Evening star., 1916-08-20

side of the Atlantic to agricultural puf-
suits, and will, it is hoped. induce more
people to own their own homes, a great
desideratum.
"The rural credits bill. taken in con-
nection with the reserve bank bill,
ought to give great impetus to the
oldest of human occupations, that of
tilling the soil. In America the rural
it is old, having been started by Fred
erick the Great at the close of the
seven years war. century and half
ago. The rural credits bank, or
landschaft, which he started, is still
doing business.
1.-The bad wagon roads of America are
sad commentary on our sense, for.
stated in briefest terms, they consti-
tute wicked and wanton waste. We
easily lead the world in railroads, but
we are badly behind Europe in wagon
roads. We consider the Romans of
1000 years ago old fogieA and yet they
were ahead of us, much ahead, in the
matter of country roads. The Appian
way Is the most famous highway in the
world, and the rock roads which they
constructed across the Pyrenees are
still Travelled by the children of men.
The Shackleford good roads bill is
long step in the direction of giving us
a system of wagon roads which will
be of permanent and vast utility to all
our people, particularly to farmers. re-
ouclng the cost of transporting food
products to market, thereby reducing
the high cost of living and increasing
the joy of living.
Popular Election of Senators.
After many years of agitation in
favor of electing United States sena-
tors by popular vote. we secured con-
stitutional amendment authorizing it.
and passed laws to put the amendment
n off l-
predicted touching that plan has been
fulfilled. No man ever possessed in
genuity enough to produce a valid ar
gument against it. The new plan is
working we'll
What is known as the Rucker corrupt
practice act will go far to lift our
politics to a higher plane. into a purer
atmosphere. That it Is perfect no man
claims, but it will be amended and i'm
proved until the corrupt use of money
in politics is reduced to the minimum.
On the purity of politics depends the
perpetuity of the republic.
we nave passed grain grading and
cotton future bills to prevent swindles
upon the public and to aid honest trade
in those necessary commodities.
We have passed a carefully prepared
and thoroughly discussed water-power
bill which will put an end to the at
tempted monopoly of water-power sites
and the charging of exorbitant rates
for power.
I'VE passed amended and better bills
for the government of Porto Rico and the
Philippines, giving more of self-govern-
ment to peoples of those islands.
The House has passed the Alexander
ship bill. intended to resuscitate the
American merchant marine, which all
wise and patriotic Americans favor. 1t
is to be hoped that it will pass the
Senate at an early day. and that once
more our flag will float over every sea
and in every harbor of the world. That
bill will enable US to prevent exorbitant
charges for ocean freight.
The House has passed a good.
servative overflow prevention BILL
which we hope viii prove valuable in
preventing the appalling loss of life and
property caused by the great foods.
That bill is now on the calendar of the
Senate.
We have passed such bills for defense
of our country by land and sea as pub
lie opinion demands.
The last three ongresses-including
the present one-have done more to i'm
prove the conditions under which wage
earners live and move and have their
being than all the preceding congresses
put together