Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1908-04-08
THE WORK OF CONGRESS
Doings Of Our National Law-Makers
Day by Day,
Serious Charges Made.

Charges OF serious nature against
Clifford Pinchot, chief Of the Forestery
bureau, were made in the House by
Messers. Smith, California, and Mon
dell, Wyoming, during the consider
alton of the Agricultural Appropri-
alton bill. Mr.. Smith accused him
of entering into a secret understand
ing with the city of Los Angeles with
the view of securing the city valus
able water rights in the Owens Riv-
er Valley, as against the interests Of
private parties having prior claims.
Mr.. Mondell denounced him for, as
he charged, illegally paying the :ex-
penses of forest officials, in attend
ing conventions in the West, in which
the government had no part and also
of spending government money to
boost his bureau in the public news
papers. Mr.. Pinehot was defended by
Mr.. Pollard, Nebraska, and Mr.. Scott,
Kansas. The bill was under discus
sion all day and every line relating to
the forest service was fought over,
with the result that many provisions
were stricken out. ..
The Agricultural Appropriation Bill.
After having undergone many
changes, the paragraph Of the agFi-
cultural appropriation bill relating
to the bureau Of forestry, was finally
passed by the House Of Representa-
lives. Messrs. Mondell, Of Wyoming
and Smith, Of California, continued
their attacks on the bureau and in
this they were supported by Messrs.
Bonynge, of Colorado and Cushman
Of Washington. These embraced
charged that the bureau had created
timber monopolies in favor of. large
corporations, illegally assumed Jur's.
diction over the water rights belong
ing to the Western States, and Jug
gled with figures in order to obtain
large appropriations, from Congress.
The work Of the bureau was vigor-
ously defended by Messrs. Hepburn,
Eof Iowa, and Scott, Of Kansas.
Considerable time was devoted to
discussing proposition by Mr.. Hum
phreys, Of Missippi, to increase the
appropriation for the. investigation of
soils, which was carried.
Correspondence Submitted.
The long expected correspondence
between America and Venezuela re-
specting pending American claims
against the latter country was sub
mitted to the Senate and is almost
certain to create a profound impres-
sion. 1t will be difficult to digest
the vast mass of material which Sec
retary Root has placed before Con.
gress, but even a cursory inspection
of the documents makes it evident
that the negotiations have reached, a
critical phase. The President s rcali.
zation Of that fact is shown by his
Transmission Of the matter to the
Senate without any comment, regard
ing the correspondence and especial
ly Secretary Roots strong presentation
Of the American case, as sufficient to
INSTANTLY enlist the attention of Con-
! s=,ess.
All the correspondence and docu-
ments were referred to the Senate
committee on foreign relations
Those members. Of the committee
who have already farniliarized them
selves with the situation have arrang-
ed tentatively q programme which
consists Of three propositions as fol-
lows:
A Tentative Programme.
Place prohibitive tariff on Ven
ezuelan coffee, the exports of which
constitute 45 per cent. OF the entire
Venezuelan foreign trade and 9G per
| cent. of the coffee is taken by the
United States. :.
Exclude all. importations of asphalt
from Lake Bermudez,' the product of
which has been taken almost entirely
by the United States.
Authorize the President to exercise
the general power invested in him to
take whatever steps he may consider
necessary to treat with Venezuela IN
the future.
In letter to Minister Russell on
February 2Sth. 1907. Secretary Root
reviewed the difficulties encountered
by the various American claimants
and instructed Mr.. Russell to demand
remedy and redress. The letter con-
cluded with this statement:
Roots Letter Strong.
"You are instructed to bring these
several causes of complaint to the
immediate and serious attention of
the Venezuelan government and to in
sist that the government to which You
are accredited shall give to each and
every demand herein set forth lmme-
date consideration
In issuing general instructions to
the American minister, Secretary Root
said:
"You will call the attention OF the
government Of Venezuela to the fact
that Notwithstanding the long and un-
broken friendship manifested by the
United States for Venezuela; notwith-
standing the repeated occasions upon
which the United States has interven-
ed as a friend in need tc relieve
Venezeula from disagreeable and
dangerous complications with other
powers; Notwithstanding the patience
and consideration which has always
characterized the treatment of this
government towarde Venezuela the
government of Venezuela has within
the past few years practically confis.
eated or destroyed all the substantial
property interests of Americans In
that country. This has been done
sometimes in accordance with the
forms of law and contrary to the
spirit of the law; sometimes without
even form of law; by one device OF
another, with the action of the gov
ernment apparently always hostile to
American interests, until of the many
| l. ..o.,