Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1902-04-09

- . 81
The next few days will see the pass
age by the senate of the bill extending
the provisions of the Chinese exclu-
sion act. Just what the details of the
law will be have not been determined
but it is the aim of the republican
leaders to protect the laboring classes
against cheap Chinese labor and at
the same time to encourage as far
as possible the growth of the trade
between the orient and this country.
Unfortunately there is an attempt to
drag in partisan politics and that may
have the effect Of passing a law more
rigid than is really desired. Follow
ing the Chinese question the bill pro-
viding for a civil government in the
Philippines will be taken up.
= + .
An impressive exhibition of the eff
feet of the prosperity which republican
administration has brought the u
try is seen in the advance of 10 per
cent which has beena granted to the
cotton-mill employees of Fall River,
Mass. This will effect about 10000
persons in that community, and as it
is extending all over New England sew
eral hundreds of thousands are likely
to participate in it eventually.
# X
The president has taken a decided
stand on the irrigation question and
has given western members of con-
gress to understand that he will not
lend his support to any bill which does
not absolutely safeguard the inter-
ests of the small settlers as against
those of Spectators and l%and-grab-
bers. With the question of irrigation
for the western arid lands, the presi-
dent is on familiar ground.
..s. IL i + y
Commencing April / the laborers of
the Thomas Iron company at Bethle-
hem, Pa, received $1.2O per diem,
which is an increase of 10 per cent and
the highest wages paid for many
| years. The increase includes also the
men employed in the mines which
furnish ore for the furnaces.
March q brought the usual repub-
lican surplus of government receipts
over expenditures. Receipts were
SAG. sol 900 and expenses $33S, 102,O 900
surplus $500, 600. For the nine
months of the present fiscal year the
surplus is $61,15S,O00. The surplus
for the last three months of the year
are likely to be heavy and it is thought
the surplus will be around SOC, 100000.
Members of the finance committee of
the senate are hesitating about what
cut to make in the war taxes, until
they learn more definitely what the
surplus is going to b.
Just at present there is a move
ment on foot in the house to combine
those republicans who believe in a re-
duction of duty on the iron and steel
schedule with the democrats and with
the aid Of the "reconcentrados" to
amend the Cuban reciprocity bill so
to provide for a general reduction OF
the tariff on iron and steel and the
products. as well as on glass. II
is not the intention of the leaders to
allow the fight on the Cuban bill tc
place the republican party in any such
attitude.
The administration leaders are be.
ginning to receive long communica'
tions by letter and by cables iron
Cuba urging that the proposed 20 pei
cent reduction will not give relief tt
the planters in Cuba and stating thai
a 40 per cent rebate, to be paid to the
Cuban treasury will be much more ac
ceptable to the Cuban planters. II
view of the fact that the republican
party in the house is practically com
mitted to the 20 per cent reduction o.
duty, these communications will have
but little effect there, but will un
doubtedly have weight in the senate
Those were swift congressman wht
were arrested in Washington the othe7
day for running an automobile some