Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1902-11-21
TALK ABOUT "REVISTON".


Zeal comes it probably will be without cut
IF the cards.
1t is understood, as reported in a special
dispatch from Milwaukee, that there Is To be
an extra session Of the Fifty-eighth Con-
gress soon after the adjournment Of the /
Fifty seventh on March 4. The proiessed
object Of this extra session will be for the 4
revision Of the tariff, but conditions within
the Republican party In Congress do not
warrant the belief that substantial reduc
ton Of the tariff burdens will be accom-,
plished 1t is doubtful whether the Pres.
dent himself has definite idea Of what, in
detail, should be done. Indications are tina,
his recommendation to Congress will deal
only in broad generallties, vaguely recon
mendlng relief in one paragraph and utter
ing encomiums upon the protective tariff
system 10 another; suggesting that reduc-
tons Of duties be made and qualifying the
suggestion by firm declaration that no in
dustry shall be made to suffer and that the
system of protection shall not lie assailed.
There lie no probability that he will spe.
officially indicate what reductions can be
made without the sacrifice of protection 10
some degree.
But upon such recommendations as the
President makes will rest the prospects of
tariff revision, while the opposition to "any
tinkering with the tariff" is well organized
among the Republicans 10 both Houses OF
Congress. The indefinite plans OF the Pres.
idert will be met by definite policy Of op.
position. What is TO be expected may be
determined by studying the DRIFT with rel
erence TO the selection of Speaker for the
House during the Fifty-eighth Congress.
The forced withdrawal OF Mr.. Joseph W ..
Btbcock from the contest Is significant, and
equally enlightening is the situation with
respect to candidates left in the field by his
Withdrawal.
Having expressed himse { In favor Of tax.
ing the protective duty off certain trust pro
duced articles, Mr.. Babcock excited power
iul antagonsm among his colleagues in Con
gress, which a modification of his views al
most to the point Of abandonment of his
plan of revision was not enough to appease
So far had he yielded before abandoning
the hope OF being Speaker that the position
he occupies now, which is still regarded as
too radical, amounts to little more than that
Of iavoring any reduction that can be made
without injury TO any favored interest
The two candidates left between whom
1t is practically conceded choice must bt
made are both extreme protectionists, the only
difference between them on this point being
that the one, Mr.. John Dalzell, resents even
an inquiry into the prac,icability of reducing
any OF the extortionate duties, while the
other, Mr.. j. G. Cannon, is willing to 90
through the form of examining into the sub
ject, with his mind made up 10 advance that
no relief TO the taxpayer nor harm TO the
proteges of his party shall result from the
seeming concession TO popular demand.
Mr.. Dalzell is defiant and Mr.. Cannon is
diplomatic, but in dealing with the tariff
their ultimate purposes are the same.
The selection of Mr.. Cannon appears prob
able This signifies that the controlling party
in Congress has decided that II is wise TO
dissemble. The reason the Speakershlp con-
test has begun thus early Is that an extra
session in the spring is anticipated. This
anticipation almost gives an assurance OF
Mr.. Cannon's selection, since the calling Of
an extra session is in line with the policy Of
diplomacy" which the Illinois statesman
represents.
The President may be sincere, though In.
definite, in his recommendation of tariff re
vision, but it is manifest that there are not
enough Republicans 10 Congress who hon
estly favor reduction of the burdensome
tariff tax to render efforts 10 that direction
effective.
Ii Mr.. Dalzel should develop strength
enough to indicate his election as Speaker
the plan for an extra session probably would
be abandoned, since his being placed at the
head of the House organization would sig
nifty an absolute fusal 10 even go through
the form OF considering the desirabiity of
tariff revision. The present chairman OF the
Committee of Ways and means, Mr.. Serene
K. Payne, Of New York, Is 10 entire sympa
thy with Mr.. Dalzel in this matter, as are
the chairman of the Finance Committee OF
the Senate, Mr.. Nelson W. Aldrich, and Mr.
o. Ii. Plat, OF Connecticut, who is perhaps,
the strongest member OF that committee
With Cannon chosen rs Speaker, an extra
session called and the question Of tariff re
vision taken under conside ration, the un-
yielding opposition of these men and their
followers will furnish a sufficient excuse for
the failure Of tariff revision, a ure being
anticipated from the outset.
From present indications the most the
public may expect is that some schedules
may be found so high that they can be re
duced, still leaving the duty high enough to
be prohibihve, aud that there may be some
exclusively Southern industry that can be
taken out of the protective list without of.
Tending those whom it has been the policy
Of the protectionists TO favor.
ri 4