The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-03-28
President May Call an Extra
Session to Bring Re
vision About.
Credit for This Would Be-
long to Minnesota and
Michigan Men.
Should Cuban Bill Pass the
House Senators Would
Talk It to Death.

Fron, The Journal Bureau. Room, As, Post
Washington, March 2S-President
Roosevelt \favors the Morris proposition
to abolish the sugar differential, but does
not feel that he is warranted in bring
ing the influence of his great Office to
bear on what is purely question for the
legislative branch. Meanwhile, the ways
and means leaders have positively de-
clined to have anything to do with the
Morris amendment.
The Morris proposition would bring the
sugar trust into active competition with
the sugar refners of Germany, France
and England, and reduce its profits by
reducing the cost of sugar to the con-
sumer. 1t would not harm the beet sugar
industry, because the latter's market is
purely local; and if the trust is engaged
in tremendous competition in the east,
it can't afford to go into a destructive
competition in the west.
Ways and means leaders refuse to &C
cept the Morris proposition because it
would open up the general tariff ques-
ton before congress and lead to re-
vision of the Dingley schedules. They
admit that the Morris proposition will
benefit the American people and is sound
in principle, but they don't want tariff
revision at this time.
The Minnesota members are taking
their present stand in large part because
it will hasten the day of tariff revision.
The other insurgents, save those from
California and Maine, who are high pro-
tectionists, are also in favor of general
tariff revision, as a means of reaching
the steel, glass, wood pulp and other
trusts. -....-- ... .-.- ..-
Revision Surely Coming.
That tariff revision is surely coming,
both parties. II will be started at the
short session next winter. at which time
bill will probably go through one house.
but not through the other. President
Roosevelt is strongly in sympathy with
the proposition that the tariff needs at
terests which hold to the Babcock prin-
ciple. The passage of a tariff reduction
bill through one house of congress next
winter, or the open discussion of the ques-
ton at that time. would justify him in
calling an extra session Of congress, after
March 4, 1903, for the special purpose OF
considering the tariff. There would be
good politics in such move. Obviously.
1t would not do to bring the question on
at the long session, beginning December,
1908, for that would carry it right into
the presidential campaign; and there
would be no point in taking it up after
that campaign. Whatever is done must
be done between now and next sum-
mer. Mr.. Roosevelt has strongly limited
lately that the extra session next sum-
mer may be necessary. /
The Cuban bill will be debated for
weeks, which is one thing that will in
terfere with it's effectiveness. Chairmen
of the great committees having appropria-
ton bills in charge will insist that it get
out of their way. 1t can't be reported
from the ways and means committee until
next Wednesday and the appropriation
bills will prevent 1t from coming before
the house for debate until after the pres
ent Cuban sugar crop has been marketed.
If it does not get into the senate until
May /, its defeat there will be compare
lively easy. 1t will be talked to death.
Altogether, then, the prospects are not
good for the ways and means bill, while
the prospects are becoming increasingly
brighter for tariff revision as the direct
outgrowth of the Cuban agitation. And
should this be the result, the Minnesota
and Michigan delegations will be directly
responsible for it and entitled to full
credit,
Trusts, Too.
condition of affairs such as is here
described-tariff revision at special ses-
sion of congress-would thoroughly COM
NIT the president and his friends to the
twin proposition of tariff reform and de-
termined movement against the trusts.
BY revising the tariff the trusts would
be hit a tremendous blow. Such pro-
gram would be very popular in the west.
where the presidents stanchest friends
are located. It would be very unpopular
in the east, but inasmuch as the east
seems trying to induce Senator Hanna
to get into the race as candidate
against Roosevelt for the republican
nomination, the president probably Is not
going to depend strongly on that section
for convention support. AS the champion
of tariff revision in the interest of con-
would be very strong candidate, and
his election would be fOregone conclu-
sion. His chief trouble would be in the
nominating convention, for there the
trusts would exert considerable influence,
which would be augmented through the
strong personality of Hanna, and the ap-
peal Hanna would hope to be able to make
to the masses of organized labor.
Babcock Running Away.
Representative Babcock has arranged
for two or three weeks stay at Atlantic
City on account Of his poor health, and
starts tomorrow, it is understood.
That Mr.. Babcock is seriously i'll, no
body denies. His condition has for weeks
alarmed his friends, many Of whom be-
lieve he will never again be Well. But,
strangely enough, few Of them are ready
to attribute his Atlantic City trip to that
illness They prefer to believe that his
republican insurgent friends in congress,
headed by members of the wisconsin dele
CATION, have made things SO unpleasant
for him since it was announced that he
had deserted them that he takes Vaca-
ton as the easiest method of recovering
their good will.
He dare not go to the ways and means
leaders and say he is not with them. He
dare not remain here and act against his
former insurgent associates. So he goes
to Atlantic City. where he will remain
until the trouble blows over. This may
not be the real explanation of the trip,
but it is the one that is being made to-
day.
Mr.. Babcock's going away will leave the
ways and means committee evenly de
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