Middletown transcript., 1901-11-23
WASHINGTON LETTER.

promptly ratified, that the Canal bill will
! be passed Immediately thereafter and
that work may be begun on the Isthnlian
canal at the earliest possible date, and,
by inference, he has indicated that he
does not consider the Panama route as
revuiring further consideration. These
views were expressed in conversation
J with Representative Hepburife, Chair
man of the Committee on Interstate and
Foreign Commerce, and with Representa-
tive Sherman of the same Committee.
With regard to the Panama route, al
though Mr.. Hepburne has stated that the
government "wonld not accept it as q
gift" it must be remembered that at the
/, time of his conversation with the Presi-
dent, it was known that NJ. Hutin, presi
dent of the Panama Company had re-
fused to make a formal proposition to
the Isthmian Canal Commission, and it
was believed that be was acting in most
unbusinesslike manner. 1t is now known
that M. Hutia has determined to present
his proposition directly to the President,
believing thes it would stand a better
, chance OF fair consideration than it would
have if it had been incorporated in the
already voluminous report Of the Gem
mission. / understand that the Commis-
sion will report in favor of the Nicara-
guam route, that it will recommend a
canal with bottom width of one hum
dred and fifty feet and depth of thirty
five feet at mean low water, the esti-
mated cost being about two hundred
million dollars.
~
The reciprocity question is still attract
ing the greatest interest and the President
is acquiring an extensive knowledge Of
the views Of the business men of the
country. He stated to Mr. W o. Smith |
Hawaii, prominent sugar producer, that |
he would not favor any reciprocity ar
rangement with Cuba that would prove
injurious to the interests OF American
sugar producers, including in the latter
term the sugar producers of Louisiana
Hawaii and Porto Rico, and the best
sugar growers of the United States.
-
The President, as witnessed by many /
recent utterances, is favorable to recipro-
city where it can be effected without
injury to American industry, but the
conviction is daily gaining strength that
he does not propose to perform the duties
of Congress and that in bis forthcoming
message, he win clearly and concisely
elaborate the situation and refer the mat
ter OF legislation to Congress.
*x*
Representative Babcock, of Wisconsin,
who has been so emphatic in his asser-
tions that he would press his bill revising
the tariff schedule on iron and steele pro-.
ducts, has made statement defining his
position. He says that where changed
conditions have resulted in cheapening
the cost of production so that the present
rate Of tariff is not needed for the pro-
lection of labor he would lower the rate
until it was only sufficient to make up
the difference between the cost of Ameri-
can labor at present wages and the cost of
foreign labor. He says the protection
policy means protection to american
labor and the end and aim Of the tariff is
the maintenance Of the present high
wages paid tozAmerican workmen, but as
soon as the tariff does more than that it
becomes burden on the people. The
question this Congress will be called upon
to answer is, will it permit tariff duty
to remain in force to enable a trust to pay
dividends on watered stock" said Mr..
Babcock. The queetion have raised
win be met and want it solved by the
Republican party"
*x*
This opinion, which has been gaining
ground for some time, was strongly sup
ported by Mr.. Roosevelt's remarks to a
delegation headed by some OF the most
prominent business men of the country,
who recently called on him to express
their views on the subject of reciprocity,
and particularly to urge upon him the
careful consideration of the advisability
of negotiating with Great Britain. reci-
procity treaty covering our trade with
Canada. The delegation argued that
Canada was the third largest buyer of
American products in the world, that she
bought more than all South America,
Cuba and Mexico combined, and Tllat her
proximity, her business methods and, in
fact, many possibilities Of trade with her
made reciprocal arrangement most de-
sirable, The President listened very
attentiEely and expressed himself in The
most general way as in favor Of reciaroc-
itg, but urged the members of the dele-
CATION to see and talk to. members of
Coneress saying that an positive action
would necessarily be taken by the iegis. /
latiye BRANCH of the goyernment,'s
Representative Boutell, OF Illinois and
member of the House Committee ON
Coinage, Weights and Measures has es.
tablished himself in Washington for the
ssssion. He said on the subject of reci-
procity, one evening last week, "As / |
recollect it, for the fiscal year ending
June 3Oth, 1901, our exports amounted
to very nearly 81, 800, ,OOO, 600, while our
imports were about 5000, ,OO0, 900 80 that
our exports exceeded our imports by
about $780, 000. 900. Now it does not
need argument to show that in order to
continue this present rapid rate Of ex-
pansion of our foreign commerce we must
be able to take more of the products of
the countries to which our goods are
sold. It is simply axiomatic that we
cannot continue the present disprppor-
Tomato ratio between our exports an +
mports.