Improvement.
Every year the government spends
millions of dollars for the upkeep of
navy yards which all naval experts
agree are useless. The Democrats
propose 10 divert this money into the
improvement Of the roads.
Every year the government spends
millions of dollars for ornate public
buildings in small towns which could
get along with less expensive build
ing, such, for instance, as the $75,-
600 postOffice in Sundance, Wyoming,
a town of $50 people. The Democrats
do not object to a good, substantial
poStoffice wherever one is needed,
but they believe part of this money
would benefit more people, and do
more good if spent on the public
, reads.
At the present time there are IN
e existence numerous government com
Missions, such as the Canadian
Boundary Commission, on which
former Congressman Tawney, Of Min
HesOta gets a salary of $500 a year.
These commissions seldom meet, and
their only usefulness is to take care
lame ducks" who failed Of re cleo
c@ The Democrats propose to abol-
Oh these commissions and to spend
the money for road improvement.
Improve. the public roads with
money that is now being wasted"
That is the Democratic battle CRY.
SOAKING" THE CONSUMER
Once more the poor old consumer
has to dig down into his pocket and
pay tribute to a trust. This time 1t
Is the coaa trust, and the excuse Civ.
a for this trusts latest scheme to
eouge few extra dollars out Of the
public is the fact that the coal miners
went on a strike.
There is no evidence that the coal
strike, which was not, strictly speak.
ing, strike, cost the trust anything
except the profit it would have made
had the men not laid down their took
pending a re-adjustment Of their con
tracts. But with this weak excuse for
a basis; the trust has decreed that
there shall be no usual spring dis
count Of 30 cents per ton on coal this
year. It also Is announced that the
usual summer discount will not be
: ).