The Colville examiner. [volume] (Colville, Wash.) 1907-1948, 1911-04-01

The federation of the commercial clubs of Stew
ems county is interesting the farmers and fruit
growers in irrigation
That there is need for such work is evident.
Many, it is alleged, who never before felt interest
in such subjects are now credited with enthusiasm
Without intelligent enthusiasm not much OF
value is ever done in any calling. A man needs
enthusiasm for driving power and intelligence for
the rudder. Probably there are few, if any busi-
nesses where the combination is more needed than
in farming.
The commercial clubs of Stevens county are con-
tributing more to the prosperity and progress Of
their territory by this subsoing work for i'm
proved farming than by any commercial activities
they could engage in.-Edtoria, Spokesman
Review.
Congressman LaFollette, the individual from
the Palouse country who was elected as an insur-
gent to represent this district in congress, has an
nounced his stand upon the reciprocity treaty with
Canada, and as is usual with most any brand OF
republican office seekers, his stand is with the
moneyed interests and against those of the people.
Mr.. LaFolette is personally opposed to the bill,
claiming that it is framed in the interest of "the
trusts, and that it will not benefit the farmer or
Il had expected to vote for and support the bill,
even though felt it was wrong. until I came back
home and found that the sentiment expressed by
the state legislature does not represent the true
sentiment of my constituents, and I have promised
the farmers that if they make a good showing
that they are opposed to it, as believe they are,
or will be when they fully understand it, I will
work against the bill in the special session of con-
gress.''
Inasmuch as the passage of the reciprocity treaty
would be of the very greatest commercial advant-
age to the people of this state it barely possible
that the former bewhiskered individual from the
Palouse country has seen the color of somebody's
money in the east which has made him feel that
the treaty is wrong. Since the moneyed interests
of the east are opposed to the treaty, and the bulk
of the insurgents and democrats believe that it is
right, the reason for Mr.. LaFollette's DETECTION
may be guessed by those who were so anxious to
have him represent them in place of Merritt, the
democrat who had pledged himself to the peoples
interests alone.
Democratic control of the house of representa-
tives will mean more than revision downward of
the tariff. It will also mean revision downward in
government extravaganza
Nine committees will Immediately be set to work
with the object of reducing waste in government
expenditures to the minimum. These committees
have been appointed from year to year under the
republican administration, but there has seldom if
ever been meeting of any of them. 1t happened
on one occasion last spring that meeting of the
committee on expenditures in the state department
was called and that majority of those present
were democrats Finding themselves unexpected
y in control, the democrats proceeded to do little
Investigating and although they had time to mere
y scratch the surface they developed the fact that
in one year the state department spent $2376 for
shoeing the horses of the state department. Sec
retary Knox admitted that the department had but
four horses, except for period of three months,
when the number was six. This is just sample
Of the extravaganza of the state department
AS matter of fact, there are few more import
ant committees than those on the expenditures in
the state, treasury, war, navy, postoce interior,
and agricultural departments is, if these
committees do their duty. Under the rules they
are charged with the examination of the accounts
and the expenditures of the several departments
and the manner of keeping the same; the economy,
business and correctness of such expenditures
their conformity with appropriation laws; the
security of the government against unjustly ex-
travagant claims; retrenchment the enforcement
of moneys due to the United States and the abolish
ment of useless officers. The republicans have
created 100, 900 new positions in eight years; cost
SIC, ,000, ,000
Senator Aldrich declared the government wasted
So, 600, 600, 600 every year. The democrats hardly
hope to reduce the cost of the administration to
that extent, but they do expect to retrench wher-
ever it can be done without imparing the efficiency
of the government.