The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1902-03-18
Living Issues.
TEE TWO LARGE SUBJECTS BEFORE
CONGRESS.

rbs Tsthmian Canal-The Tariff and Our New
Possessions-What Shall be Done2
The Worlds Work for March says
editorially:
The two great subjects before this
session of Congress for practical
action are, of course, the Isthmian
Canal and the adjustment of colonial
tariffs, including a reciprocity ar
rsngement with Cuba. The CON-
alteration of the canal has been
postponed since the holiday ces !;
INIT the Canal Commission made a
supplementary report unanimously
recommending the Panama route
after the French Panama Company
offered it's unfinished way for forty
millions of dollars. LATTER consider
ing the changed conditions that now
sxist and all the facts and circCm-
stances upon which it's present judg-
men must be based" the report
concludes "the commission is of the
opinion that the most practicable
and feasible route for the Isthmisn
canal. so be under the control, man
and ownership of the United
States is that known as the Panama
route"
The House, it will be recalled,
psssed the Hepburn bill authorizing
she cutting of a Nicaragua canal,
Int the Senate has not yet taken
action. The predominanoe of opin-
ion seems to favor the commissions
supplementary report in favor of the
Panama route. The strong public
demand is for a decision of the ques-
ton at this session of Congress.
The other subject of pressing i'm
portance is the adjustment of tariffs
TO the necessities of the Philippine
Islands and of Cuba. AS often as
the Philippine tariff bill has come
up in the Senate Cup TO the time this
is written) a violent debate has fol
lowed on the whole question of
Philippine administration. These de-
bates have shown that this subject
provokes more earnest feeling than
any other public subject now under
discussion.
AS regards Cuba, the Ways and
Means Committee of the House was
at first opposed TO making oonces-
sions to Cuban sugar and tobacco.
But the President has strenuously
insisted upon some measure of relief
rs bounden duty, and the best
public opinion of the country sup
ports him. Such influential Repub-
lioan and Protectionist Senators as
Mr.. Proctor, of Vermont, and Mr.
Platt, of Connecticut, are earnestly
in favor of a reciprocity arrange
ment. Governor Wood of Cuba
wrote an open letter TO Congress in
which he declared in the most foroi-
bic way that immediate economic re-
lief is necessary. That failing, in
dustry in the islands will quickly fall
back into the ~deplorable state in
which we found it just after the
war, and the people are threatened
with poverty, even with want. The
outlook now is that a reciprocity
tariff will be granted, but the sugar
growing interests of the United
States have go opposed such action
IS to disoredit them. The stubborn
ness Of the ulta-proteotionists has
aroused threats of a revolt in their
own ranks, and the moral obligation
to Cuba is likely to override the
economic rigidity of the extreme
protectiOnist doctrine.
But this subject, as we'll as the
administration of the PHILIPPINES, is
discussed in Congress with reference
TO next Congressional election. con-
sldered politically, it seems TO indie
pendent observers that the Demo
Gratis are likely TO win public favor
BY good use of the tariff issue, and
that they are equally certain TO
thresh over old straw without find
ing wheat in their policy of obstruo-
tive criticism of the Philippine ques-
ton. A low-tarif Congress could re-
duce the Dingley duties. But it is
hard to see how any Congress could
materially change the tough problem
IN the Philippines or modify the
Present effort to solve it. One is
subject for possible action, the other
Chiefly an opportunity for editorial
and COnOressiOnaI oratOrv on Lib