The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1913-04-03


Declared to Be impractical-Senator
Martin, Though "Turned Down." Re.
ta;ns All His Committee Places.
BY ARTHUR W. DUNN.
Washington. April 3. - tSpecial.] -
After every great disaster comes
food of congressional cures" Con-
gress was crowded with propositions
to prevent anything like another pres
idential assassination after Mckinley
was shot. The Slocum disaster fred
a spirit of reform for the improvement
of steamboat service The loss OF the
Titanic brought forth many proposed
ocean safety suggestions. And what
legislation is there now on the statute
books which would stop an assassin
from killing president If he were WILL
ing to give his life in the attempt? An
other Slocum could burn people to
death as easily as the first. Another
ocean liner speeding to make record
could strike an iceberg and go to the
bottom of the sea.
The great difficulty is that legisla-
ton cannot very well be enacted to
meet unforeseen disasters. The pres
ident cannot be kept In steel cage
nor surrounded by Gordon Of soldiers.
Any steamer may burn or strike a
berg or derelict in midocean. Legis-
lation cannot reach these things.
impoundins Flood Waters.
Already it has been suggested that
the way to prevent such disasters as
Ohio and Indiana have experienced Is
by impounding food waters at the
heads of streams. But think what sort
of lake or lakes would be created in
that low, level region should great res
ervoirs be constructed which would
hold such torrential rains as created
the havoc in those states. Then sup
pose after such storms those reservoirs
should break. The disaster would be
greater and more widespread than
even those Of last week. Another ser1
GUS problem Is that the national gov
eminent has no control over the
streams or the lands affected by those
floods save in the big rivers which are
navigable Although congress will be
flooded with bills on the subject, 1t Is
not likely that effective legislation will
result.
Can They Agree7
A statement by the national conser-
walton association says that If the
plans of the president of that associa-
ton are carried out washington may
see the unusual spectacle Of joint COM
mittees of conservatonists and the
forces which have been fighting con-
servation calling on the government
departments and asking that certain
policies be put in practical operation
on the main issues of the conservation
question which have been fought SO
! fercely for the last i've years.
This would indeed be spectacle =.
It seems that the plan Is being worked
out by committee on forestry and
practical lumbermen as regards for
ests, and by others interested in power
sites over which there has been so
much controversy.
Turning Down ~ Martin.
Senator Martin Of Virginia was held
up to the new Democratic senators as
"reactionary" and not to be trusted
as chairman of the Democratic caucus
and whilom leader Of the party in the
senate. So he was set aside, turned
down." it was said. And yet Martin
has been made chairman Of appropri-
atoms, committee considered by
many as the most powerful in the SEN
ate. The late Senator Allison chose it
in preference to finance when he had
an opportunity to choose Martin re-
tains all his committee places. He has
the best rooms in the capitol and by
all precedents is better off than other
senators. We have heard about men
being clicked upstairs"
Monkeying With Money.
Not having any real important bust
ness to transact, the young men with
whom former Secretary MacVeagh
surrounded himself in the treasury de-
partment took to monkeying with our
money. 1t started in the Roosevelt ad
ministration, when many new kinds Of
coins were put out. but the following
administration tried a number Of new
schemes. They washed old bills. for
one thing: then they set to work and
would have reduced the size Of the
paper bills. but the new administration
came in before that movement was
contaminated and stopped it. But the
young men put out that curious. nickel
coin which has since been recalled.
That kind Of currency reform does
not do any good: but. then, it has the
merit Of not doing very much harm.
Hot Maryland Contest.
There Is a very, warm political con-
test in Maryland and two United States
senatorships are involved. Both fac
lions want the Endorsement Of the ad
ministration. but it is pretty hard for
John Walter Smith. who is candidate
to succeed himself, to obtain admins
tration support. He was on the other
side at the Baltimore convention. Blair
Lee ought to be pretty close as he was
at one time Bryan's candidate for pres
ident. The contest must be settled this
fall.
Miss Wilson Watches Gunners.
Norfolk, Va, April miss Eleanor
=