Los Angeles herald., 1909-05-23
SENATOR URGES
CARE OF TREES
AMENDMENT TO FREE LUMBER
DISCUSSED
SHARP CONTROVERSY OVER TAR
IFF PROPOSALS
Democrats and Republicans Offer OBJ
lection to Date Suggested for
Vote on the Pending
Measure
IBv Associated Press.

WASHINGTON. May 22.-By special
agreement the senate took no votes To-
day on any subject, and the entire
session was devoted to speechmaking.
The lumber schedule was under discus
sion during the greater part Of the day,
and the controversy between the free
lumber advocates and the high tariff
opponents was sharp.
Senator McCumber introduced the
subject by presenting an amendment
providing for free lumber ana ne was
OH the floor several times during the
day in support of this provision. lie
contended that the American forests
were being rapidly depleted and urged
that every encouragement should be
given to the importation of lumber for
the protection of our own supply;
On the other hand Senator Elk1nS,
Senators Scott and Hepburn, all OF
them representing lumber producing
constituencies, contended strenuously
for a higher duty than is allowed by
the house bill They controverted the
theory that the American lumber sup
ptv is rapidly diminishing.
once more the senate placed on rec
ord it's determination not to undertake
ether legislation while the tariff Dill Is
pending This action was taken in OPP
position to an effort on the part OF
Senator Burton, former chairman Oh
the house committee on rivers and mar
bors and now a member of the senate
committee on commerce, to have ex-
tended appropriations made Tor the
country's waterways.
After long waiting the lumber sched-
ule was given its inning. Mr.. McCum-
her presented his amendment providing
for free lumber This action precipi-
tated long threatened fight There
was no vote today.
McCumher Leads
1o5 dahofp de-
daring that the lumber industry need
cd no protection. Mr.. Borah of Idaho
agreed that a tariff on lumber would
tend to deplete the forests.
1T is Incredible" he said, that the
human race is going to perish rather
than plant trees"
dustry had reached its highest point III
the United States, and urged that free
lumber would partly supply the Amer
lean market with a product that could
not be supplied from American forests
without exhausting them,
Senator ElIins defended the LUMBER
interests and accused the senator from
North Dakota of being a spotted pro-
tectionist" favoring protection upon
products of his own state but not on
those of other states
Mr.. Elkins contended that there
could not be protection in spots, and
that there was no danger of the timber
supply of the country becoming eX-
hausted.
MIR. Scott appealed for a higher duty
on lumber.
Senator Aldrich made good his prom
Use of Yesterday to try to get a date
FAMED for taking the final vote on the
tariff bill. He named wednesday June
as his preference, but did not get IL.
His request for a ballot on That DAY
covered not only the bill but all amend
ments then pending. There was promps
objection from both the Democratic ana
T3enublican sides of the chamber
Senator Daniel at once recorded his
objection and Senator Cummins joined
him. AS unanimous consent was neces-
sarv under the rules, there was noun
ing for Mr.. Aldrich to do but submit;
In replying to an inquiry by Mr.:
Hale. Mr.. Aldrich said the senate had
17isposed of a majority of paragraphs
that had been disputed, and he stated
that he would later renew MS request
for unanimous consent for a time TO
vote. ,,,5 r.o+
Mr.. Aldrich then said he would not
ask for any vote today
To Vote on Lumber
Among the questions that VIII be
voted upon early next week in the SEN
ate will be that of putting lumber on
the free list. .,-..,...
tonight that a poll of the senate shows
overwhelming sentiment against such
action. ,
The Pacific coast senator's contend
that the house duty on rough lumber IS
too low, and they are supporting the
retention of the present rate of " per
1000 feet.
An effort is being made to compro-
mise on $3.50 per 1000 feet for rough
lumber, and small differential on
dressed lumber. On the latter 81 per
1000 feet has been suggested.
It is expected that after the vote has
been taken on the question of putting
lumber on the free list no further &C
tion will be taken until the committee
has again considered the subject with
view to harmonizing the differences be-
tween the free lumber advocates and
those who are demanding protection.