The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1914-02-26
NEWS FROM OUR
NATIONAL CAPITAL
Senate Ratifies Renewal of
iTreaties With Eight Ma.
tions for Five Years.

e0 4oT i've years agreements with
Great Britain, Japan. Italy, Spain, Nor
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 10 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 ovcrwheim-
ing and the amendment to exempt by
more ttan twothirds' vote, Senators
who urge repeal of the tolls excmp-
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-
a government under tie 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 il affects
the navigable streams of the country.
Secretary Garrison, of the war de-
partment, is the author of the plan,
which has been indorsed 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
bills dealing with the trust problem
be so phrased and adapted to the de-
cisions already rendered by the Su-
preIne 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 busi-
ness concerns from statutes prohibit
ing trade arrangements and combina-
tions. He suggested that it was diff
ficult thing to frame an exemption in
terms OF dollars, and for this reason
did not believe IL was practicable to
exempt all firms under s5.000,o00 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 Reoresnixe 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 as-
gregates slS,947.000 exclusive OF per-
manent appropriations, an increase OF
1850 900 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 prepara-
ton for market, handling, grading
packing, freezing, drying, storing and
transporting of poultry and eggs
$50 900 appropriation would be made.
National Capita srevities.
Application for admission into the
federal reserve banking system has
been made by 7107 banks representing
- states.
Hearing on new law TO regulate
GRAZING on non-arable lands Will be
hsla at Washington March 3.
The bill amending the reclamation
ar, nermitting settlers 20 years In
stead of 10 in which to pay for water
xss reported favorsbly by the senate
irrigation committee
'pslegs,es from every stats ana