Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-06
FACTIONS IN CLASH
Control of Patronage in vir-
ginia Becomes an Issue.
PROBLEM WITH PRESIDENT
Slemp-Martin Combination Opposed
by Royal Cabell.
LOSS THROUGH FOREST FIRES

LOSS THROUGH FOREST FIRES
Senator Borah Wants Partially Con-
sumed Timber Disposed of-sec
rotary Ballinger's Opinion.
President Taft has this week been lis
tening to statements about the control
Of the federal patronage in Virginia He
must shortly decide who is to be upper
most in the republican politics Of the
state. The situation stands this way:
Representative Bascom Slemp. who man
aged to get back into the next House by
bare few hundred majority. and Alvah
Martin Of Norfolk, republican national
committeeman, want the patronage. They
claim 1t belongs to them as heads OF the
republican state organization. They need
it II the organization Is to be maintained
Royal Cabell, commissioner Of internal
revenue former postmaster Of Richmond
and representative of q strong element OF
his party In the state. wants to be con-
suited about the appointments. Cabell
who has always been q protege Of Post
master General Hitchcock. was at the
White House today with the Postmaster
General. and the two talked with the
President about the patronage situation.
Representative Slemp and Alvah Martin
have another talk.
10 ro1> 10
made the administration representative
in Virginia he will be able to build the
party up from among q good class OF
democrats. disposed to be independent.
while. II is claimed. the same cannot be
said Of the Slemp-Martin aggregation.
The latter deny this, and say the party
Is as strong under their control as 1t
has ever been. Mr.. Martin Is the only
republican who has ever been able to
hold . big county Office in Norfolk. He
has been clerk Of court there for years
and Is power Slemp 10 at the other
end OF the state. and the two. 1t Is de-
clared. mako formidable combination.
Millions Of Dollars Wasted.
Millions Of dollars. represented in the
finest timber in the world. Is being lost
because there are no laws that will per-
init its being sold, according to Senator
Borah Of Idaho. Mr.. Borah has seen
President Taft and Secretary Ballinger
several times. trying to reach an under
standing by which the timber in the great
area OF the forest fires last year might
comes absolutely useless. The Idaho sena-
tor conferred with the President today
about the matter. He Is especially seek
Ing to protect the interest of the hun
upon government lands and have not per-
fected their titles. He wants some legis-
lation at this session that viii permit
them to dispose of the timber
secretary Ballinger has prepared a bill
for submission to Congress that he be-
tent; This blll permits the government
main devastated by the forest fires to the
best advantage. This would also cover
perfected title When they do receive
their patents the money obtained from
timber sales on their respective home
steads will be returned to them. Mr.. Bal
hnger says that the forestry service has
sufficient law to enable 1t to care for the
situation In the forest reserve sections
that were burned over. It Is only in the
public domain outside the forestry serv-
Ice that legislation is necessary.
Secretary Ballinger's View.
Secretary Ballinger said .oday that the
government would have to sell the tim
Der. To permit homesteaders to do so,
he said. would be to invite some of them
to dispose Of the timber. take the cash
derived therefrom and throw up their
entries. leaving the government in the
lurch.
Senator Borah believes that about one
fourth Of the burned area belongs to
the homesteaders. who are serious suf-
ferers. It IL considered doubtful
whether much money can be saved.
Lumber companies In the forest fire
region are busy trying to care for taeir
demand for the timber of the govern
ment and homesteaders. If too much Of
the timber is made into lumber it will
glut the market The injured trees
eighteen months. 1t is contended. or by
that time be unfit for lumber, and valu-
able only for firewood.
Former Senator Hopkins Sees Taft.
Ex-senator Hopkins Of Illinois. whose
return to tho United States Senate was
prevented when William Lorimer was
elected senator from Illinois, spent some
time with President Taft today. He
was accompanied to the White House
by Senator Cullom. Mr.. Hopkins as
serted that he had not spoken Of the
Lorimer case to the President. but had
taken up business matter pending in
the Department of Justice. There was
a general disposition to suppose that
Mr. Hopkins was going over the Lorimer
case with the President. who has had
some of the aspects presented to him
by senatorial callers.
Representative Lowden Of Illinois was
in conference with the President as to
ship subsidy. The President has talked
to fifteen or twenty senator's and rep
resentatives about this matter, but has
urged no particular legislation. He has
been trying to ascertain the sentiment
in Congress and the country on the SUBJ
ject. 1t is becoming evident that there
is no popular demand for this legislation
and some hostility f.om the middle west
and other parts of the country. For that
reason 1t Is practically certain that, with
SO much else Of Importance to handle.
Congress will not pass a subsidy law.
TAMMANY HALL ON FIRE.
Second Blaze Recently at Headquar-