Middletown transcript., 1903-01-24
WASHINGTON LETTER.

WASHINGTON, January 18TH, ISUo.
1t is doubtful if ever except in time Q
war, the Congress Of the United State
enacted legislation with such expedition
aa that displayed in placing the coal bill
on the statutes. The bill, providing
that all duties collected on coal be re
funded to the importers for one yeal
was reported to the House by the Ways
and Means Committee at quarter after
twelve. Within an hour it had been
passed and sent up to the Senate. There
it was promptly considered and SO
! amended as to place anthracite coal per-
petually on the free list, passed and sent
back to the House, where the amend
ment was accepted and the bill was ready
to send to the President by P. NJ. The
President signed it the next day at noon.
~
Little hope is expressed that the pub
lie will be benefited by the removal Of
the duty on coal. 1t is feared that the
local dealers will buy up coal as fast as it
is imported and will so maintain the
price. Local dealers in Washington are,
according to recent disclosures made be-
fore the Senate Committee appointed to
investigate the subject, getting their soft
coal for from $2.75 to $3.50 per ton, but
they are charging the consumers as high
as 1915 per ton.
~
Political attention is now rivated on
the Cuban treaty which has become al
most a party measure. The committee
on Foreign Relations reported the con-
vention favorably on Thursday and SEN
ator Cullom gave notice that he would
call it up at the first executive session,
which it is understood will occur to-day
as soon as the Senate convenes. Before
reporting the treaty the committee so
amended it as to secure 40 per. cent. dis
count from the Cuban duties on Ameri-
can cattle and to prevent any further
concession being made in the sugar du-
ties charged by the United States, the
treaty allowing Cuba 20 per cent. dis
count from the Dingley rates.
~
The most urgent reasons are set forth
by the Administration for the ratification
of the treaty which it is estimated will
insure to the United States a foreign
trade of not less than $4,000, 900 per
annum. 1t is shown that last year Cuba
imported cotton textiles to the amount of
2,53S, ,529 Of which amount the United
States supplied the insignificant sum Of
one-tenth. 1t is estimated that the
Cuban consumption of this class of goods
for the next year will amount to $3,0OO,-
600 and under the United States will
supply the entire amount. Last year
Cuba imported silk goods to the amount
Of $494, 253, and the United States sold her
but $lS,369 worth. Of linens, she i'm
ported total value Of $1,781, 1858, OF
which amount this country supplied but
$SI ,905. Of woolen goods, she imported
$629, ,226 of which the United States sup
piled but $40, ,2Sl. Under the provisions
of the treaty this country will sell to
Cuba the entire amount of these and
many other classes of goods that she is
capable Of consuming.
~
At the present time the only opposition
to the treaty comes from the Democrats,
with the exception of Senators Mason
and Simon who are said to oppose it.
However, as it requires two-thirds vote
to ratify it will be necessary to secure
nine or ten Democratic votes. The lead
ers in the Senate regard the ratification
OF the treaty as safe although it will be
effected only by narrow margin. The
Democratic opposition SO far as can be
ascertained, is based solely upon blind
prejudice and desire to embarass the
administration.
~
The Senate has passed the militia bill
after striking out that provision which
provided for the National Volunteer Re-
serve. While it is serious disappoint-
ment to the Secretary Of War, who was
virtually the author Of the bill, that this
clause should have had to be sacrificed,
he is pleased with the passage of the
bill which had been on the Senate calen-
dar since last June.
M
Antitrust legislation received some |
thing of a setback last week. The house
subcommittee completed its bill which
it intended to report on Friday but be
fore doing so submitted it to the Attorney
General who found in it several provi-
sions which he feared would be con-
strued by the courts as unconstitutional. |
This fear referred especially to the pub.
licity provisions of the measure. Mr..
Knox outlined to the committee his OBJ
jections and it is now engaged in redraft-
ing the Objectionable sections. 1t is
now thought probable that the bill will be
next Tuesday. The Senate has
appointed a subcommittee to take I'D
the measure as soon as it is received and
place upon it the stamp of its approval,
when it will be considered by the Senate.
1t is the hope of the Republicans that an
adequate trust measure can be passed at
this session although it is appreciated
that the time for SO doing is growing
short. The President has announced
that he will call Congress in special ses-
sion if such bill is not passed and there
is nothing which the members of both
parties are SO anxious to avoid.
~
The Statehood bill is still on the SEN
,te Calendar as unfinished business and
t is difficult to see how it is to be dis.
placed without vote. The Republican ,
eaders maintain that they can displace
,he bill at their pleasure although they
10 not go into details as to the methods
hey will pursue. Senator Quay has OH
several occasions offered to take a vote {