The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-06-12
Congressman Murdoch Is Given
a SendOff.
Washington Paper Says "He's
Independent as a Hog on Ice"
CURTIS SEEKS REPORT
Wants to Know What Farm I'M
elements Sell for Abroad.
Suggests Amendment Putting
Duty on Nursery Stock.

Washington, June 11.-"Brickbats
and Bouquets monthly published in
Washington, devoted largely to con-
gressional affairs, hands in it's last is
sue a bunch of bouquets to Congress
man Victor Murdoch of Kansas. 1t
says:
I'm washington a congressional dis
trict is known by the man the district
sends to Washington. Everybody in
Washington knows Victor Murdoch
which means that every one knows the
Eighth Kansas district which he rep
resents. In area it is one of the small
est districts in the west, comprising
only five counties, but these make up
the garden spot of Kansas, being ex-
ceedingly rich in fruits, corn. wheat,
and alfalfa. Half of the population or
the Eighth district is on farms and half
in the towns and every individual in 1t
whether on farm or in town, is typl-
cal Kansan, and Murdoch is a perfect
example of his people. Nobody owns
him and as the Kansas expression
goes, he is as independents as hog on
ice He says what he thinks and he
always says it with a vigor that COM
mands attention He got into action
early when he first came to congress
and he has been doing something ever
since. He gets results, too. When he
first came the older heads in congress,
whenever he started after something
he didn't like. were inclined to believe
that he was grandstand playing, but
he made good so often that when he
starts to sound the battle cry now.
everybody realizes that he means bust
ness His fight for a change in the
rules of the house the past year is
good illustration of his energies. He
wrote magazine and news or articles.
made speeches both in congress and
out. polled the members of the house.
formed organizations and worked
eighteen hours day getting the move
ment on it's feet. The result at the
beginning of the Sixty-first congress by
reason of the activity of the insurgents
among whom none was more active
than Murdoch, was contest not sur
passed for excitement in congress in
twenty-five years.
'Murdock's constant declaration is
that he represents the people of the
Eighth district and what the prevailing
sentiment of that district asks him to
do that he will do He is fond of eX
patiating upon the glories of this cor
ner of Kansas. which he insists is the
most thorough going American in
1--ol-o'.- in the United States.'
The senate has passed a resolu-
ton offered by Senator Charles Curtis
calling on the secretary of commerce
and labor for a report on the selling
price of farm implements of Amer
lean manufacture at home and
abroad
Senator Curtis offered also an
amendment to the tariff bill as fol-
lows: Section $50. Stocks. cuttings
or seedlings of Myrobolan plum,
Mahaleb or Mazzard cherry. Manetti
multihora and brier rose, three years
old or less. 81 per thousand plants;
stocks, cuttings or seedlings or pear,
apple. ounce and the st. Julien plum
and evergreen seedlings, three years
old or less. 50 per thousand plants;
rose plants, budded. grated or
grown on their own roots, four cents
EACH stocks, cuttings and seedlings
of all fruit and ornamental trees.
deciduous and evergreens. shrubs
and vines and all trees. shrubs, plants
and vines commonly known as nur-
sery or greenhouse stock, not spec
tally provided for in this section, 25
per cent ad valorem.
If the Aldrich bill is sent to the
White House by the house and senate
conferees it will meet President
Tafts veto, unless changes, which
might be considered almost drastic.
are made in the bill The president
IS as determined now as he was in
the campaign and in the pre-
inauguration period to give the coun-
try a bill which will result in gem
eral and sincere downward revision.
There can be no doubt of these
statements. Recently there has been
a dislocation on the part of some
senators and members of the house to