Weekly journal-miner., 1913-05-21
Journal-Miner Bureau, Washing ion, D. C., May 10.
 BY ] E. JONES.

Oughly aroused over the tariff Situa ton was emphasized by the protest of western senators and representa- tives of the Democratic persuasion who called on the president a few days ago to protest against the sche. dulles of the Underwood bill affect ing the agricultural interests of their sections of the county. Opposition to the free sugar program of the Administration has arisen in a new quarter on account of the effect it will have on the settlement and cul- 1ivation of irrigated lands in the west. Those who are interested in the development of reclamation have made strong protest to Senators Smith and Ashurst against any tariff enactment destructive of the sugar beet industry. Reclamation is strong ]y represented in the capital at the present time, men interested in the various projects having been sum- rnoned here to confer with Secretary Lane It is asserted that under free sugar, the thousands of acres now in sugar beets, and which would be planted in beets in the future under conditions permitting this industry to expand, must go into fruit, alfalfa and other general farm products, ghich will result in glutting the market which is already on the verge of oversupply" The great problems of transportation in connection with western development are cited, and 1he difficulties of an export crop are 10 be multiplied by the tariff enact ment regarding western production, and particularly in the attack on the sugar beet industry, as there is no crop that can be more successfully raised in rotation with the other crops of the west.
 Reputations Quickly Made in the
 Senate.
 In the Senate the other day, MT. Thomas, the new solon from Colo rado, wanted to make a speech, whereupon it transpired that a num- Der of other Senators appeared very anxious to get action on sundry matters before he began, asking the gentleman from Colorado to give them time to dispose of the matters before he opened the gates of ora tory. The veteran gallery specta- tors easily read the reason. Thomas has already acquired reputation for being Hong winded," and his col leagues do not always feel that they want to hear him out.
 Presents Great Road Plan.
 With the general use of automo- piles throughout the country the de- mand for better roads is more in sistent every day. In former times the old horse could pull through the mud and slush, and get to town and back to keep the larder from getting empty, but some tens of thousands of automobiles after having been stuck in the mud have given up the idea of defying bad roads. So the good roads problem is very much of a live issue, and former Senator Bourne in a report based upon ex- haustive investigation of the sub ject, proposes to meet the question m all its fullness. He wants an ex- penditure of three billions of dollars, of which one-third is to be for build ing and two-thirds for maintenance, the amount extending over a period of fifty years. The plan would cov- cr the country.
 The Length of the Session.
 It is at this period of the year, with the tariff bill out of the House and in the Senate, that the regular inquiries are made as to when Con- gress will adjourn. The history of recent years answers, and demon strates that nothing short of the sweltering hot weather of late July and early August is sufficient to choke off the orators of the Senate. When the great statesmen begin melting down four linen collars day they always pass the remaining bills, and adjourn in hurry.
 Revising the Tariff.
 Scene: House of Representatives, rather stifling from hot air. About one-fourth of the 7,500 employees of the nation present, the usual per centage of absentees accounted for by base ball games, spring fever, constitutional ennui, and other ne .cessary Congressional evils. Mis-