Arizona republican., 1907-01-28
PUTTING A CRIMP
IN LUMBER TRUST
TET
Much is Expected of the Investigation
Which is Being Set on Foot by Sen
ator Kitteridge.

Washington. y. c.. Jan. p. Especial
Correspondence OF The Republican,
Every one will be pGased TO know
that the senate is going after the lum-
Der trust, through the efforts of Sena-
tor Kitteridge. This dmbination is
charged with putting up the prices to
consumers by the most grasping meth
DDS. INCIDENTALLY, it has succeeded in
preventing any reduction i'm the tariff.
As a result the American people have
seen their forests disappear, their hills
denuded, exposing their bon-s to the
Tavages of floods and weather while
they have been compelled TO pay enor-
nous tribute 10 the lumber kings.
There is no question that tht operation
of this trust has resulted IN great
evils, whose connection with the trust
are not so readily appreciated. For in
stance. the price of lumber is SO high
that it has undoubtedly prevented thou
sands Of people from building homes.
In thousands Of other cases home
buyers are compelled TO buy brick
houses in a block. where they would
prefer a separate lot and a tasty frame
houst. Instead Of Individual houses
Of pleasing appearance and individual
architecture. we find rows and rows Of
brick barns with no distinguishing
marks except the trimmings.
The prime evil of modernity is con-
gestion Of population. Il is responsible
FOR most of our physical ills and moral
sOre-spots. These are truths so patnt
as to obviate argument. ANY COM
bination which tends to force Conges-
ton of population is a national enemy.
and there is no question that the high
price OF lumber operates in that direc-
ton. Thy way To smash the lumber
trust is to admit lumber from Canada
free. Canada has extensive forests and
their clearing will give additional farm
land. The admission Of its lumber
would protect our consumers and our
forests at the same time. Why. even
now it is proposed TO buy millions of
acres in the Appalachians to protect
our watersheds at government expense.
Every one knows that the reason the
climate is changing" why we have
great storms. huge floods. and gtner-
ally irritating weather in the winter.
IS because the life giving and life-pre-
serving forests are silently disappear
ing-because the snow has no longer
protection and runs at the first warm
ray. We are late getting at this ques-
ton. but. thank heaven. not TOO late.
and if a crimp should be taken in the
swollen purses of the lumber kings. and
a stop put 10 their devastating opera /
tions through the agency of Senator
Kitteredge and his conferes, the Ameri- /
can people will rise and "caH them
blessed"
The action Of the senate in passing
the bin Strengthening and recognizing !
the coast artillery will meet with gen
eral favor. Attention has previously .
been called in this correspondence to /
the necessity Of the measure. To pro- 7
vide millions for expensive fortified
tons and guns to defend them. without
men even to take care of them. is .
folly. and congress recognizes T. as well /
as the general public. The bill viii I'M .
doubtedly pass the house. though it .
may be slightly amended. It is geuer- /
ally endorsed by the press and The ,
friends Of the measure are indebted to /
the press for its kindly influence.
We'll. Well" as the Snowman says,
We at last mustered up courage TO in .
crease our salaries fifty per cent. The /
lot Of a congressman next session !
promises TO be more pleasant than
ever before. They viii draw $500 a
year; they Will have "a goodly clerk
hire allowance; they viii get their sta
tionary set aside for their use. In view
OF these facts it seems about time they
were abandoning the little campaign
dodge of free garden seeds When they
are provided with offices and clerks
and a good salary it looks as though
they might relinquish a petty graft
like the pumpkin and squash seed dis
tribution. The press has generally