Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-24
Senator Cullom on Denmark s
Recent Action.
COURSES TO BE TAKEN
POSSIBLE TARIFF REVISION AND
TRUST LEGISLATION.
Sherman Law May Be Amended
Commission May Be Authorized
Expects a Republican House.

a. The failure OF the Danish government to
ratfy the treaty confirming the sale of the
Danish West India Islands to the United
States need cause no concern the part
of this government far the ultimate
contamination of the transa ction is con-
cerned. This is the opinion of Senator Shelby
M CulIom of Illinois. chairman of the Sen
ate committee foreign relations ex-
pressed to Star today.
We will eventually buy the islands,,
continued the senator I'VE will certainly
see that no other nation acquires title to
them, as this doctrine we have announced
to all the world. Neither Will we pay more
than the purchase price mentioned in the
present treaty, s5,0o0,0o0. And when the
'ins and outs get through playing ping
pong with this treaty and using it simply
as instrument to further or defeat local
political ends, it will be ratified and the sale
confirmed.
Replying a quest on to whether the
recent failure on the part of the Danish
landsthins to ratify the treaty would make
the drafting of new treaty necessary, the
senator said that there were several courses
which might be followed.
'If the situation should change in Den
mark and an indication given before the
18th of March that the treaty might be rati-
fed some time in the near future an extern
sion OF the treaty might be made SO as to
give them another chance. Then we could
make a supplemental treaty. may be
that il will be necessary to make an entire
ly new treaty. There were some members
OF the United States Senate who were not
particularly favorable to some provisions of
the present treaty, as indicated when the
matter was laid before that body at the
last session, but at the same lime there was
no serious opposition to 1t.
Il would be decidedly opposed to giving
any more for the islands than is specified
In the present treaty, and If a new treaty
% to ha de in IN
tranSa ction. 1t would likely be a little more
stringent and rigid than the pr esent docu-
ment The principal reason that we care
for the islands is that they lie somewhat I'm
the path of commerce, and that st. Thomas
affords a coa1ing station that would be OF
Importance to our navy, thus affording pre-
lection to Porto Rico, incidentally to Cuba.
and forming a somewhat important point
Tor the protection of an isthmian canal,
whether that canal be constructed at Mica
ragua or a Panama.
But negotia tons for the purchase of
these islands have been matter for con-
sideration ever since President Lincoln was
in the White House. At that time Secre-
tary Seward bought the islands of st.
Thomas and St John for SI,J00.0OO, but for
some reason the committee on foreign re-
lations over which Sumner presided failed
to report the treaty, which was made by
President Lincoln, and the transaction fell
through with the expiration of that Con-
gress Again the matter was taken up by
Secretary Foster, and by Secretary Olney,
but it remained for Secretary Hay, under
Mckinley and Roosevelt, to again get
treaty before Congress. The only thing
for this government to do now is to await
the convenience and disposition Of Denmark
In the matter.
Tariff Revision and Trust Legislation.
Senator Cullom has been giving the mat
ter of possible tariff revision and trust leg
islation careful thought, and he thinks it
NIL hot pdr,e tp he Sf,er-
man antitrust law, which 1t Is understood
Attorney General Knox is preparing may
be acted on at the coming short session of
Congress. Ii would not surprise him also
II a commission Were appointed by Congress
to take up the matter of revising certain
schedules OF the tariff, make a thorough
examina ton of the subject and then re-
port its findings to the next Congress.
Senator Cuiloms platform on the trust
question is that there ought not to be any
condition of affairs in this country that
cannot be controlled by law This being
the case, 1t is the duty OF the government
TO make It's laws ample to protect the peo-
pie of the country as against oppression
from any condition.
In the first speech the senator made in
the present campaign he touched on pos
sible amendment to the Sherman antitrust
law. advocating that it be amended at least
so as to make its provisions easier of en-
forcement. He heartily indirses Attorney
General Knox's Pittsburg utterances. how
forcement He heartily indorses Attorney
General was engaged in the work OF pre-
pairing a bill embodying his ideas. he had
no idea but the general sentiment i'll the
country and in Congress would be such tina
It would be acted on al the coming short
session of Congress.
Besides the possible appointment OF n
tariff commission the senator did not be-
lieye Congress would act on the tariff qres-
tfon at the short session. This step. the
senator believed. could safely be taken at
this time. Such commission would be
made up entirely outside of the membership
of either house of Congress. ut should be
composed OF able. honest and capable men
of affairs" continued the senator, besides
men of skilled ability as experts. The duty
of the commission should be to consider
the tariff item by item. 1t should not make
recommendation for the revision of the
whole tariff at one time, but only as to
such schedules as business conditions would
seem 10 justify an Increase or lowering OF
the duty. This recommendation could then
B. be submitted to Congress. which could
work out the result But whether We will
ever reach the point where we lay
aside partislnship or partisan advantages
sufficiently to deal with such items as may
need revision simply with an eye single to
the good Of our Industries and protection to
labor, is hard to predict.
In my opinion the evil effects on business
OF tariff revis sion would be entirely OBJ
Waited ii the CO rise of simply taking up a
single item or a limited number of items for
consideration. with the distinct understand
ing that the whole tariff was not under fire
Jhe basis OF tariff revision should be pro-
Section 10 labor Such protection Is all the
5rotecton necessary to American indus
tries
Political Outlook
Senator Cullom Is optimistic regarding the
republican political outlook. He believes
the republicans will retain control of Con-
gress. and predicates this upon the cond-
lions In Illinois, with which he Is familiar
in that state. he says. the republicans will
gain two or three seats in the House. En-
thusiasm has greatly revived In the past
two weeks, and 1t Is his belief that the re-
pubhcans are very much more awake than
their rivals. The settlement of the coal
strike. the senator believes. has cleared the
political atmosphere OF the whole country to
4 great extent. 1t has not only benefited
the chances of the republicans at the polls
this fall. but has wonderfully increased the
popularity of President Roosevelt That
President Roosevelt will be renomna ted and
reelected Senator Cullom believes is a
foregone conclusion.
The President has the faculty of seeing
the important things to do for the good OF
the whole people, he concluded He pro-
sceeded against the beef trust to benefit the
people He proceeded against the railway
merger also for the good of the people. and
he took hold Of the coal strike proposition
with the persistence and determination