The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1914-02-27
news FROM. OUR
NATIONAL CAPITAL
Senate Ratifies Renewal OF
Treaties With Eight Ma
ti0ns for Five Years.


way, Sweden, Portugal and Switzer-
land, and marked the first step in the
policy of President Wilson.
The treaties, briefly, provide for
reference to The Hague tribunal of
legal differences and questions relat-
ing to the Interpretation of other ex-
listing treaties which cannot be settled
by diplomacy.
No matter affecting the vital inter
ests, independence or honor of the
contracting powers is included in the
scope of these treaties and all dis
putes involving the interests of third
parties also are excluded.
Although the majority for the rati-
fication of the treaties was ovcrwhelm-
ing and the amendment to exempt by
more than two-thirds' vote, Senators
who urge repeal of the tolls exemp-
ton provision insist that these votes
are not significant of the attitude of
the senate on the tolls issue.
States Equity" In Power Recognized.
Assertion of the power of the feder-
al government under the constitution
to control the building of all water
power projects, but recognition of the
equities therein of the states Of the
union-this is the cardinal principle
in the conservation policy of the Will
son administration so far as it affects
the navigable streams of the country.
Secretary Garrison, of the war de-
partment, is the author of the plan,
which has been Endorsed by President
Wilson and the cabinet.
Secretary Garrison, with President
Wilson's approval, will ask for author
ization to issue permits for the con-
struction of water power projects, with
the stipulation that they be issued.
only to concerns Incorporated as pub
lie utilities under state laws and so
restricted that control by monopolistic
corporations will be impossible. To
protect the rights of states, revenues
accruing will go to states, and not to
the federal government. This sug-
gestion is expected to heal the breach
existing between advocates of states
rights and national control of the nat
ural resources of the country.
May Exempt Small Business Concerns
President Wilson indicated to call
ers that he desires that the proposed
be so phrased and adapted to the de-
cisions already rendered by the SUI
preme court of the United States on
the Sherman antitrust law that the
efficiency of that statute shall be
neither impaired nor complicated, but
supplemented.
Mr.. Wilson indicated that serious
consideration has been given in the
framing of the trust legislation to pro-
visions that would protect small bust
ness concerns from statutes prohibit
ing trade arrangements and combina-
tions. He suggested that it was a diff
ficult thing to frame an exemption in
terms of dollars, and for this reason
did not believe it was practicable to
exempt all firms under $5,000,000 in
capitalization from the inquisitorial
process of the interstate trade COM
mission, as had been proposed, but
that some other plan would be worked
out
Would Reorganize Agricultural Dept.
Chairman Lever, of the house com
mittee on agriculture, has completed
the report to the house of the annual
agricultural appropriation bill. 1t ag-
gregates $18,947,O0O exclusive of per-
manent appropriations, an increase of
100000 over last years total.
Many radical changes are proposed
in the measure, including reorganiza-
ton of the weather bureau and prepa-
ration by the secretary of agriculture
Of a plan for reorganizing and sys.
tematizing the department work
Provision for attention to cost OF
living problems is made in several
items. For investigating the prepare
ton for market, handling. grading
packing, freezing, drying, storing and
Transporting of poultry and eggs a
| $4,000 appropriation would be made
National Capital Brevities.
| Application for admission into the
federal reserve banking system has
been made by 71O7 banks representing
| 40 states.
Hearing on new law to regulate
| grazing on honorable lands will be
| held at Washington March 3.
The bill amending the reclamation
act permitting settlers 20 years in
stead of 10 in which to pay for water
was reported favorably by the senate
irrigation committee.
Delegates from every stnte and
province of North America are in at