The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-04-26
THE SITUATION IN WASHINGTON

THE SITUATION IN WASHINGTON
The defeat of the administrations
programme in the House and the unex-
pected knock out OF the subsidy to the
sugar trust, puts all sorts of legislation
at sea in Washington. Not in genera
ton has a minority shown itself so ca
pable and succeeded in putting the ma
.jority so deep in a mire-hole. The most
concise statement of the situation, from
the standpoint of an Independent with
Republican leanings, yet sent out from
Was hington is the following letter writ
ten by Mr.. Walter Wellman, the able
and capable correspondent of the Chi
eago TimesAHerald:
Threats to open UP the whole tariff
question were made today by Senators
friendly to the New York sugar trust in
case the differential protection is re-
moved as proposed by the House bill
Senator Aldrich, of Rhode Island, is the
chief apostle of high protection, espe-
cially of sugar protection, in the upper
branch of Congress. He returned to the
city last night. Before noon it was
known the New York trust Will not
have it's differential removed on any
terms if it can prevent, and Mr.. Aldrich
thinks it can.
"If Congress Insists upon iieprivinS the
refirers' trust of this protection, then
or;ff n6aia
also. Bills to place wood pulp and coal
and hides and ircn and steel and lumber
and many other articles on the free list
will be introduced. If protection is to
be scaled down. let the pruning process
apply tc many industries, not to one.
Every one understands the purpose
of these threats on the part of the sugar
trust and its representative. 1t IS TO
bring to bear the whole force of the pro
tected interests of the country for the
salvation of the sugar trust; to bring
scurrying TO Washington hundred
opulent and astute gentlemen insisting
On knowing what all this means anu II
The Republican Congress has lost its
senses to create a scare in high protec-
tiop circles that win produce pressure
upon The statesmen to stop the whole
business.
ct is not supposed by any well-in-
formed Senators that there Is serious
danger the big battle over Cuba Will re-
sui in general tariff revision. Yet such
a thing is possible in case the New York
trust plays its hand too strongly. There
is a great deal Of tariff revision senti-
ment in Washington, thanks TO public
opinion in the West. Wherever four or
five Republican members of Congress
get together two or three of them are
pretty sure to say, that their people de-
mand real tariff reform by reduction OF
the duties on trust controlled goods. 1t
would be a strange thing if Mr.
Aldrich's back-fire intended for protec-
tion of the sugar -refneries were to
"catch' and start tariff confiagration.
1t cannot be considered probable, bat it
is possible.
Senators who care nothing about
trusts but are thinking about the peo-
pie and about justice to Cuba are laugh
ing in their sleeves over recent develop
mcnts.
The New York ref,ners' trust thought
to play a shrewd game and secure
cheaper raw material. by taking advan-
tf sc of popular sympathy with CUBA
and now it is vociferously demanding
TO be saved from its own petard. The
beet sugar factory promoters hit the
New York trust by striking out the diff
ferential. hoping to kill the Cuban bill,
and are now trembling in their shoes
;,oir IF
OWE interests by reducing the amount
Of protection on all sugar
some thing is plain and this is that the
Republican majority in both houses is
in an uneXampled state of confusion.
Chairman Platt of the Senate Cuban
committee has consulted President
Roosevelt and the President asks that
Congress do something for Cuba. He
does not care how, but do something
Mr. Plat is going slow. He wants to
study the situation. He wants the heat
ed brows to cool. He is trying to find
n way out Roth Mr.. Platt and Mr..
Aldrich say some sort of bill will pass
But what sort of a bill can be passed?
Il. Straight reciprocity, without
touching the differential. That is just
what the New York trust wants, and the
beet trust won't have The Democrats
of both houses, thanks to their new
leader. Senator Bailey are opposed to
the New York trust and rather friendly
TO the best people because that is the
easiest way to stir up trouble.
''2. Increase Of the Cuban reduction
with the differential left in the bill.
The administration Republicans and the
Democrats might stand that, but the
two trusts are opposed TO it.
80. Postponement of the whole ques-
tion pending investigation. This would
DC q black eye for the Roosevelt ad-