Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-02-26
MAY QUIET ERRArIc REPusL'c
Presidents Victory Won in Face Of OPP
position Of Strong Lobby-Another
Lobby Aetiv. in Effort to Secure De-
feat Of Grazing Lsns Bill - Wash
inston News.

will be bitterly lamented by the Santo
Domingo lobby that has made Its head
quarters in washington and used ev,
ery means to defeat the treaty, even
down to buying paid advertising space
in the papers to run cartoons against
the measure. There is something to be
said on both sides of the treaty ques-
ton, It will be good measure for the
United States II it keeps the little re-
public quiet and prevents European
interference. which is one Of the things
this country particularly does not
want.
On the other hand, the opponents OF
the treaty in the person of the local
lobbyists say that 1t means giving the
island over to negro domination with
fixed government that cannot be over
thrown except by whipping the United
States navy, which is of course out OF
the question. The white planters OF
the island have sent one of their num-
Der to Washington, a wealthy man
who is heading the fight against the
treaty. He declares In pathetic tones
that IL the treaty is passed that 1t will
allow the negro officials to double the
Internal taxes all over the Island, which
they promptly will do and that the
sugar and other plantations will be
taxed out OF existence. There IS more
even than that behind his prediction,
for he declares that Ii the natives find
they cannot hold an election or Q rev.
olution (tfie terms being synonymous)
whenever they wish, they will resort
to poison and the knife, and the pas
sage OF the treaty will sign the death
warrant of every politician in power.
Those are the two sides. You can take
either prediction you prefer. But the
prospects are just now that the treaty
will go thru.
There is always more active lobby
ing toward the end Of q session than at
any other time. One OF the other lob:
bies now particularly active is that
against the Burkett bill to lease the
grazing lands of the west. This is
another administration measure, and
has been framed to prevent grabbing
and fencing the public lands in the cat
tie country to the exclusion OF the
small cattle owner. 1t was introduced
by Burkett, but practically drawn by
the president and Chief Forester Gift
ford Pinchot, both Of whom are per-
sonally in touch with the situation.
The scheme Is to place the control Of
all the grazing lands under the de-
partInent OF agriculture and have the
secretary apportioh the leases, giving
preference to the smaller cattle own
ers and restricting the number of cat
tie that may be grazed, on q given
do. away with Illegal fencing. prevent
the domination of the public range by
q few big cattle interests. and would do
much to end the bloody and ceaseless
war between the sheep men and the
cattle men. s llS
All the forces of the cattle owners
from the immense ranches are Joined In
opposition to the bill, and 1t looks now
as tho It would be defeated for the
present session. But the end of the
fight is not yet. and the measure will
be introduced again as soon as con-
gress assemblies and probably will be
fought to successful conclusion.
There has been some queer under
ground maneuvering In the matter OF
the title of the Northern Pacific to
about 40.000,000 acres Of land in the
northwest. This had been watched by
many familiar with the railroad situa-
ton, and there were the elements Of
big sensation therein concealed. 1t
was thought that the end Of the week
would see the announcement, but it did
not.
/ The facts were out recently In res
olution introduced by Senator Hepburn,
calling for a committee to investigate
the status of the Northern Pacific and
see If there was any reason why the
charter. should not be repealed. The
resolution stated that the Northern Pa
cific was granted under an act of con-
gress In 1864. The grant carried with
it a land grant to 100000 acres of
land along the line of the road, as was
customary at that time in chartering
trans roads. After the
granting of the charter there were q
number Of congratulations and trans
fers, ending finally in 1896 by the re-
and transfer Of the rail-
road under the management Of syndi-
cate managed by j. p. Morgan & Co.
Finally the status Of the Northern Pa
cific was juggled into such shape that
1t was no longer federal corporation
but corporation of the state OF Wis
consin. However, 1t inadvertently car
ried the 100000 acres Of public land
along withtit, and has them still-what
It has not sold to settlers.
There is a long personal story back
Of the Introduction Of this resolution in
which Mr.. e. II. Hartman figures, but
the point was that after 1t was intro
duced into the committee on Pacific
the committee set Friday for
a hearing and representatives of the
stockholders Of the road who
claimed that they had been cheated
Df their rights in the reorganization
were to appear with Senator Hepburn
and tell their story preparatory to hav-
ing senatorial investigating commit
lee appointed. But when the day came,
Senator Hepburn did not show up at
he committee. The witnesses were all
here, but the. resolution Is now dead
,or the session, and there Is serious
whether 1t ever will be called
up again. Query why was Senator
aeybUrn ABSENT
sgssssS ass.