The Newport miner. [volume] (Newport, Wash.) 1899-current, 1911-06-08
HOUSE COMMITTEE
REPORT FAVORABLE
Democrats Endorse Underwood
Wool Tariff Bill, Making 30
Per Cent Reduction.

Washington.-By a strict party vote
the house ways and means committee
adopted a favorable report on the
Underwood wool tariff bill as en-
dorsed by the Democratic caucus. The
bill was reported to the house Tues
day and called up by Chairman I'm
derwood Wednesday.
Advocates of free raw wool, backed
by William J. Bryan, offered amend
ments in the caucus, putting raw wool
On the free list or proposing a grad
ual reduction that would abolish the
entire duty within five years. I'm
derWood and others who spoke in ia
vor of the 20 per cent duty, replied
TO the free wool Democrats by point
ing out the absolute necessity of a
small duty on raw wool in order
to help provide revenue for the gov
eminent
Through a resolution which leaves
the Democratic party open in the fu-
ture to renew it's advocacy of free
trade in raw wool, but which commits
all Democrats to the support of the
present bill as revenue measure, the
divergent interests were brought TO-
gether in the caucus. The bill pro-
poses a duty of 20 per cent on raw
wool, a reduction of more than SO per
cent from the Payne-Aldrich law now
in force.
Steel Trust Head Testifies.
Ebert H. Gary, chairman of the
United States Steel Corporation, told
the Stanley steel trust investigating
committee that his corporation stood
behind J. P. Morgan in averting
disastrous financial upheaval in 1907.
He insisted, challenging the state
ments of John w. Gates before the
committee, that the purchase by the
steel corporation of the Tennessee
Coal & Iron Company at that time
was made at price more than it was
worth for the express purpose of pre-
venting the crash of the New York
banking firm of Moore & Schley.
Mr.. Gary denounced the Sherman
antitrust law as archaic and declared
that governmental control of corpora
lions eventually would come.
ton would welcome such a change,
and would be glad if the government
would go so far as to dictate the
prices of steel products.
In explanation of the reported world
wide trust" Mr.. Gary said a confer
ence would be held in Brussels July
and next, to organize an inter-
national steel institute similar to the
American Iron and Steel Institute.
The latter, he asserted, was formed
to prevent decentralization in trade
and to permit an exchange of ideas
for the betterment of the steel in
dustry.
Investigate Taft's Act.
President Taft's refusal to permit
the submission to Congress of State
department records concerning the
disposition Of $1,000, unaccounted for
In connection with the expenditure of
$3.50 for the painting of a portrait of
ex-Seoretary of State Hay, will be
presented to the House of Represen-
tatives for action.
Representative Hamlin, of Missouri
chairman of the committee on State
Department expenditures, is of the
opinion that while the State Depart
ment may have a secret fund for use
in diplomatic exigencies, it is irregu-
lar for money appropriated for that
purpose to be used otherwise.
Stlmson Declines to Lend Regulars.
Secretary of War Stimson has de-
cllned to comply with the resolution
adopted by the California legislature
requesting that detachments from the
regular army be stationed in the forts
on the rivers of California during July.
August and September, to assist in
preventing and to fight forest fires.
The resolution was presented to the
War Department by Congressman Ba.
ker and the reasons for the depart
ment's refusal to comply are stated in
letter from Secretary Stimson. He
said that if troops were stationed in
the forest reserves of California, sim
liar requests would probably come
from Oregon, Washington, Idaho and
other states having large forest re-
serves. Too many men would be re.
quired for the work during the time
usually devoted to practical maneuy-
ers.
Burned Timber Bill Up.