New-York tribune., 1910-01-20

German Foreign Office rests in the fact
that II mas not been entirely frank with
its own people in the past. that under the
guise of sanitary precautions it has prac-
used a system of protection at the behest
of the Agrarians. and that now 1t is ex-
tremely difficult to retrace its steps Sec
retary Knox made public to-day the basis
OF the agreements reached with the six
nations to which minimum rates have been
granted. Possibly, IL the German Ambas-
sador could make the public realize that
the restrictions which Germany places ON
American meats operate only 10 curtail the
export trade in beef, and -hus prevent the
domestic prices of meat from going even
higher. and could further make il obvious
that the abolition of these restrictions could
hardly benefit any one other than the Beef
Trust he might find a large measure OF
popular sentiment on the side OF Germany.
The Senate Committee on Territories be-
gan to-day the serious consideration of the
Alaskan government bill which had been
drawn and introduced by Senator Bever-
ldge in connection with the recommended
Ions or the President This bill provides
for the government of the district by a
commission similar to the Philippine Com
mission. TO consist of nine members. in
and other officials, all 20 be appointed by
the President, by and with the advice and
consent OF the Senate. Five officials and
TOUR others are TO constitute a legislative
council which shall have the power to
make laws for the government of the dis
trict. except that such laws shall not in
terfere with laws passed by the Congress
OF the United States. The Governor is
made presiding officer OF the legislative
council and has the veto power. All laws
passed by the council shall be submitted to
congress, which shall have power to annul
them. and, moreover. the President OF the
United States may annul any law prior to
its approval by Congress. The measure
further provides that the receipts from
customs and internal revenue collected in
Alaska shall be covered into the Alaskan
treasury. together with all receipts from
the sale of timber and coal lands and other
parts of the public domain, and the reve-
nues from franchises, licenses and like
sources OF income. The expenses of the
district are TO be paid out of these reve-
nues so far as practicable. Senator Bever-
idge expects to get an early report on the
bill, and, with the assistance of the Presi-
dent, 10 obtain its adoption by the Senate.
The House leaders have promised favora-
bic consideration for the measure by that
body.
Senator Nelson laid before his Committee
on Public Lands to-day the bill drawn by
Secretary Ballinger which authorizes the
Secretary OF the Interior to withdraw from
settlement any lands in the public domain
when, in his opinion, an emergency exists
which he purposes to bring TO the attention
OF Congress, and further to make any
Withdrawals he may deem proper pending
the classification of lands in the public do
main. Senator Nelson will endeavor to
have this bill passed promptly, and the
House leaders will seek to obtain favorable
consideration for it al this session. The
other Ballinger bills will be considered later,
but. as has been intiuated in this column,
the prospect OF their being adopted, at least
by the House, is not encouraging. This bill,
however. would validate the extralegal acts
Of Secretaries Garfield and Ballinger in
Withdrawing public lands pending action
by Congress. The Supreme Court of the
United States has decided that. where legis-
lation is actually pending, an executive Of
fcer may temporarily suspend law, as
these officials have done in the case Of the
homestead and other laws, but when Secre-
taries Garfield and Ballinger made their
Withdrawals TO protect power sites. phos-
phate lands, etc, there was no such legis-
lation pending, so that their acts are clearly
extralegal.
That the true American may be suita-
bly commemorated, Representative Gould
en-, of New York. has introduced resolu-
ton providing for the erection of heroic
statue of an American Indian in New York
Harbor This he can accomplish, through
the generosity of Rodnan Wanamaker, OF
New York, without expense TO the govern
ment He desires only that a site be al
lotted on a United States reservation. He
has in mind the site at Fort Carroll, now
used by the Navy Department for storage
purposes. The resolution provides for
commission, to consist Of the chairnnen Of
the library committees of the Senate and
House. the secretaries of State, War. IN
terror and Navy, and Robert c Ogden. Of
New York. TO select the design and site.
G. G. H.