The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1912-08-22
By ARTHUR w. DUNN.

cular shows that the appropriations 70
rivers and harbors for the past ST,
years have bees Sis, 1877, 1913 more thai
for the previous seven years. The to
tai for CHE six years has been $219,
171.257. which shows that it has beer
good period for rivers and harbors.
Statistics are not presented 20 show
how much the commerce OF the coun
try has increased in those years. bu
it would have to be something enor
nous to keep pace Vith the rivers anG
harbors appropriations. The improve
ment of rivers and harbors is for the
sole purpose of promoting commerce
by water navigation.
It is a well known fact that water
| navigation is Che best regulator OF
| freight rates, but it may be asked
| whether the large expenditures are
| bringing adequate returns. These ex-
penditures ought to give an impetus to
Senator Newland's proposition to have
the improvements upon scientific plan
which will accomplish definite results.
Mail Espionage.
Senator La Toilette rather startled
the senate the other day when he said
that his mail was rifled and read by
people in the postoffice department
somewhere in order to ascertain what
was In his correspondence. Such
charges have not been publicly made
often. but several prominent men have
told me that their mail was opened and
read.
One senator said that friend in the
service told him his mail was being
opened, and the man was in a posi-
tfon to know. OF course such an act
Is punishable. but who can convict
any one of doing it? The evidence
could not be found .%
Learned About Journalism.
When the Barnhart amendment, pro-
viding for the publication of the names
OF all responsible men connected with
q newspaper, was under consideration
In the senate several senators learned
something about journalism that they
did not know before.
For instance. they found that one
editor was responsible for the edito-
rial page and another was responsible
for the other part Of the paper. but
that half dozen editors were employ.
ed on every large paper who were in
nowise responsible for what appeared
in It. Senators Hitchcock and Oliver
were the chief instructors, as they
own and manage newspapers.
Williams and Shackieford,
No man in the senate denounced
more severely the Shacklefor1 road
proposition IL the postoffice bill than
Senator Williams Of Mississippi. By
q few it was recalled that there might
have been satisfaction in 1t for VIII
liams. for when he was minority lead
er of the house he took Shackleford
of the interstate and foreign com
nerce committee. for which Shackae-
ford denounced him In round set |
terms.
Dirt road statesmen" in the house |
determined to stand by their amend
nent, which Shackleford drafted and |
which made him and several other
country statesmen famous.
Called Down Bourne.
Senator Bourne. chairman of the
,ostofi1ce committee, told the senate
he day the postoffice bill passed that
le favored an amendment. but reserv-
q the right to vote against It In con.
erence II he found it was impractical
Ne. Immediately Senator Martin of
Virginia "called him down." saying
nat he had no right to do any such
hing; that 1t was his duty to stand
y the senate amendment when It
vas once made.
Bourne excused himself by saying
bat he was new at the business and
imposed that he was simply telling
ne senate what he thought it should
now. THE only criticism which the
,regon senator deserves" remarked
enator Borah. ais his frankness. He
hould have been more diplomatic"
he fact Is that many men in charge
appropriation bills take on all kinds !,
amendments. intending to lose them
conference. Bourne was too frank
Borah said. but he scarcely merited
public rebuke c
Mrs. Schley Cats 500. 4
After much pulling and hauling the )
NO houses Of congress finally agreed
give Mrs. Schley. the widow of Win In
ED Scott Schley, the admiral who was
Santiago. 500 per month pension.
general thing there has been great i
'position to pensions of more than $50 :
4 either officers or their widows. 1
snator Rayner of Maryland is re- y
'onsible for the pension for Mrs.
.hley.