The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-03-31
NATIONAL CAPITAL NEWS
The Montana Election Case Will be
Discussed in the Senate This
Week.
Vest viii Debate for the Dom
ocrats and Hoar viii De-
fend Fraud.
Appropriations for Irrigation WIN he De-
fcated by Personal uuHrrcis-Tho
Tariff Schedule.

WASHINGTON, March Special. The
taril bill of the republican members OF the
ways aud mouns committee. which will be
reported to the full committee tomorrow.
contnins one important change. Hides are
made dutiahlc at II per cent. nd valorem.
The committee hns yacillHted upon the tar
ia on hidcs first puttlng ON duty of IL
cents per pound, then at the request Of the
shoe and leather men taok IL OF, and finally
10y vote of four 10 three restoring TO nd
yalorem duty. No change was made in the
lead schedule, upon which firm fight has
been made, and sugar remains whore it was
fixed n few weeks ago.
Representatives Hermann. of Oregon, and
Wilson, of Washington, when not occupied
10y committee work. have been devoting
themselves To The improvement of the mail
facilities IN their states. The number OF
petitions that each receives indicate that
mail matter has been badly neglected. Gen
eral Clarkson snys that more complaints
come from Montana. Washington and Ore
gon than of any sections and that these
complaints are just, but the department has
no funds to remedy them. During the
hearing given Representative Wilson before
the rivers and harbor committee the other
day Chairman Henderson stated that the
Columbia river had received better
treatment than any other river in the
United States. that more money had been
expended in removing the distractions at
the cascades and improving the mouth than
upon any other stream of the same length.
Wilson rctorted that the amounts expended
were of no benefit % the upper Columbia
nor would they be until the Dalles obstruo-
tions were removed. There is hope that the
Columbia river improvement may receive
some strength by the passage of the Calves
ton and Sault Ste. Marie bills in the senate.
Az stated in these dispatches the pros
poets for an appropriation for irrigation are
growing less. The fight is now against
Maj. Powell. Of the geological survey, who
has heretofore had charge of irrigation
matters, and Senator Plumb, of Kansas.
who has n grievance against Powell because
the latter refused 60 make some appoint
mcnts he had asked. The Kansas senator
is not a friend Of irrigation and will do ell
he can 10 keep any appropriation from be-
ing made ms long as Powell has anything TO
do with II. Irrigation was one of the hopes
of The northwest, but personal quarrels are
10 be panderod 10, nlt though the vast arid
region suffers from IL.
The Montana cnse which will come up
this week. will furnish thr ointc nm oppor-
tunity 10 indulge III fierce partisan politics
which has been somewhat neglected of late.
Both sides are ready for the fray, and there
will be battle such as has not been waged
in many months. Senator Vest has large
interests IA Montana and also n large num-
bcr of former democratic constituents. and
he intends 10 yindcntc them and show MP
the republican methods in Montana. while
Senator Iloar will defend tho report of tho
majority of the committee.