Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1901-11-22

Panama route, although Mr.. Hep
burns has stated that the govern
ment would not accept it as a
gift, " it must be remembered that
at the time of his conversation with
the President it was known that NJ.
Hutin, president of the Panama
Company, had refused to make
formal proposition to the 18th milan
Canal Commission, and it was be-
lieved that he was acting in a most
unbusinesslike manner. 1t is not
known that M. Hutin has deter
mined to present his proposition
directly to the President, believing
that it would stand a better chance
of fair consideration than it would
have fit had been incorporated in
the already voluminous report Of
the Commission. I understand
that the Commission will report i'll
favor Of the Nicaraguan route, that
it will recommend a canal with a
bottom width of one hundred and
fifty feet and a depth Of thirty live
feet at mean low water the estima-
ted cost being about two hundred
million dollars.
The reciprocity question IS still
attracting the greatest interest, and
the Pre- ident is acquiring an extern
sive knowledge Of the views of the
business men Of the country. He
stated to Mr.. w. o. Smith, of Haw-
ali, a prominent sugar producer,
that he would not favor any reci-
procity arrangement with Cuba
that would prove injurious to the
interests of American sugar pro-
ducers, including in the latter term
the sugar producers Of Louisiana,
Hawaii and Porto Rico, and the
beet sugar growers Of the United
States.
The President, as witnessed by
many recent utterances, is favorable
to reciprocity, where it can be eff
fected 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 his forthcom-
ing message, he will clearly and con
cisely elaborate the situation and
refer the matter of legislation to
Congress.
This opinion, which has been
gaining ground for some time, was
strongly supported by Mr.. Roose
velt's remarks to a delegation
headed by some of the mosi promi-
nent business men of the country,
who recently called on him to ex-
press their views on the subject of
reciprocity and particularly to urge
upon him the careful consideration
Of the ACCESSIBILITY Of negotiating
with Great Britain, a reciprocity
treaty covering our trade with Can
ada. The delegation argued that
Canada was the third largest buyer
of American products in the world
that she bought more than al
South America, Cuba and Mexico
combined, and that her proximity
her business methods, and, in fact
many possibilities of trade with hel
madea reciprocal arrangement mos
desirable. The President listened
very attentively and expressed him
self i'll the most general way as il
favor of reciprocity, but urged the
members of the delegation to SEE
and talk to members of Congress.
saying that "all positive action
would necessarily be taken by til,
legislative branch Of the govern
ment. "
Representative Babcock, of Wis
cOnsin, who has been so emphatic
in his assertions that he woulC
press his bill revising the tariff
schedule on iron and steel products
has made a statement defining hi
position. He says that wher
changed conditions have resulte,
in cheapening the cost of produc
ton so that the present rate of tar
iff is not needed for the protection
of labor he wonld lower the rat
until it was only sufficient to max
up the difference between the COS
of American labor at present wage
and the cost of foreign labor. H
says the protection policy mean
protection to American labor, an
the end and aim of the tariff is til
/ maintenance of the present hig
wages paid to American workmer
: but as soon as the tariff does NOR
than that it becomes a burden o
the people. "The question thi
: Congress will be called upon t
r answer is, will it permit a tart
duty to remain i'll force to enable
: trust to pay dividends on watere
stock, " said Mr.. Babcock. 9Th
: question I have raised will be me
E and want it solved by the Repul
lican party"
Representative Boutell, of Illi1
ois, and member of the House Con
mittee on Coinage, Weights an
Measures, has established himse
|. in Washington for the session. n
e said on the subject of reciprocit
one evening last week, LAS 1 ret
Y ollect it, for the fiscal year endin
!. June goth, 1907, our expor
If amounted to very near 81, 500. 900
$ 900, while our imports were abol
IS 5000, 900, 900, so that our expor
= exceeded our imports by abol
is 5000, 900, 900. Now it does n,
L need argument to show that in o.
5 der to continue this present RAP
rate of expansion of our foreie
e commerce we must be able to tax
more Of the products of the coui
e tries to which our goods are sol,
:. It is simply automatic that we cal
not continue the present dispropo
o tionate ratio between our expor
and imports.
: Merit and merit alone will wi
a appointments in our dependencies.
1t were the words in which the Pre-
ident expressed himself to M
Clinton R Woodruff, Chairman
y the Committee on Dependencies
IL the National Civil Service Reforr