The Newport miner. [volume] (Newport, Wash.) 1899-current, 1912-04-18
NEWS FROM OUR
NATIONAL CAPITAL
Big Cuts in Wool Rate THROUGH
out the Northwest Are
Ordered.

down by the interstate commerce COM
mission ordered big reductions in
rates on wool, hides and pelts from
points west of the Mississippi river
to points east.
The commission ruled that the pres
ent rates were unreasonable. The de-
cision also orders that the present
blanket system" of freight charges
on wool be supplanted by graded
freight rates and prescribes lower
rates for baled wool. The ruling al
lows western growers to bale their
own products and in addition to estab-
fishing cheaper carload rates, it gives
intermediate cities the privilege of
cleaning and treating wool in transit.
The present rate of 81 on wool from
Pacific coast terminals to Boston and
other points on the Atlantic seaboard
will be continued in effect, notwith-
standing that this rate is materially
higher than the rate from intermediate
points inland. The commission speci-
fcally declares that this rate Of 81 is
forced upon railroads by actual water
competition.
Pointed Warning Sent To Mexico
Warning was issued by the United
States to the Mexican government, as
well as General Pascual Orozco, chief
of the revolutionary forces, that the
United States expects and must de-
mand that American life and property
within the Republic of Mexico must be
justly and adequately protected, and
that this government must hold Mex
leo and the Mexican people RESPONSE
BILE for all wantOn or Illegal acts sacri-
ficing or endangering American life
or endangering American property or
interests.
Orozco recently refused to recognize
Mr. Letcher as the American Consular
representative because the United
States withheld recognition of the
rebel cause. The representations to
Orozco accuse him Of practical MUIR
DER of Thomas Fountain, an Ameri-
can gunner enlisted with the federals
but summarily put to death last week
when taken prisoner by the insurrec-
tOs
Popular Election of Senator Possible.
Senator Borah is confide2t that the
present session of congress will not
adjourn until an agre~ It has been
reached upon the joil - button pro-
viding for the election OF senators by
direct vote of the people. The dead
lock has continued for some months,
but it now looks as if the house would
recede from it's position that the con-
troll of the election of senators shall
be taken from the federal government.
Bill For Rail Line in Alaska
Governmental construction and
equipment of a thousand miles of rail-
road in Alaska and the establishment
of a naval coal supply base off it's
shores are advocated in a bill intro
duced in the senate. The bill calls
for an Alaskan railroad commission to
aid the president in building the line.
1t also provides for the acquisition of
existing railroads in Alaska and rights
of way by lease and condemnation.
The interstate commerce commission
is empowered to control the railroads
operations.
Railroads Fear Panama Laws
Washington is just beginning to re
alize that the railroad and steamship
legislation pending in congress pre-
sents an issue almost as important as
the tariff The most radical proposals
made since the enactment of the Hep
burn bill are contained in the Adam
son bill, forbidding railroads to own
any interests in steamship lines with
which they may compete for traffic,
and in the Humphrey bill, excluding
from American ports any foreign ships
which may be part of a foreign
steamship pool.
If no other sign existed of the i'm
portance of these proposals, one demo
cratic and one inspired by the admin
istration, it would be indicated by the
recent visits of eminent railroad men
to the White House.
National Capital Brevities
The president has signed the bill to
tax white PHOSPHORUS matches. 1t is
asserted the law will in effect pro-
hibit their manufacture
The interstate commerce commits
sion holds that there is no substantial
reason why mohair should be required
to pay a higher rate than wool.
A new order issued by President
Taft permits federal service employees
to present petitions to congress or
any of the committees through the
heads of their departments.
Testifying before the senate finance
committee, Huntington Wilson, acting
secretary of state, said that the free
e,oor hill would moan the abrOgatiOn