Gilpin observer., 1901-06-27
&SiisL5GE GE&EESEAGEEE
WASHINGTON LETTER.
! From Our Regular Correspondent
Washington, D. c., June "a, 1901.

Inc president VIII nave W De uiupiio
in the tariff contest that has been start
ed in advance of the meeting of congress
by the announcement of an extra ses-
sion of the Porto Rican legislature to
enact a memorial to the president show
ing the revenues from internal taxation
to be sufficient to meet the expenses OF
the government and asking that he issue
a proclamation declaring free trade be-
as provided by the Foraker act. The
carrying out of the Foraker act is com
pulsory on the president when he is con-
vinced that the island has enough rev.
enue, but he may if SO disposed, be hard
to convince" that the revenues of the
island exclusive of tariff duties will be
sufficient. That is why there is con
test. 1t is being fought over Porto Rico
because of the fear of the sugar and
tobacco interests that free trade with
Porto Rico will only be an entering
wedge, to be followed with free trade
with all the rest of our island posses
ions. Even if the opponents of free
trade succeed ia getting the president
to decline to issue the proclamation,
they would only postpone free trade with
Porto Rico few months, as the For
aker act provides that all the duties i'm
posed thereby shall be abolished March
/, 1902. They know that, and are max
ing the fight for the purpose of getting
the question agitated by the time con-
gress assemblies, and they doubtless eE
terrain the hope that if they can get the
president to Withhold his proclamation,
they can get the Foraker act amended
before next March.
Both governments still insist that
there is no tariff war on between the
stubborn things and they can be seen
through the unofficial as well as the Off
cial eye. First, the United States put
retaliating duty on Russian sugar,
ment of an export bounty on Sugar
by Russia made itcompulsory under our
law. Russia denied paying sugar
! bounty and proceeded to jump the
duties en- American machinery. Then
this government found out that Russia
was collecting a.duty on American pc
troleum and proceeded to place a duty
on Russian petroleum. Now Russia has
hit back by increasing the duty on
American resin and bicycles, and the
end is rot yet. The governments can
tell what they I,lease but there can be
no doubt in theunofficial mind that it is
tariff war. The Russian ambassador
frankly admits that his government is
paying this government back in kind,
but says that .swar" and retaliation"
are terms too harsh to be used. He said
further: "Each government is undoubt-
edly acting according to its view OF what
the situation requires, and not in any
spirit-ef antagonism. America is reco-
gnized as a great commercial nation, and
the splendid products of it's industry
and invention are welcomed to Russia
products shall be mutual and reciprocal
and if this view prevails there is no
doubt that American goods will continue
to be welcomed in Russia" This gov.
ernmeut cannot make another move
4 against Russia without the action oi
congress.
/ Lieut.. Colonial Reber, who is the SON
in.law OF General Miles and a member
of his staff, who has long enjoyed the
reputation of being an electrical expert
is said by.oilicers of the signal corps tc
have perfected system of wireless tel
egraphy that is better than Marconi's
and does not encroach upon that system
10 any particular. Under the advice of
General Grsely, chief signal officer, Col
| Beber declines to talk for publication
about his system,
Senator jones' OF Arkansas the min.
ority leader i2 the senate, who is in
Washington, says the talk of closure
rule for the senate, Mt the last session
was nothing more than bit OF humoi
on the part Of Senator Platt, and that
he doesn't expect it TO be seriously
brought forward at the next session o!
congress.
Commissioner Evans still remains al
the head of the pension bureau although
some influential politions are after his
scalp. Senator Burton, Of Kansus, is
taking an active part in the effort that
is being made to have ono of his con.
stituents made commissioner OF patents
Mr.. Evans says he has not resigned and
does not Intend to resign unless request
to by the president.
The president OF the American Pro