The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1914-03-13
BY Ernest a. walker.
tMail speeIal % rhe Advertl.er.l

BY Ernest q. Walker.
(Mail Special to The Advertiser.)
WASHINGTON, Mnpeh, The going
has been hard for DeHi5eratie brethren
lately al Washington. Their programs
Tor this and that have been halted
Numerous delays and numerous obsta.
eles have followed in succession. rhe
winter OF their activities is proving
rigorous. There must be a thawing out
OF indifference in some quarters. Az.
Kressive work is Indispensable fol
b.eaking open the way for progress.
They are dismayed over economies
This is not such conspicuous feature
at present, when the Mexican question
is raging, and there is discouraging
status as to Panama legislation and
antil trust bills. Bat 1t is worth noting
that Senator Overman, Of North Caro-
lima, chairman of the rules committee
was saying,a few days ago in converse.
tion that appropriations at thu, sess On
would be 81 4O0,000,00O. We gods, how
could Democrats, defend such an in.
Increased Cost Of Living.
But that is one Of the very rea,
dangers confronting Democratic leaders.
They held mp their hands in holy horror
two years ago because it cost 81 000,
100000 every twelve months 10 run thu
government under President TAFT. OF
course a billion dollars Is a lot of money
for federal government but can it kt
possible that government under the vii
son administration is to cost one.thrd
morei ~
Congress is stivvering right ahead to
ward such goal. II is authorizing
appropriations right and left and, fur.
thermore, creating conditions where
enormous deficits viii be piling in few
months from now. There is the parcels
post. II is proclaimed as the great
success that At is. During the last few
days, however, big holes have been
punched in claims that the parcels post
is being conducted at great profit. Thu
senate has been through an intense de.
bate ons that question and new facts
were brought forth Contractors ON star
routes, Thihoad transportation lines
and rurhb@earrieres are now quite gen.
orally carrying the mail, with all il,
accretions OF parcels, for the same price
that was agreed upon before the parce
post law went into effect or before the
rates were reduced and the weights ex
Higher Contracts Coming.
These contracts are for stated periods
and expire in each quarter of the eoun.
try every year. New contracts are now
being made for the Pacific Coast sec
tion and higher prices for mail trans
portation are inevitable. When these
costs are figured up there will be re
auctions in the estimated profits of the
parcels post service. The senate ha.
tried to apply a curb but it was in
vain. Postmaster General Burleson and
his friends won all along the line. The
Democratic committee on postoffiee and
z postroads was OyerIiden in Democra
tic senate, with the aid of radical West
ern votes. 1t is claimed the program
implies establishment of freight ser
vice, in addition to a mail service
through the agency of the postoffice de.
partment. In whatever terms the new
parcels post arrangements be character.
lied larger plans, which these arrange
ments involve, promise TO prevail ana
Postmaster General Burleson is to hav,
substantially his own way.
This is only one item of increased
appropriations. Now that the Alaskan
Railroad Bill has pissed both branches
Democrats see they must speedily pro.
vide appropriations forthwith Of several
millions. They have put through an
Agricultural Extension Bill, soon to be
before the President for signatDe. That
will call for more millions right away
Individual Representatives, noting these
things, are sighting with an their energ,
to get small appropriations for theil
own localities and resent being turned
down. Ii so much can be expended on
far away projects in Alaska, why should
not localities nearer home be favored Z
Yes, the Democratic going is pretty
hard even for midwinter days. The
showing about these numerous enter
prises the congress has been authorizing
will not appear till time comes to tabu;
late the Suidry Civil Appropriation
Bill. 1t is one of the largest OF ali |
supply measures of recent wears. Into
u go the thousand and one matters
which can not be classified into other
bills.
Panama Tolls Fight.
A good sized insurrection has already
sprung up dBdihbL the lTehluent 3 pro |
posal to repeal exemption Of coastwise
vessels from payment of canal tolls. J
There has been a vigorous propaganda
in the Presidents behalf A good many
eminent authorities have come out in |
statements. The administration side
has been duly expounded and exploited
Friends Of the law, as it is, have like
wise been very Lusy and are gaining
many supporters on the Democratic side.
The first mighty scrap inside the Demo.
cratic party Of congress seems assured |
when the repeal bill is pressed to the
fore. Probably this move will be re-
served till late in the session, after
many other current measures have been
disposed Of, .,'i
Meanwhile the struggle for votes will
progress energetically, and the visits Of
Tecalcitrant Democrats TO the White