Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-05
v "COPPER" MINES PLEAD|S|MONENTERSCAP|T
lid President Hears Complaint of Army of 5000 Men Marches
Devastating Industry. Into Port au Prince.
AY WILL NOT PROSECUTE YET GIVEN JOYFUL GREETING
Revolutionary Leader Proclaim
Means Ar Practisable Himself President.
~ LEGISLATORS PAY RESPECTS PEOPLE ARE WITH HIM
in Formal ton
Approves ders
President Hears Complaint of
Devastating Industry.
WILL NOT PROSECUTE YET
Investigation to Prove Whether Pre-
ventive Means Are Practisable.
LEGISLATORS PAY RESPECTS
Re preventative Richardson Still OPP
posed to Judge Hundley-Mr.
Humphrey Approves Rifle.

This might properly have been called
congressional day at the White House
National lawmakers. in procession
marched into the executive offices singly
in pairs and trios, walked up to the desk
looked the big stick over. said some
pleasant things to the owner of the afore-
said instrument and heard things just as
pleasant. turned about and walked out
again They called it paying their re-
| spects.
| There were so many of them standing
and sitting about that the President didn't
have time to say more than a dozen words
to each one and to hear about as many
spoken to him. AS usual. though, he sent
everybody away feeling good, giving the
| ladies and girls who called with the
congressional contingent flowers and tell
| ing what fine fellows they had with them
| as escorts
Montana Quarrel Aired.
But even with all this. the President
| had time for an important hearing This
was over big quarrel between the
Anaconda Copper Company of Anaconda,
| Mont, defendants, and farmers stock
raisers and citizens. compartments. these
latter aided to some extent by Clifford
| Pinchot, representing the forestry de-
partment, and Solicitor Gen. Hoyt, acting
| for the Department of Justice, which
stands ready 10 bring suit against the
| copper company at a word from the
! President
| For years the farmers have been trying
| to get relief from the damages of the
| fumes from the plants of the copper COM
pany They have time and again present
| ed cases to the state cour,s, but claim
! they have been unable TO get decisions
| Then they appealed to the government,
| setting forth that immense damage is
| done to the forests and that the water
supply is steadily curtaied by the de-
| struction of forests and vegetation gen
| orally.
| Clifford Pinchot had an investiga ton
| made, and found that the contentious of
| the people were true, that trees were
Killed in all directions by the fumes and
that the water supply for irrigation and
other purposes was greatly lesSened. His
| report caused the Department of Justice
| to make a special investigation, which It
| did through Lyon Johnston, a special
attorney.
| The facts again substantiated the claims
| of the citizens. Attorney General Bona
| parte prepared for an action in the
| courts that would compel the copper COM
| panies to place fume consumers on their
| plants.
The companies declared that this would
cost SO much money as to virtually put
them out of business. 1t was to sit In
| judgment on these contentious that the
| President had before him today a large
| delegation of Montana people and others
interested.
| The government was represented by
Solicitor General Hoyt, Lyon Johnston
| Clifford Pinchot. Robert Formal and j.
| X. Howard. the three latter of the for
estry service. The farmers were repre-
| scented by r. L. Clinton. The copper peo-
| pie were represented by an attorney and
| John Ryan, general manager of the Ana
| conda Copper Company.
Senators Carter and Dixon and Repre-
sentative Pray were on hand represent
| ing the state. Senator Lodge of Massa-
| chusetts was present to look after the in
tereStS of a large number of Boston peo-
pie who own stock in the copper con-
Germs.
| Farmers Assert Damages.
| The representatives of the farmers de-
clared that thousands of head of cattle
and sheep had been killed by the fumes
and that whatever stock was left had to
be sold off because of the death of vegeta-
ton and the disappearance of water sup
| plies The forestry service showed that
long and careful examination had sustain
| ed the contentious that the forest reserves
around Anaconda have been damaged 10
an incalculable extent, and that the water
| supply of the entire state VIII be anected
! if this is not stopped.
| General Manager Ryan declared that the
reports of damage were greatly eXaSSer-
| ated and that il was not near so serious
as represented. The company could not
see its way clear now to install desui-
| pheriZing plants. and trusted thdt no
| nasty action would be taken.
| The President decided he would provide
| for another investigation in order that he
might have before him the business and
| chemical end of the controversy. spe-
| cial man will be sent to copper plants
| where there are fume consumers. This
| agent of the government will ascertain
| something of the cost of these, together
with facts as to whether there would not
| be va.ua BILE by-products.
! " is claimed that copper plants at Ana
| conda turn out 100000 pounds of sui
| phur gases each day. and that these
could be made to produce Jo,0W pounds a
day of white arsenic returning full COM
pensation for the costs of consuming
ma chinery.
| The President said there was no doubt
| in his mind of the great destruction that
| had been wrought. He does not care,
| however. to order suits started until he
| has investigated for himself the actual
| facts as to the business and chemical
ends of the consuming plants and the
| possible loss, if any, at putting in these
| plants
Still After Judge Hundley.
| Representa- tive Richardson of Alabama
announced to the President his purpose
to continue his fight against the confirma-
ton of Oscar r. Hundley as United
States judge of the northern district of
| Alabama
The President has several times sent
| Hundeys name to the Senate. That body
has not acted on the nomination. Humid
| ley continues to act as judge without con-
! firmaton.
Mr. Richardson says Hundley is not a
| fit man to be judge. and proposes to de-
feat his confirmation if possible.
Representative Humphreys of Washing
ton, who has reputation as a hunter of
big game in Alaska, talked with the
President today about the African hunt
ing trip and the weapons the President
| will use.
| One gun the President has decided to
take with him. which has the approval OF
| Mr.. Humphreys. is what is known as a
40.5 rifle, the heaviest caliber of smoke
less rifle made in this country This
rife is amply sufficient to bring down all
game under elephant and hippopotamus
| size.
The Trade of Turkey.