The news=record. [volume] (Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon) 1907-1910, 1910-06-01
NEWS FROM OUR
NATIONAL CAPITAL
What Our Lawmakers Are Do
ing and Other Items Of
Importance.


Taft's travelling expenses and the fact
that he had already overdrawn his al
lowance of $4,000 year voted by
Congress, led to acrimonious debate
in the House and to refusal to per-
NIT him to use the next years allow
ance to meet the deficiency. As re-
ported from the House committee on
appropriations, the appropriation of
s25,70O for the fiscal year beginning
July l next would have become "im-
available except for the
protests of Democratic members. The
words Immediately available" finally
were stricken out.
President Taft sent to Chairman
Tawney of the House committee on
appropriations a letter expressing
deep resentment at the criticisms
paid by Democrats in the House de-
bate on the travelling expenses of the
President. The President said he was
especially distressed by the suggested
reflection on Southern hospitality.
Land Bill Changed.
The Senate public lands committee
has decided to amend the bill author
lzing the President to make withdraw.
ais of public lands by adding the pro.
vision that Withdrawals shall not af.
feet legal rights of any settler or en-.
tryman under the homestead or des-
ert lands acts, initiated prior to the
order of Withdrawals made under the
proposed law.
Western Senators will attach the
$30,000.000 irrigation BIZ, - this wltn-
drawal bill before it passes the Sem
ate, and hope by this means to insure
the early adoption of both measures.
Under the bill the President is au-
thorized to withdraw temporarily from
settlement from location, sale or en-
try any public lands and reserve
them for power sites, irrigation, clas-
sification Of lands or other public
purposes.
Development May Be Retarded.
Development of the West is going
to be retarded materially for the next
year or two. and perhaps longer, be-
cause of the failure of Western Sen
ators and Representatives In Con-
gress to agree upon and secure the
passage of practical reform of the
public land laws, for under legislation
that will be enacted the President will
be empowered to, and has given no.
tice that he will, withdraw desirable
lands from entry and so hold them
until Congress provides adequate and
sensible means for their disposal.
Pinchotlsm to be Spread.
Plans are under way to carry the
conservation campaign into every
state. Clifford Pinchot as its presi.
dent, the National Conservation Asso-
citation which has Its headquarters in
the Colorado building here, has begun
vigorous campaign to extend its
membership in every state and terri.
tory, but the campaign just started Is
intended to bring the enrolment up
TO 100000 members.
With the return Of Pinchot after his
trip to Europe, plans will be taken up
Immediately for the National Con-
servation Congress, which is to be
held In st. Paul, Mimi, the first week
in September, at which Colonel Roose-
welt has promised to speak
Delay LorImer investigation.
II the Senate investigates the cleo
ton Of Senator Lorimer. In response
to his demand to have an inquiry into
the bribery charges made In Illinois,
the committee will not begin Its work
before next Winter, II is believed.
Lorimer asked immediate action on
his resolution. but his colleagues ruled
that 1t should take the regular course.
The Senators feel that they can de-
wise more comfortable occupation dur.
ing the hot Summer days than to sit
for weeks as members Of an investi-
cation committee. II the inquiry
should be made. this committee would
sit In Washington and send for the
necessary witnesses.
Senators were not disposed to com.
ment on the case. They will reserve
opinion pending the receipt of more
complete Information. Whether there
shall be an investigation may depend
on the result of the proceedings in
the Illinois courts.
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