The weekly tribune and the Cape County herald. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1918, 1914-11-20

NEWS FROM The NATIONAL CAPITOI,
tBy J. E. Jones.)

1'-'7I-1-nl'1i71
Washington, Nov 16-Since the ont.
break Of the war there has been a cry
ing demand for an American merch-
ant marine, and the President has
backed the proposition, and among
things asked Congress for So, 600. 600
10 be used in buying ships to be oper-
ated under the stars and stripes.
The tie-up of German shipping in
terests naturally threw many of these
German boats on the market. but
when it was found that the United
States government was actually bar
gaining for the purchase of them, En-
gland poked in her nose. and notified
-unoficially, of course, the American
government. that it would not recog-
nize these boats as neutral, even
though they did fly the American col
ors, if they were purchased from cor
porations living and doing business in
the country of an enemy. As soon as
Congress reconvencs the President
will insist on action favoring Ameri-
can 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, pro-
viding the latter wants to buy some
boats.
The South is undoubtedly in a bad
predicament rs the result Of the Euro
pean war shutting off It's natural mar
ket and while the bankers will hardly
listen to the advise of the Secretary
of the Treasury that they loan what
amounts to full value on cotton, yet
it may possibly be that the South will
profit from their present misfortune.
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 opportu-
mites in this direction. The Depart
ment lust now IS emphasizing the
point that the South should raise food
rather than to give its attention ex-
ciusivcly to cotton. Perhaps the pres
cnt misfortune will arouse an interest
among the southern people to diver
Sly their industries and their crops
one year of diversified crops would
practically destroy the boil weevil
which works such havoc in cotton
and such a course cannot help but be
good thing.
The lower House of Congress has
been held together for weeks by the
rule that absentees would be locked.
This branch Of Congress has been
hanging round" waiting for the up
per branch to 10 few things; but of
course, the Sneate habituaily procras-
tirates. Therefore the closing days of
Congress presented a painful PROPOSE
ton, and whenever the tiiibuster Of the
Cotton Senator'S" prevented an adj
iournment the weary lawmakers sim
ply couldn't stand it any longer, and F..
so they ducked.
The few men who stayed to attend .
both Houses decided the game was up, |
and 50 they went home too. And now
the country can talk about something /
besides Washington until December. !
The income tax was based on the
theory that there we're 100000 people
in the United States making so much
money that they would come within
its provisions. The results show there
are 10000 persons less than that
number.
Possibly there may b" = few tax
dodgers, who are trying to make their !
escape, but he that as it may, it is
sure that there IS going 10 be big
deficit in the United States treasury
as that branch Of the government
ovprshOt the estimates.
The American people have it |
brought home to them that "they
should worry" since a hundred mil
lion dollars Of war taxes have been
laid upon them.
kilograms are taxed. so are long
distance telephone calls, insurance pol
cics. sleeping car tickets, power Of
attorney, beer and tobacco. Who says
t is not discouraginG to be even an
innocent victim?
Throughout the national forests the
are posting the roads with