The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1920-10-22
GUILT TO Be. PROUD Of
How Judge Webster Helped
the Special Interests" Dur.
ing First Term In Congress

VINO mas Deen charged with being the
class representative of special inter-
ests while serving in congress-. has 10.
sued the following statement:
My democratic opponent has been
pleased throughout his campaign to
characterize me as a representative of
special interests. While generalities
are never convincing they are always
difficult to combat. II Mr.. Fleming
would be trifle more specific and
enumerate some of the special inter-
ests that he pretends that have rep
resented | could more intelligently
make my defense. However, I shall
mention few special interests that I
plead guilty to having represented.
Il secured an appropriation Of $685..
600 for the relief of the Okanogan Irri-
CATION project near Omak. The money
is now on deposit in the federal treas.
ury to the credit of that project ana
will absolutely guarantee its salvation.
1t may be that the orchardists ON 5000
acres of land who will benefit by this
appropriation comprise, according to
Mr.. Fleming, special interest class.
Il secured the enactment of a bill
eXempting unpatented mining claimS
from the $100 assessment work during
1919. Are the prospectors who enjoyed
the benefit of that statute a special In.
terest class?
Il secured the enactment Of q statute
extending for three years the time for
making instalment payments by home
steaders on the Colville reservation,
thus protecting them against three
consecutive droughts and avoiding the
forfeiture by them of their equity in
the land. wonder If this law will be
classed as special interest.
In conjunction with Congressman
Hadley ] secured the passage OF bill
providing a protective tariff Of SIS per
ton on magnesite, this duty represent
ing the difference in the cost Of pro-
ducton of magnesite in America and In
Austria where men prior to the war
worked in the quarries for 70 cents q
day and women doing a mans work
received IL cents day. This tariff.
when passed by the senate, will pre.
serve the magnesite industry of Stew
ems county, representing an investment
of more than 100000 and will give
permanent employment to 400 mon at
an average wage of $5.75 per day. This
is another of the special interests
which has profited by my brief service
in congress.
Il secured the enactment of bills
authorizing Pend Oreille county to
construct two bridges over the Pend
Oreille river. One of the bridges is al
ready in use. These bills should be
catalogued in the special interest class
for the special convenience of the peo.
pie of Pend Oreille county and eastern
Washington.
In conjunction with Senator Jones
| secured recognition of a tax claim
in favor of Stevens and Ferry counties
OF long standing and the secretary of
the interior was directed to report to
congress on the first Monday of De-
cember the amount due these counties.
This will render easy the obtaining of
an appropriation to cover the amount
which | am reliably informed will ap-
proximate $275,0O0. l presume this bill
would be labeled "a bill in the special
interest of the taxpayers of Stevens
and Ferry Counties
with the assistance Of Congress-
man Summers, I induced the house
committee on coinage, weights ana
measures, to eliminate from the COM
mittee bill provision adopting the
SO called dry bushel standard for ap-
pie boxes. This section of the bin
would have stopped any further use of
the apple box now in general use in
the Northwest and would have involv
ed great inconvenience and serious
loss to our orchardists. This, presume
is bill in the special interests of the
fruit growers.
Il secured the adoption of an am
endment to the war risk insurance act
giving to the parents and loved ones
OF American soldiers who gave IN
their lives for their country an allow
ance OF 800 to cover the expense Of
burying their dead during the six
months intervening between our de-
laration of war and the enactment tf
the war risk insurance act. I wonder
II this amendment will be called a
measure in the special interest of the
bereaved families Of American sold
iers.
IF the foregoing measures come
within Mr.. Fleming's definition of
special interests I willingly plead
guilty and express regret that my in
experience was such that I could not
bring about the passage of additional
legislation of similar character"