Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1903-04-17
HE is A TRIMMER.
PRESIDENT SACRIFICES PRlNCI-
PIE FOR POLICY.

The Key Note Sounded simultaneously by Sec.
retares Root and Shaw. Senator Allison and
Mr. Roosevelt at Minneapolis-Tar Revi-
sion Must Be Abandoned-Sscretary Hays
LiberaIity - A Gold Standard Suggested in
Silver-The Postal Scandals.
(From our regular correspondent
WASHINGTON, April 9, 1903.
There is no longer any question Of
the tariff policy of the Administration
nor OF the platform on which the Pres
dent expects to make his campaign
for reelection. From a member OF
the Presidents Cabinet your cores
pondent learns the following facts.
Ever since he became President Mr..
Roosevelt has believed that certain OF
the Dingley duties were too high and
should be revised. This was evidenced
by his advocacy of a commission to
make recommendations TO Congress
regarding necessary tariff changes.
When Governor Cummins OF Iowa
came to Washington some time ago,
the President was strongly impressed
with the formers exposition OF the
Iowa Idea" Before he left Wash
ington, however, Mr.. Roosevelt con-
ferred with many of the leaders of his
party. They urged upon him the i'm.
possibility OF securing any reduction
Of the tariff because OF the uncompro-
missing attitude of a number Of Repub-
lican Senators, probably eighteen.
They pointed out that an attempt at
revision would disturb business and,
however beneficial the result might
eventually prove, the immediate con.
sequence would be the defeat of the
party which undertook to change the
tariff schedules. After listening to
these arguments Mr.. Roosevelt was
reluctantly, but none the less certainly,
convinced.
Just before the President went west
he presented the situation to the Cab
met saying that he feared tariff revi
sion would be impracticable. This
view was heartily endorsed by every
member save Secretaries Shaw and
Wilson who expressed no opinion. 1t
was then and there determined that
Secretary Shaw should, at Peoria, and
Secretary Root should, at Boston, an.
nonnce the keynote of the campaign
as the "stand pat" policy. The Presi.
dent also determined to make his pc.
sition clear at Minneapolis. Senator
Allison, who was party to the agree
mant, also stated that he would make
public his approval OF the plan in the
near future. This policy has been
carried out in detail, Senator Allison
having given an interview to a western
newspaper knocking" the "Iowa
idea" The President read and ap.
proved the Shaw and Root speeches.
In his own speech it was noticed by
careful observers that he did not dep.
recate tariff revision with the force he
usually exhibits in discussing public
questions and in view OF the inside
history of the situation the reason is
plain. Mr.. Roosevelt's heart is not
with the stand pat" policy. He be-
lieves in Q revision Of the tariff and has
adopted the contrary position only as
matter of expediency. Secretary
Wilson believes it is too early TO adopt
such a policy. He regards the Cum
Minis faction in Iowa as more powerful
than it is believed to be by other men,
bcrs OF the Cabinet and is following
his usual policy Of " sitting on the
fence"
Great surprise is expressed at the
fact, which has just leaked out, that
Secretary Hay has pledged the United
States to pay the expense incurred by
the Panama Canal Company in main
tanning its concession, which necessi-
tates the continuous excavation of a
minimum amount OF earth. In order
to comply with the terms of this con.
cession the French company now has
employed force consisting OF 160 en-.
gineers, 40 surgeons, and approx
mately 1900 men. The expense of
maintaining this force, for which Mr..
Hay has made the United States liable,
is estimated at 5000 per day. 1t is
largely with q view to inspecting the
work being done that Admiral Walker
and other members of the Isthmian
Canal Commission will sail for the
isthmus at an early date. Contrary to
a published report, the Commission
will not 60 TO Bogota or make any at
tempt to influence the Colombian
Congress to ratify the treaty. 1t is re-
ported that party of New York CAPT.
talists may 60 to Bogota for that pur.
pose but they will 60 on their own re-
sponsibility and without any authori.
cation from the government.
Although members of the Admins
tration are unit in declaring the cur
rency question closed, preparations for
the meeting OF the commission which
is charged with devising scheme for
establishing q gold standard in silver.
using countries and colonies still con.
Time. Incidentally. the commission
hopes TO ado something for silver"
The commission now consists OF H.
H. Hanna, Chairman of the Executive
Committee Of the indianapolis None
tary Convention, just appointed, and
Charles A. Conant and Professor Jere-
miah w. jerks, previously appointed.
The Commission will meet with the
Representative Of Mexico in London
the latter part OF May. The plan un.
der consideration will be that adopted
for the coinage of the Philippines,
namely the issue of limited amount
of silver token coins redeemable in
gold at ratio OF 80 to l. 1t is signifi-
cant that even this plan as put into
operation for the Philippines has al.
ready enhanced the price of silver,
which has gone up a cent an ounce
since the War Department attempted
to purchase the bullion necessary to
coin the 100000 silver pesos author
lied by the last Congress.
the Postoffice investigation still
continues, the latest development be-
ing charges filed by Bingham & Com
pany of Philadelphia alleging that I'M
der the administration of the Division
of Supplies which has heretofore exist
81 H.