The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1913-02-04
By ARTHUR w. DUNN.

TToPoSSo oyosSH''
BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.
Washington, Feb 3.-[Special. AL
though the effort to have rural routes
improved by the national government
In order to obtain good roads was
dropped out of the postoffice appropria-
tion bill last year and no serious at
tempt was made to have it incorporat-
ed In the bill this year, the proposition
Is not dead, but sleeping. The men
who favored that measure became
known as dirt road statesmen" and
it is title that gets votes In the rural
districts
Congressman Moon of Tennessee,
chairman Of the postoff1ce committee,
has introduced bill providing for
United States aid in the construction
Of roads on rural routes In the states.
The bill will not be considered this
session, but It is the intention of Moon
to push 1t next year, and he may incor-
porate it in the appropriation bill again
Fear Vast Expenditures.
There are lot of men who earnestly
favor good roads, but they fear the
enormous cost 1t will entail IL once the
improvement system Is started. In
fact, there will be no end Of expendi-
lures for road construction. and no one
can guess the amount that will be re-
quired to build the roads or keep them
in repair "Once the system is started
as purposed," said one member Of the
house, ut will require thousand mil
lions a year to replace the dirt that is
blown away"
Following His Beliefs.
"Officeholding is an honorable bust
ness" President Taft told number Of
people some time ago. And he has
proceeded to put his views into op-
Grafton by appointing as many friends
to Office as possible before the Demo
cratic president comes in. And that
Is what causes SO much trouble In the
senate.
Against Free Tolls.
A very strong sentiment is evidently
developing in this country against the
free tolls for American coastwise ships,
as provided in the present canal law.
Congressman Sims Of 19nnessee pre-
scented to congress an array Of pro-
tests from persons in all walks Of life
and from hundreds Of newspapers,
showing the growing opposition to the
position which the United States has
taken. If President Wilson should ia
vor the repeal of that provision of law
it will no doubt go through congress,
which will relieve a strain upon our
diplomacy with Great Britain.
Always Joy.
Pension day in the house would be
nothing If it were not for the joyous
ness which Congressman Roddenbery
brings to it in his opposition to pen
sfons or to some one connected with
the pension business. Very recently,
replying to defense of Commissioner
Davenport, made by Congressman Aus
tin, Roddenbery said:
'1f the gentleman from Tennessee.
who habitually fashions his attire in
the humble style which is characters
tic of country people. should see Dav-
export riding along in his limousine,
with plug hat on as high as churn,
and with long tailed coat that puts
to shame the plumage Of peafowl,
and with studs that sparkle like the
eyes Of toad, the commissioner would |
know him not
OF course the members of the house
roared with laughter.
BY Unanimous Consent.
The business Of congress has reach
ed stage where little can be done ex-
cept by unanimous consent. A few |
members In either house can now |
block business. This Is not quite so |
pronounced In the house as the senate.
but In the house 1t is found that bust /
ness can be tied up very easily. 1t be-
comes apparent that much important |
legislation will 60 over until the next |
congress.
Take Care Of Their Own.
Il want to congrat ulate every mem
Der Of the rivers and harbors commit
tee" remarked Congressman Moore of
ION the manner in which
they have looked after all the rivers
md harbors and creeks In their respec-
tive districts. The care which they
have shown In this regard should COM
mend them to their constituencies"
Every member of the house knows
hat member Of committee always
ooks after his own; also that river
md harbor bill is made to pass, no
natter what else 1t may accomplish.
Tayior's Complaint.
You ought to pay some attention to
what the people OF the great west
want" said Congressman Taylor of
Colorado. speaking particularly to his
Democratic colleagues when the
from that region unite on
which will be for their bene-
it and where no politics enters into the
subject and where the government Off
.ials approve the project It seems to
ne yeu OF the east and south ought not