The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1912-01-19
AFFAIRS AT WASHINGTON.

Curry and Ferguson, have arrived In
the capital, and are preparing to as.
sumo their official duties. The
turning of New Mexico into a state
has been completed, and with the
work to be done by the legislature
this winter in selecting its senators,
the task that has extended over six
ty years, will be completed. Honor
able William H. Andrews, who has
been the delegate for many years, is
expected to return to Washington as
the first senator. From a territory
with one representative without even
a vote to two members in each
branch of congress, is a long step for
ward, and patient New Mexico will
doubtless appreciate the change.
The friends of Judge Hook, of
Kansas, who is known to have been
seriously considered by the president
for the vacancy on the supreme court
bench, have been insisting that the
protests that have been coming to the
white house against the appointment,
be treated according to what they are
worth, and Senator Curtis, who is as
close to the president as anyone in
Washington, has asked Mr.. Taft to
review the Oklahoma railroad fare
decision, which is the great objection
urged against Judge Hook, and to
decide as a judge whether or not the
Kansas jurists was right in declaring
that a two-cent passenger fare in Ok
lahoma would be "confiscatory."
Attorney General Wickersham, who
is known to be a strong factor in the
appointment, is urging Secretary Ma
gle with great vigor, while the friends
of Judge Swayze, of New Jersey, have
taken hope that the complication of
matters arising out of the Hook af-
fairs, will be to their interests.
Senator Stone of Missouri, has
started the ball rolling in the upper
chamber to discredit the tariff board
and as fore-shadowed in this COR
respondence two weeks ago the Dem
ocrats are planning on keeping the
country demanding a revision of
Schedule K while they 60 ahead with
other tariff legislation, meanwhile
playing the subterfuge that they are
comparing the tariff board findings
with their own little bunch of data.
Meanwhile the tariff board is to be
attacked in every possible manner,
keeping up the agitation with only
negative results in the way of legis-
lation until about the time of the ma
tional conventions this summer.
There is certainly nothing slow about
the political methods of the leaders
of this congress.
=
Representative burton L. French
has introduced two important bills re-
the navigable streams of Ida
no. One of the measures provides
$4,000 shall be appropriated for an
investigation of the conditions of st.
Joe and st. Marie's rivers, the pur-
pose being to secure government aid
% rip-rap the sides of the streams
where the erosion has been produced
through the movement of boats, thus {
maintaining free navigation. The Sec !
bill provides an appropriation of '
5000 for removing the large 6
of distractions in the Koote-
lai river between Bonner's Ferry and i
he Canadian line.
Among western visitors of note '
the week was w. G.. Conrad, 4
# Montana, who expressed the view
hat President Taft would secure the t
republican support of the state. Mr.. P
'onrad is nursing a small vice pres S
ambition, and as he is a il
Democrat he cuddled close to the r
lark movement while here. t
The presidents peace treaties will
emain a live issue before the Senate q
nd the country. The opponents of b
atification have recently emphatical- Fl
Y declared that they have been mis- n
epresented in their position, and that V
hey stand for worldwide peace, and r.
lat their difference in viewpoint n
rom that of the president concerns tt
question of national policy and g
Colonel Roosevelt declares 81
under the treaty such questions el
the Monroe doctrine and the adj Il
n