The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1911-06-16
AFFAIRS AT WASHINGTON, D. c.
Current News of the Week and Events of
Importance in Which the State of Wash
i0gtOn Figures
Washington, D. c., June II.

| OurlDR the ulSCuSSlOn OI tHt ISSoIu-
ton fixing the manner in which a com
mittee was to be named to reinvesti-
gate the charges against Senator Lori
mer OF Illinois, Mr.. Poindexter addressed
the senate, discussing the legal phases
OF the situation, together with the prin-
ciples involved in conducting satisiac-
tory investigations. He criticised the
committee on Privileges and Elections as
to the course pursued by them in the
previous hearing. He stated that he
desired to go on record, not through
any personal objection, or with any re-
hection upon members OF the commit
tee, to referring this inquiry to com
mittee which entertained such views as
to the relevancy of the great mass OF
evidence in the case as shown by the
first report. He went on to say further
that the committee, after long in
quiry, consuming a number of weeks,
came to the conclusion that men who
sold their votes in the Legislature of Hi
nois were infamous and unreliable. Of
course they were infamous and unrelia-
| BILE. The committee seems TO have
proceeded upon the theory-and base
this upon a careful examination Of the
report-that everything that these wit
nesses said was true except their admis-
sions that they had been bribed. The
committee takes up the case of the four
members of the Legislature of Illinois
who had confessed that theywere bribed.
Ordinarily the confession of man that
he had been bribed is entitled TO Gre
dence. That is in harmony with the
theory of evidence, because it is de-
claration against interest. After re-
viewing the entire action of the first
committee, Mr.. Poindexter concluded
| by saying: 1t is strange, consequently,
to me that they would be pleading in
person with the senate to refer this case
to them. II l were in their position l
would be glad to be relieved of it; and
l think, as a matter of fact, they would
be. II is no reflection on them to refer
it to a new committee" He advocated
and favored the resolution presented by
Senator LaFollette for a special com
mittee to investigate the Lorimer case.
While the position OF the progressives
did not prevail in the action of the SEN
ate as to the manner Of naming an in
vestigating committee, yet it resulted
it subcommittee being chosen under
gentleman's agreement" after prac-
tically the same manner intended by
the LaFollette resolution. Or, in other
words, Mr.. Poindexter and his branch
of the party were victorious; but the
regulars claimed all the credit
The lumber interests OF the Pacific
Coast were represented in the hearings
before the finance committee of the
senate upon the subject OF reciprocity
with Canada, by Mr. Everett G. Griggs
of Tacoma, Mr.. John C. McCaster oi
Seattle, and Mr.. ]. H. Bloedel of Bel
lingham. These gentlemen in the
course of their testimony gave some
astounding statistics in regard to the
lumber operations OF the West, and
there is no question but what the i'm
preston left by them was very favor
able-much more so than that of other
lumbermen from the middle West who
have come here under the cloud oI
representing the so-called lumber trust.
The gentlemen occupied the greater
portion OF one day, and were closely
questioned as to their statements by
senators who were serving on the Fl
nance Committee, and there is no doubt
that in the final disposition Of Canadian
reciprocity arguments made by them
will command considerable weight in
disposing OF legislation.
The Democrats have fixed upon a
program for large reductions in the
wool schedule of tariff, and the Under
wood bill is now before the house oi
representatives A small degree oi
protection is given by the bill which
the Democratic leaders think will be
sufficient not to bankrupt the treasury
as occurred in the Cleveland days.
News comes from Ohio to the effect