Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-01-29
TIE TARIFF REVISION
Lodge Deserves Credit of Sin
cerity in Resolution for
Investigation
SOME ACTION MUST BE TAKEN
Senator AIdrich, High Priest of Pro-
lection and Keeper of Sacred White
Elephant, the Dinsley Schedules,
Agrees That Tariff Modification Can
Not Longer Be Delayed.

Washington Jan. 29.-It is perhaps
natural that the northwest should look
with suspicion upon any plan for tariff
reform brought forward by members OF
either house of congress from New
England That section is strongly high
tariff in sentiment, and its attitude to-
wards reciprocity treaties and propos-
ais for tariff amendment OF late years,
in other sections of the country. The
Lodge resolution, looking to an inyesti-
cation by the senate committee on f.
nance, during the coming summer,of the
merits of the maximum and minimum
tariff idea, at first blush. might we'll be
thought cut off the same bolt with 9TH
er things done by New Englanders to
prevent genuine tariff revision. or to
postpone revision, but a careful study
of the situation in Washington suggests
that Senator Lodge should receive cred
it for some degree of sincerity in this
thing must be done to meet the very
general demand of the country for tariff
modification, and is a loyal enough re-
publican to want to keep the party out
of danger. To take no action he realizes
would be dangerous. Senator Aldrich.
the high priest of protection and keep
er of the sacred white elephant. the
Dingley schedules, agrees with Senator
Lodge that there can not much longer
be a delay of tariff modification. He in
dorses the maximum and minimum plan
as affording the largest measure of re-
lief at tqle smallest sacrifice to Ameri-
can manufacturers. There is no mis-
taking where these gentlemen. leaders
OF their party on tariff matters, stand,
or of their desire to take. the lead in
any movement that may be made
to change schedules. They understand
that If they do not do this work 1T will be
done by elements in the republican par
ty which are less friendly to the high
protected interests, and that considera-
BILE harm to their constituents might re-
suit. So they propose themselves to
shape the policy which the republican
party is to adopt. as to tariff changes.
and the Lodge resolutions indicate that
that policy is to be the maximum and
minimum plan, which New England I'M
derstands will be acceptable to the
west.
But nothing will be done for the pres
ent, or until the Venezuelan situation is
nearer satisfactory settlement. The
resolutions will remain in the keeping
of the senate committee, on finance,
whose northwestern representatives are
Senators Spooner and Hansbrough If
the Venezuelan affair should show signs
OF settlement Senator Lodge will try to
get favorable report on his resolu-
tons, and IL fayorably reported the SEN
ate will pass them, and the inquiries
will continue thru the coming summer.
The reason why the Venezuelan con-
troversy is causing delay will be readily
understood when it Is said that the
Lodge resolutions. in so far as they
We're aimed at any particular country,
We're aimed at Germany. which, thru
the influence OF the agrarian party,
which is in control of the imperial gov
eminent, is bent on radical discrimina-
tons against American goods. To pass
The Lodge resolutions during q time
when Germany is making demonstra-
tons on this side the water which are
seriously disturbing the American adj
ministration, might be looked upon as
an unfrierdly act, and still further COM
plicate matters; hence, the intention of
Mr.. Lodge to walt with his resolutions
until the Venezuelan situation clears
up somewhat.
If at any time between now and the
adjournment of congress the situation
becomes favorable, it is understood that
he will press his resolutions to consid-
Grafton and report and then to a vote
on final passage in the senate.
Let it be said again that there is no
buncomb in these resolutions, SO far as
Washington can see. They simply rep
resent very natural desire on the part
of the highly protected east, which now
realizes that tariff modification Is near
at hand. to control that modification. or
at least to mark out the lines along
which 1t shall proceed.
American export trade with Germany
amounts in round numbers to $3O0,0 0O,-
GOO per year-a very large sum, in the
opinion of the German agrarian party,
which wants to keep a part of 1t at
home. OF course, there are certain
things, such as cotton goods, grains and
meat and food products. which Ger
many will be compelled to buy in the
United States; but the agrarians want
to reduce these purchases to a mini
mum, meanwhile stimulating German
agriculture to point which will make
the country as nearly self -sustainlng as
possible, SO far as the grains and the
meat and food products are concerned.
This means rank discrimination, and
the Lodge resolutions, while couched
in general terms, and intended to have
a general application, and to meet, so
far as this country is concerned, the
demand for tariff modification strike
directly at Germany.
1t was the intention of Re preventative
Tawney, expressing the views of his
colleagues on this question. to take the
maximum and minimum tariff question
up with the ways and means committee
of the house during the present short
session of congress, but he was not long
in finding out that there would not be
time enough before adjournment on
March 4, for proper consideration of
the question and a report. The house
will go out of existence this March 4,
which will bring the Fifty seventh con-
gress to an end. There will be no ways
and means COMMITTEES after that date,
and any Investigation, commenced by it
now, would have to be continued thru
the summer unoff1cially, without pro-
vision for necessary expenses, such as