The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1913-02-18

To BuIId Highways Government Woulo
Have to Spend Unlimited Amount of
Funds-This Would Hurt Rivers and
Harbors Bill-Advocates of Latter
Say Opponents Hit Army Engineers.
BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.
Washington. Feb. II. [Special.] -
There is a possibility Of a contest in
the future between the rivers and har-
bors men and the good roads advo-
Gates. There is not the least doubt
that if the general government should
ever become committed to the building
Of roads throughout the country there
Is no limit to the amount Of money that
will be demanded every year. Such
appropriations will dwarf and possibly
drive out Of congress the big river and
harbor bills.
When 1t comes down to actual facts
the number of congressman who are
deeply interested in river and harbor
appropriations is comparatively small
1t is because their state or some por
don of it is benefited that induces most
of them to support the various bills
which have been passed, together with
the fact that most men believe that
good navigation is of great assistance
in regulating freight rates and thus
aiding the whole country. But the time
may come when the good roads appro-
priations will swamp river and harbor
bills.
Rejecting on the Engineers.
Advocates of river and harbor appro-
priations insist that the severe criti-
cisms which have been made against
the various projects are really refec-
tions on the engineers, that corps par
excellence of the army. AS a general
rule criticism of the army officers is
limited to individuals, and the en-
gineers are almost beyond reproach.
However, it matters not whether the
bills are criticised or not they will
continue to pass with large appropria-
tions as long as the country demands
better navigation facilities.
Could Reverse Himself.
Speaker Clark is not bit afraid of
reversing himself or of the charge of
Inconsistency. Not long ago the point
of no quorum was made, which was
There was considerable argument on
the subject, and finally Jim Mann
pointed out that a similar case arose
in former congress when John Sharp
Williams was minority leader and that
Williams led a filibuster which Clark
helped along for the remainder of the
session.
"The gentleman who occupies the
chair is right now and was wrong
then" sententiously remarked Champ.
Forest Reserve Protests.
AS indicating opposition to the pres
ent forest reservation policy of the
government Senator Bourne recently
presented petition signed by 226 resi-
dents of Oregon near the Siuslaw res
ervation in which they asserted that
the forest reservation was detrimental
to people in its vicinity, that it ia
vored the man of means as against
the poor man, that it helped the big
lumber companies, that poor men
could not get benefits from it, that the
forest service was conducted by east
ern theorists who knew nothing about
the west and that the forestry service
was conducting the reserves so as to
continue and to create a wilderness in
stead of developing the country.
Many western men in congress have
made similar assertions, but the for
estry policy seems to have become a
fixture all the same.
Want 5aiey's Speech.
There is great demand for the
speech which Senator Bailey delivered
just before he resigned. Senator Mar
tin of Virginia wanted the speech
printed as a public document so that
it could be circulated to meet the re-
quests for copies, but the watchful
Smoot interpOsed the objection that
such printing was not permitted. The
speech will have to be printed at pri-
vate expense, but it can circulate free
In the mails.
The War Is Over.
When it is proposed without much
opposition and general assent that a
Grant-Lee memorial bridge shall be
W COuHcCl w
with Lees old home, Arlington, and
that ultimately the United States shall
join in a memorial of some kind TO
Jefferson Davis, we can really believe
the war is over. And yet 1t was not
very long ago that rather strenuous op-
position developed to placing Lees
statue in memorial hall as a Virginia
contribution. Now Mississippi can
place a statue OF Jefferson Davis in
that hall without provoking any Sc
rious criticism.
Defraudins the Readers.
Those senators who talk for hours in
executive session in order to filibusteI
against confirming President Taft's ap
pointments are defrauding the readers
of the Congressional Record. John