The Newport miner. [volume] (Newport, Wash.) 1899-current, 1911-02-09
NEWS FROM THE
NATIONAL CAPITAL
What Our Lawmakers Are Do
ing and Other Interesting
Events.

tall as a whole in the House commit
lee on ways and means was made
c ear by Chairman Payne at hearings
before the committee.
A proposal Of Fordney for an
amendment Of the lumber schedule
and another in reference to possible
amendment of the item making bar
ley free were met with the unequivo-
cal statement that the committee
would sanction no change Of any
Item.
Notwithstanding this, the pressure
brought to bear on the committee
has resulted in the granting of hear
ings to all persons who appear in
Washington prior to o'clock next
Thursday afternoon. This date was
fixed to permit Pacific Coast lumber
men to reach Washington and make
statements.
Tariff Board Bill Doomed.
Due to the promise made in the
Senate, the committee on finance will
submit an early report on the Presi-
dents bill for the creation of a tariff
board. 1t will be forthcoming prob
ably in the latter part of this week,
and the prospects are that 1t will re-
ceive a stormy reception.
Several members of the committee,
including congressman of both par
ties. are opposed to the bill, but they
decided at a meeting not to wrangle
over the bill in committee. They con-
sldered to be the better policy to
return 1t to the Senate so that the
issue could be settled in an open fight
on the floor.
:Borah Advances Direct Election Bill.
Senator Borah, supported by Pro-
sressive Republicans and Democrats,
made tremendous advances through
the lines Of the old guard Republicans
and placed the resolution for the pop
ular election of senators in a most
advantageous position squarely in
front Of the enemy's goal.
House Membership 3e1 Proposed.
A House membership of 391, as at
present, was the congressional reap
portionment plan agreed upon by the
Republican caucus OF the House. This
proposition, made by Campbell Of
Kansas. was first defeated, Sc to 81.
but later reconsidered and adopted,
70 to S..
This action. together with defeat of
plan to Offset the negro disfran-
chisement in the South urged by Ben
nett and Olcott Of New York and op-
posed by Gaines of West Virginia and
others, occurred during a six-hour
session Of the caucus.
Secretary Hitchcock investigates.
Inefflciency, characterization and
Encouragement have developed in
the railway mail service and are
likely to result in an upheaval, per-
aaps in reorganization, of the entire
service.
PostmasterGeneral Hitchcock is
thoroughly incensed and makes no
concealment of his Indignation Re-
Gently he has been conducting a per-
sonal investigation. Rumors reached
Washington from several points that
changes in leading officers Of the SER
vice were imminent.
His investigation. he indicated. had
disclosed that orders had been issued
by subordinate officers placing upon
the employees unreasonable and in
some instances humiliating burdens.
These were promulgated in the name
Of the postmaster-general, although
he knew nothing about them until
after investigation.
National Capital erevitles.
"A uCICS oICdCA OU TIC COdA Aduu
leasing bill of Senator Nelson was
issued by Clifford Pinchot.
Secretary Nagel has issued an Or
der which is expected to remove any
friction between the United States
and the Chinese government over the
detention Of merchants and students
under the exclusion laws.
Senator Hepburn served notice On
the Senate that he would not permit
q vote upon the bill authorizing the
western states to relinquish to the
government school sections 16 and Sc
embraced in the forest reserves and
to take in exchange compact bodies
Of forest reserve lands Of like area
and value.
No matter what bill may be passed
~ Congress providing for congress
sional reappointment. Oregon win
gain a third member Of the House