The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1909-07-30
SENATOR CRANE
AS A DIPLOMAT.
He Is Increasing His Fame as Q
Smoother Out Of Difficulties.
At WORK ON TARIFF SITUATION

The French Customs Duties and tn
Ultra Protectionists-The Inception o
the Forestry Service-The Long Ses
sions of congressman Are Expensive
to Members.
Washington, July 27.-[Special.l AL
though Mr.. Crane of Massachusetts is
net one of the senator's given tC
speechmaking, he is generally recog
nized as one of the wheel horses OF
his party when it comes to straighten,
ing out tangles. Within the last two
weeks it has been necessary to do con,
siderable rounding up to determine
lust how many votes may be depended
upOn to make the changes In the tar
iff bill that have been demanded by
! President Taft in order that the meas.
ure might carry out what the eXecu-
tive thinks are the pledges made to
the country in the line Of revision.
Senator Crane happened to be absent
| from Washington when the trouble
| broke loose. He was wired to return
| at once, and soon was in the city Ia
| boring with the Republican senators
who had declared that they would
make trouble if this or that pet duty
of their section were interfered with.
! Probably no senator of modern times
shows such a knack of smoothing
down troubles as Senator Crane. He
is full of driving energy and yet does
his work so quietly that the opposi-
ton is kept busy guessing.
Would RetaIate on France.
The ultra protectionists are highly
incensed over recent disclosures which
they claim Indicate that in tariff mat
tiers the French government for years
has been making our country pay dear
~. The powerful American Protective
Tariff league has scattered all through
Washington statements purporting to
show that in the new legislation the
maximum tariff club ought to be used
to whack the French, for 1t is charged
that they give the dealers of the Unit
ed States the hot end of the poker in
all their tariff dealings with us. 1t is
said that the drastic provisions in the
bill now pending before congress are
aimed more at France than any other
nation. 1t is conceded by all experts
that France has the most complete
tariff laws of any nation on earth, and
they are framed with a view of giving
the French every possible advantage.
Inception of Forestry Service.
When did the United States begin
the practice of forestry? Few persons
can answer this-- question correctly.
Most people are of the opinion that the
beginning of forestry in this country
was of very recent origin and that the
first step in that direction was taken
among the mountains of the far west
Neither idea is correct, according to a
statement prepared by the bureau of
forestry. While Washington was serv-
ing his first term as president of the
United States a recommendation came
to him that the government oughb to
buy live oak islands on the coast OF
Georgia to make sure a supply of ship
timber for war vessels. The idea an.
pears to have originated with Joshua
Humphreys, whose official title was
constructor Of the United States
navy" although about the only navy
then existing was made up Of six
ships on paper, and not one stick of
timber to build them had been cut.
The vessels were designed TO fight the
north African pirates.
No Interest In Inaugural Date
The house of representatives had a
chance the other day to pave the way
for changing the date for the inaugu-
ration Of the president of the United
States, but declined to take advantage
of 1t. Even that regular blizzard
which swept down upon Washington
on the 4th Of last March has appar-
emily been forgotten by the lawmak-
ers. In the memory of the Oldest cit
izens here Inauguration days. with
only few exceptions, have been raw
and disagreeable. One reason why
congress is so slow to act in this mat
ter is that the people generally
throughout the country are not de-
handing the legislation. Nine people
out of ten i'm the United States do not
care what sort of weather prevails at
the national capital so long rs they
are not exposed to IL. and as not over
100000 strangers come TO Washington
on such occasions the masses are not
disturbed over the matter, evidently.
Long Session Increases Expenses.
Because Representative Macon Of
Arkansas persists in playing the role
Of watchdog Of the treasury and is
never so happy as when he can make
a point of order against some appro-
priation, many of his legislative asso-
ciates are disposed TO handle him
roughly, even the Democrats CRITICS.
ing him sharply when he interferes
with a pet scheme they may happen
TO have concealed in the bill. Repre-
sentative Rucker of Colorado got
angry with Mr.. Macon the other day
and alleged that such, as he. by delay
ing legislation. cost the government
heavily. This is a popular fallacy. II
really costs the government very lit
tie more when congress is in session
than when ii Is in recess. Probably
what hurts Is that by having 10 re-
main I'm Washington Il costs the con-
gressmen individually abos6 twice ss
much as II they could be at their
hounaa CHART &c W ARTIIT~n