The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1912-09-19
FRENCH TELLS ABOUT
WORK OF CONGRESS
DISCUSSES LEGISLATION ENACT
Ed AND ACTIVITY OF IDA
HOS DELEGATION.
Praises Senator Boreh and Believes
Act Reducing Period Of Residence
Upon Homesteads Will Have a Very
Beneficial Effect

Briefly reviewing the work of con.
sress so far as important Legislation
enacted is concerned and calling the
attention of electors i'm Idaho to the
TACT that ii will be up to the twelfth
session of the Idaho legislature to rat
ify the amendment passed by congress
providing for the direct election of
United States senators, Burton l..
French congressman from Idaho, gave
| out an interview at his home in Mos
COW following his return to Idaho from
Washington of interest to the people
1T large Congressman French points
cut that only the untiring efforts of
Senator Borah succeeded in passing the
}-year homestead law.
Congressman French was given a
handsome endorsement at the recent
primaries and goes before the electors
IN Idaho at the general election stand
ing upon his record. II is freely pre-
ticted his reelection is almost a Ger
ainty His interview is as follows.
Some Good Accomplished.
while, for many reasons the ses-
sion was unsatisfactory, there were
accomplished some things that mean
for good of the country generally.
among the important fruits of the
session must be mentioned the pass
lge of the amendment to the constitu-
ton, looking to the election of sena-
tors by direct vote: the passage of a
corrupt practices act, as applied to,
senator's and representatives; the act
granting free tolls to the American
ships through the Panama canal
when such ships shall be engaged in
coastwise trade and not owned by the
competing railroads; laws authorizing
patents to homesteaders and desert
land entrymen on reclamation projects
md the Borah act reducing the period
IF residence upon homesteads from
10 years.
This latter act is not in as good
'hape as it was when it was introduced
~ Senator Borah and it was a hard
natter to pass it any form. 1t is
rowing a great relief to homesteaders
all sections where there is no tim
ger or nnderbrush the requirements as
o cultivation can be satisfactorily met
However, where there is some timber
brush to be cleared the homestead
r is not able to clear as much as the
NV requires every year and the secre-
ary has been given power to modify
his feature of the law. If he does not
choose to do this and substitute other
Improvements in lieu of the
cultivation required. we propose to
oush through an amendment that will
meet the situation in sections where
imber or brush must be cleared away. !
Up to Legislature.
"The passage of the popular election
f senators amendment is one of the
riumphs of recent years for popular
ontrol and l want to see it ratified by
ur state legislature next winter. as
'eieve it will be-.
"The act granting free tolls to Am
'rican ships through the Panama
anal when engaged in coastwise trade ,
will mean for the tremendous advant-
lge of Idaho and the northwest and |
he canal will become a great regulator
'f trans continental shipping rates as
t ought to be.
"Other important measures were
passed but these are among the most
important to the west and I am glad
o have had part in their accomplish
nent.
Mrs. French and I are both glad to
'e at home again and feel as we al
Ways do on reaching Idaho that there
5 no place like home"