The Ontario Argus. (Ontario, Or.) 1???-1947, 1913-05-01
NEWS FROM OUR
NATIONAL CAPITAL
Closing Debate on Tariff Bill Is
Marked by a Flood
Of 0ratory

Washington.-Genera debate on the
Democratic tariff bill In the house
wound up in final outburst Of ora
tory. Democrats passed the day laud
Ing the measure, while alternately Re
publicans and Progressives attacked
Its provisions.
The house, weary after a week OF
tariff oratory, did not produce nu.
merous attendance and most of the
speeches of the day were made to
empty benches. However, Represen.
tative Payne, of New York, the rank.
Ing Republican member Of the ways
and means committee and the father
OF the present tariff law. had a good.
sized audience to listen to his denun-
citation OF the bill. He painted vivid
word-picture Of ruined industry and
impoverished labor which he present
ed as the Inevitable result of the Un.
derwood bill.
Representative Murdoch. the Pro.
gressive leader, criticised the tariff
policy Of both Democrats and Republi-
cans. He said the Underwood bill was
an unreliable, chaotic tumble Of in.
consistencies." and urged that the tar.
III be placed In the hands Of q non
partisan tariff commission. "If this
bill passes." he said, before Christ.
mas Its sponsors will be offering
amendments.
Republican Senators Decide Policy
BY unanimous vote the republican
senate caucus agreed there should be
no general reprisal on President VIII
son for the democratic hoidup OF the
Taft nominations In the last session
OF congress, but that republican oppo-
sition would be shown in the follow.
Ing cases:
In appointments TO the consular ser
vice or the minor diplomatic posts.
such as secretaries OF embassies or
legations. where the merit system 70.
sorted to by ex.Presidents Roosevelt
aud Taft was not followed.
Where vacancies are created by 70.
movals from office which carry fixed
tenure. unless made for cause. and
particularly where removals are made
from offices which require technical
or special knowledge.
Expert ArraIsns Forest Service
A scathing indictment OF the present
day management OF the forest service
is contained In memorandum filed
with the secretary OF agriculture by
Daniel w. Adams. who. after five years
as expert lumberman In the forestry
bureau. voluntarily retires to engage
In private business. Impracticability.
bad business management. improvi.
dence. and an excess Of bureaucratic
methods are the general charges he
makes. Mr.. Adams gives names. cites
instances and ref,rs TO records to sub
stantiate his chprges.
Railroads Gain Point
The commerce court upheld the In. |
terstate commerce commissions or.
ders In the Shreveport. Tex. rate cases
and In many respects sustained prin-
ciples which the railroads are asking |
the supreme court to adopt In the 45.
state rate cases now awaiting decis- !
lon. The powers OF congress and the
Interstate commerce commission to re-
move discrimination caused by a state
railroad rates lower than interstate
rates which have been held to be rea-
Value Of Railroads TO Be Fixed
The interstate commerce commits
sion announced that II has about com.
pleted the personnel of the board of
engineers. who will place q physical
value on all railroads.
Tentative values. fixed by the board.
will be submitted TO the railroads. the
department. OF justice and the COVER
iors OF states wherein the properties
ire located. II no protest is filed with
n 80 days the value becomes final.
Where protests are filed, the inter
Itate commerce commission will make
public Investigations.
National Capital erevltles
Important improvements and exten-
lions are to be made in the postal
,ank system. according to an an
made by the postmaster
general
Former Governor George Curry OF
Sew Mexico. is reported TO have been
elected by President Wilson as the
irst member OF the new Philippine
Senator Jones OF Washington has
q -.