The Republican journal., 1897-03-25
Our Washington Letter.

ISptCldl Correspondence VI uc
WASHINGTON, March 21, 1897. This
has been week Of stirring and import
ant events in Washington, both as to their
present and prospective effect upon ma
tional affairs and party organization.
Everybody of course knows that Presi-
dent Mckinley sent his message to Con
gress on the first day Of its meeting, and
that it was concise, clear, and business
like. 1t showed the remarkable deficit
under the existing low tariff law and sug-
gested the Importance and necessity of
instant action in the way of not only an
increase in revenue but upon protective
basis. Then it stopped.
The message reached Congress during
the first few hours of its session and, be-
fore that days session had ended, the
House had organized, the Speaker had ap-
pointed WAYS and Means Committee.
the new tariff bill had been introduced
and furnished to every member of Con-
gress, and before sunset of that day call
was issued for a meeting, on the follow
ing day, of the new committee with the
understanding that the bill would be re-
ported back to Congress before the end of
the week and passed by the House be-
fore the end of the month.
Thus the new administration and Con-
gress begin their work of restoring order
and prosperity in vigorous, businesslike
manner. Contrast this action with that of
the Cleveland administration and free
trade Congress. 1t was nine months and
fifteen days from the date of the inaugu-
ration of Cleveland until his free trade
leaders presented their tariff bill in the
House. 1t was nine working days and tif-
teen hours from the time William McKin-
ley was inaugurated President until he
had his protection Congress in session and
the new tariff bill ready for consideration
of its members.
The new bill is based to great extent
upon the Mckinley law, but is much more
advantageous to the farmers than was that
act. This is especially true with reference
to the wool schedule about which the far
mers felt great anxiety. While the rates
of duty named by the bill are the same as
those named in the Mckinley law, a change
in the classification and schedules will pre-
vent the bringing in of woods suitable for
clothing under the carpet wool schedule
as was done under the Mckinley law. This
was the most unsatisfactory feature of the
Mckinley law; that the importers of wool
were able to bring in clothing woods under
fraudulent representations at carpet wool
rates of duty. The new bill takes advan-
tage of the experience of the old one, and
will shut off this fraduleut practice on lie
part OF the wool importers, and thus make
the new law very satisfactory to the wool
producers, while it's other features reia-
tive to farm products will entirely meet
the approval of the farming community.
Speaking of farmers and the attitude of
the new administration and Congress to-
wards them, it is interesting to observe
that members OF Congress are expressing
the highest appreciation of the methods
which the new Secretary of Agriculture is
lnauguraung in the management of that
Department. He is proving happy COM
bination of practical farmer and scientific
student of intelligent agriculture. He has
set on foot system of inquiries and exper.
iments through which he hopes to greatly
diversity the farm products of the country
and Increase very largely the earning ca
pacity OF the farmers, and at the same time
keep at home hundred million dollars of
cold cash which we are now sending abroad
every year. One of his first acts was to
distribute several tons of sugar beet seed,
sending packages to every county in every
State where beet culture seems at all likely
to be successful. These are to be utiliz-
Ell, and the beets which are grown
from them sent to the experiment sta
uons OF the States for analysis, thus
proving basis Of intelligent study
of tie capacity of the various States
tor producing the sugar for which
we now pay to other countries hundred
millions of good money every year. In
many other details of farm work and op-
portunities for Improvement of the class
of farm productions the new Secretary
has already inaugurated new systems.
which will materially increase the earn
ing capacity of the farmers of the coun-
try.
President Mckinley is moving forward
in his preparations for bringing about in
ternational action on the silver question.
He is prompt and businesslike in this as
he is in his action on the question of tariff
and revenue. While a definite plan of
action has not yet been announced, a
statement has been made that he will
probably appoint one or two special com
mlssioners to visit Europe and officially
pave the way for the holding Of au inter
national conference. All indications
point to prompt and intelligent action
upon this subject, based upon the best
information possible as to the method
most likely to be effective.