The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1909-04-30
NEWS FROM THE
NATIONS CAPITAL
WORK OF TARIFF TRAINERS IS
NEARING AN END.
COMPROMISE PAPER RATE
Taft Permits Wilson to Pursue More
Liberal Policy Toward Forestry
Problem in Western States.

Washington-The important work
of picking up loose ends in the maxi
ing of the new tariff bill has been
commenced by the senate committee
on finance. Wood pulp and print
paper have been considered, and it
was agreed that an amendment
should be drafted by subcommittee
In the nature of a compromise be-
tween manufacturers of print paper
and those who are demanding free
pulp and reduced duties on paper.
The question of the duty on coal
has not been considered, but the
committee has decided to recon-
mend the continuance of the present
rate of Is per cent ad valorem on
hides.
Steel men have insisted that the
rate of 1892 a ton on rails is too
low to give American manufacturers
adequate protection. 1t had been
expected that an increase to $4.25
would be made on rails, but 1t is
now regarded as settled that the rate
adopted by the house will stand.
No action has been taken on the
crude petroleum schedule, but 1t is
admitted that some protection Will
be provided for the independent pro-
ducers. 1t is not likely that the 80
per cent ad valorem rate desired by
the independents will be allowed
The income tax, in connection with
the tariff, received especial atten-
ton in the senate this week. Sena-
tor Bailey, of Texas, who has intro
duced an amendment to the bill pro-
viding for a fiat rate of taxing In
comes, made a long speech Monday
on this feature.
1t is the expectation of Western
senators and representatives that
areas of agricultural lands now en-
braced within forest reserves will ul-
timately be restored to the public
domain. This expectation grows out
of the fact that Secretary Wilson has
ordered the forest service to make
an examination and classification OF
the various Western reserves, setting
forth by maps and by description
those areas, now reserved, which are
purely or largely agricultural lands,
as distinguished from purely timber
lands.
The action of Secretary Wilson Is
more significant than appears on It's
face. During the Roosevelt admin
istration, Secretary Wilson had no
say whatever regarding the forestry
affairs. AS the situation is surveyed
and as Western senators and repre-
sentatives are consulted, the new adj
ministration finds that there is much
complaint about the manner in
which the forest service has been ar
bitrarily handling it's vast system OF
reserves, and the more these COM
plants are gone into the stronger
the conviction that some restraint
should be placed upon the forestry
service.
Congress several years ago passed
a law permitting the homesteading
of agricultural lands within forest
reserves, and after this had been &C
complished the service was very re-
luctant about eliminating from forest
reserves any agricultural areas that
might be found within their borders.
Secretary Wilson is in sympathy with
the Western men who are anxious to
open up these lands to settlement.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT James f. Smith,
of the Philippines, expects to leave
Manila May 8 for Yokohama, where
he will embark on the steamship
Minnesota for the United States. He
has been granted six months leave
of absence. General Smith has indi-
Gated that he did not desire to re-
sumo his work in the Philippines.
For some time rumors have been
current that President Taft might
appoint w. Cameron Forbes, the
vice-governor, to the governorship.
Transfers who were employed by
the government during the Mexican
war will be placed on the pension
rolls if the bill introduced by Repre-
sentative Alexander, of Mississippi,
becomes a law. The measure also
provides for placing the names of the
widows of such teamsters on the
pensionable list for the Mexican war.
For the construction of three brick
buildings for the United States naval
hospital at the navy yard at Bremen
ton, Wash, the bid of the w. N. Con-
cannon Company, of San Francisco,
was the lower of those opened. 1t
was for $143,971. The work is to
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