The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1914-11-06
At NATIONAL CAPITAL
Paragraphs on Important Gov
ernment Affairs.
The MERCHANT MARINE
Enpla nd's Attitude.-Cotton Prob
lem In the South.
The Tribune Bureau.
BY ]. T.. JONES

Washington, d. C.-The American
Merchant Marine. Since the out
break OF the war there has been
crying demand for an American
merchant marine, and the President
has backed the proposition, and
among other things asked congress
for $25, 900, 900 to be used In buying
ships to be operated under the stars
and stripes. The tieup Of German
shipping interests naturally threw
many OF these German boats 90 the
market. but when 1t was found that
the United States government was
actually bargaining for the purchase
Of them, England poked 10 her nose,
and notifed-unoff1cially, OF course,
the American government, that 1t
would not recognize these boats as
neutral. even though they did fly the
American colors, II they were pur-
chased from corporations living and
doing business In the country of an
enemy. As soon as congress recon
venes the President will insist on
action favoring American shipping
in American boats, and it remains to
be seen whether John Bull is going
to be able to cheat Uncle Sam out OF
his natural market, providing the
latter wants to buy some boats.
Cotton And The th.-The
south Is undoubtedly 10 bad predica
ment as the result of the European
war shutting of its natural market,
and while the BANKERS will hardly
llsten'tO the advise OF the secretary
OF the treasury that they loan what
amounts to full value on cotton, ye'
1t may possibly be that the south will
profit from their present misfortunes,
The agricultural department has long
urged cattle raising on cheap southern
lands, and has pointed out that the
scarcity of meat should induce the
south to awaken to its opportunities
IN this direction. The department
Just now Is emphasizing the point
that the south should raise food
rather then to give its attention
exclusively to cotton. Perhaps the
present misfortune will arouse an
interest among the southern people
to diversity their industries ana theil
cropS-one year OF diversified crops
would practically destroy the boil
weevil which works such havoc In
cotton-and such course cannot
help but be good thing.
Twas A Painful Operation. Tho
lower house of congress has been held
together for weeks by the rule that
absenteas would be docked. This
branch Of congress has been chang
Ing round" waiting for the upper
branch to do few things; but OF
course the senate habitually procrast-
mates. Therefore the closing days
OF congress presented painful
proposition, and whenever the fill
tuster Of the ''cotton senators" pre-
vented an adjournment the weary
lawmakers simply couldn't stand IL
any longer, and so they ducked. the
lew men who stayed to attend both
houses decided the game was up, and
SO they went home too. And now
the country can talk about something
besides Washington until December.
Are The Tax Dodgers All Dead?-
The income tax was based on the
Theory that there were 500, 600 people
10 the United States making so mucn
money that they would come WITHIN
its provisions. The results sho"
there are l4O. 600. persons less than
that number. Possibly there may oe
few tax dodgers, who are trying u
make their escape. but be that as ~
may, 1t Is sure that there is going 10
be a big detlciVfn the United States
t easurY as that branch OF the gov
ernment oyershot the estimates.