The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1920-10-29
WEBSTER ADMITS
POLITICAL CHARGE
TELLS HOW HE HAS, REPRE-
SENTED SPECIAL INTERESTS
DURING HIS CONGRESSIONAL
TERM.

SPOKANE. Oct. l.-Congressman
J. Stanley Webster, who has been
charged with being the class repre-
sentative of special interests while
serving in congress, has issued the
following statement:
My democratic opponent has been
pleased throughout his campaign to
characterize me as a representative
of special interests. While general
ties are never convincing they are
2lwayS difficult to combat. If Mr..
Fleming would he little more spec
ifiic and enumerate some of the speci-
al interests thav he pretends | have
represented | could more intelligent
ly make my defense. However. I
shall mention few special interests
that I plead guilty to having repre-
sented
Il secured an appropriation Of
S666000 for the relief of the Okla
rogan Irrigation project near 0mak.
The money is now on deposit in the
federal treasury to the credit of that
project and will absolutely guarantee
It's salvation. It may be that the or
charists on 5000 acres of land will
benefit by this appropriation compro-
mise, according to Mr.. Fleming. a
special interest class
81 secured the enactment of bill
eXempting unpatented mining claims
from the 500 assessment work dur
ing 1919. Are the prospectors who
enjoyed the benefit of that statute a
special class?
II secured the enactment of stat
ute extending for three years the
time for making installment pay
ments by homesteaders on the Col
vile reservation, thus protecting them
against three consecutive droughts
and avoiding the forfeiture by them
of their equity in the land I wonder
il this law will be classed a a special
interest.
"In conjunction with Congressman
Hadley I secured the passage of \
hill providing a protective tariff of SIS
per ton on magnesite. this duty repre-
sentng the difference in the cost #
production of magnesite in America
and in Austria where men prior to
the war worked in the quarries for
10 cents a day and women doing a
mans work received II cents a day
This tariff, when passed by the sem
ate. will preserve the magnesite in
dustry of Stevens county, represent
ing an investment of more than $780,.
900 and will give permanent en-
ployment to 400 men at an average
wage of S5.75 per day. This is an
other of the special interests which
has profted by my brief service in
congress.
81 secured the enactment of bills
authorizing Pend Oreille county to
construct two bridges over the Pend
Oreille river. One of the bridges is
already in use. These bills should be
catalogued in the special interest class
FOR the special convenien4 of the
people Of Pend Oreille county in
Eastern Washington.
an conjunction with Senator Jones
| secured recognition of a tax claim
ia favor of Stevens and Ferry coua-
ties of long standing and the secre-
tary of the interior was directed to
report to Congress on the first Mon
day of December the amount due to
these counties. This will render easy
the obtaining of an appropriation to
cover the amount which I am reliably
informed will approximate S275.000
l presume this bill would be labeled
"A bill in the special interest of the
taxpayers of Stevens and Ferry coun-
ties
"With the assistance of Congress
man Summers. I induced the house
committee on coinage. weights and
measures, to eliminate from the CON-
mittee bill a provision adopting the
50 called dry bushel' standard for
apple boxes. This section of the bill
would have stopped any further use
of the apple box now in general use
in the Northwest and would have in
volved great inconvenience and a ser
icus loss to our orchardists. This
presume is a bill in the special inter-
est of the fruit growers.
81 secured the adoption of an
amendment To the war risk insuranc.
act giving to the parents and loved
ones Of American soldiers who gave
M their lives for their country an al
lowance of 500 to cover the expense
Of burying their dead during the six
months intervening between our dec
laration of war and the enactment Of
the war risk insurance act. I wonder
= this amendment will be called a
measure in the special interest of the