Middletown transcript., 1902-11-29
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 24th, 19

II VAonAN0AONg 4NONs S1SAII AOO%'
4 WHAT is the President going to say
w about the tariff? Is the question
each new congressional arrival asks when
he reaches Washington, and they are
coming in crowds. The answer no man
can give and it is probably safe to say
that Mr.. Roosevelt himself does not
know. At the Oyster Bay conference
| it was determined that it would be un-
wise to disturb the extraordinary pros
perity the country is now enjoying by
tampering with the tariff schedules.
When the President got ready to write
his message he called another conference
of Republican leaders and it was deter
mined that if proper trust legislation
were enacted at the short session that
would be all it reasonable to expect, that
tariff commission could be established
to investigate the situation and report to
the first session Of the Fifty eighth Con-
gress and that it would then be time
enough to decide if those tariff sched-
ules which would be better for amend
ment were OF sufficient importance to
warrant the attempt. Now, however,
the western members are urging the Pre-
sident to expedite the work and Chair
man Babcock and others say that there
must be an extra session to deal exclu-
siYely with tariff revision.
*.*
The subject OF tariff revision was ex.
haustively discussed at the Cabinet meet
ing held Immediately after the Pres
ident's return from the Mississippi
cane-brakes and it was determined to
hold several conferences with the leaders
Of the party to discuss the question. A
conference will be held to day aud will
probably be followed by others, as the
President wishes to give all an opportu-
nifty to be heard. A striking instance of
the local sentiment in regard to the tar
iff was furnished recently when the
President sat in his Office with Senator
Lodge on one side and Senator Burrows
on the other. II am heartily in favor of
your Cuban treaty but cannot stand by
you on that New Foundland convention;
it would interfere with our local inter-
ests," said Mr.. Lodge. "On the other
hand, l think your New Foundland
treaty is all right and l shall vote to
ratify it," said Mr.. Burrows, "But 1 am
very dubious about the Cuban treaty."
*x*
Much interest attaches to the tariff
position of Representative Canon, who it
is generally conceded will be the next
speaker. In this connection it is recalled
that last summer, after the trip he made
on the Dolphia with Secretary Moody,
Mr.. Cannon was interviewed in Wash
ington and said, "The tariff will be re-
vised sometime but not at the next ses-
sion of Congress, or by the succeeding
Congress. unless there is check to the
present prosperity. The people of Illi-
nois, SO far as have been able to learn,
are not anxious for tariff rexision. They
are anxious to continue their business
affairs without interruption caused by
long discussion in Congress as to what
changes should be made"
Mr.. Cannon, as speaker, will have it
in his power to make or mar the hopes
OF the tariff revisionists. There will pro-
badly be three vacancies in the Ways
and Means Committee. Mr.. Hopkins
and probably Mr.. Long, will go to the
Senate and Major Steele has not been
reelected. Messrs. Babcock and TaW-
hey are strong revisionists and the ap-
pOintment Of three others OF the same
faith would give the revisionists within
one Of majority on the Republican side
Of the table. The present indications
are, too, that the revisionists will make
fight on the retention OF Mr.. Payne as
chairman.
The final acceptance of the Presidents
conditions by the Commercial Pacific
Cable Company is regarded as a decided
triumph for the administration. The
Company will now hasten the laying of
q cable to Honolulu, Guam, Manila and
China which will be strictly American in
ownership, which will be operated under
the regulations laid down by the Presi-
dent. in time of peace, and which will
be turned over to the government in
time Of War. For long time the Com
pany las hesitated to bind itself to the
conditions prescribed by the President
but has finally acceded and has been fur
nished by Secretary Moody with the
surveys and soundings made by the
naval vessel, the Nero. aud il is hoped
that the cable to Honolulu will be ready
for use within six months while all haste
will be made in pushing the entire line
to completion.
The Cuban situation is far from satis-
factory and is occasioning the President
much anxiety. The Cubans are becom- |
ing over confident and are inclined to |
regard themselves as entirely indepen-
dent of the markets and espionage OF the
United States. General Bliss, who has |