Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1904-03-03
ICoMMuNrcArEn.


WAhhI&01ONs EcuFu6ry - Aeg4.
Il is, perhaps, proper f0rthe Con-
gress 10 aid the sufferers from the
Baltimore fire by putting building
materials, to be used in the burned
district. on the free list. Similar
Legislation was passed TO aid the
sufferers from the Chicago fire in
1871. Two or three inquiries. how
ever, are suggested by this legisla-
ticn.
I. II the tariff does not increase
the cost OF building materials or. in
other words, "if the foreigner pays
the tariff tax" as the republicans
declare, why remove these duties
now?
2. II the removal Of the tariff
duties on building materials will
greatly relieve the Baltimore fire
sufferers who, for the most part are
wealthy men. why not take Oh
these duties on all building mate
rails and thus greatly relieve the
rest Of the people Of the country,
who for the most part are poor and
are trying TO build for themselves as
as good home as their meagre in
comes will permit?
3. Is this government OF, by and
for the rich and at the expense of
the poor?
The Hon. John Sharp Williams,
the Democratic leader OF the House
Representatives, is about TO execute
a flank movement on the Republi-
cans which is likely TO cause them
TO squirm like cut worm. He will
soon introduce several reciprocity
bills which will practically be q
duplication Of the Kasson treaties,
negotiated in 1896 TO 1900 with for.
eign countries, but which never
were ratified by the Senate. The
sad fate of those treaties, which
were smothered to death in the
Senate pigeonholes, forms an inter-
esting story.
When the Dingley bill was put
through in the spring Of 1897, many
duties were Intentionally left con-
siderable higher than was thought
necessary, even by the leading pro-
tectionists. It was expected by
Dingley and other Republicans that
reciprocity treaties would soon be
made with foreign countries and
duties were left very high so that
we would have q large margin or
bargaining power. Then, aften
swapping tariffs with those coun.
tries, we would have protection left.
The Hon. John A. Kasson, of Iowa,
was made q special commissioner
plenipOtentiary and negotiated trea-
ties with France, Argentina, Ecua-
dor, and, through Denmark and the
United Kingdom, with several East
Indian Islands and with British
Guinea.
These treaties meant much for
both the shippers and the consumers
OF this country. The fact that a
Republicans Senate would not allow
them to pass means that our con-
sumers are now paying duties higher
than were planned, even by the pro-
tectionists.
IL means that the trusts are re-
ceiving more protection than many
protectionists would have conceded
had not reciprocity treaties been
contemplated.
Il means that our goods-wheat,
corn, beef. pork, canned goods, etc.
are being kept out OF France and
other countries by duties ten or
twenty per cent. higher than would
have been the case had the recipro-
city clause been omitted from the
Dingley law. This, it is for the pur-
pose Of correctingthis anomoly that
Mr.. Williams has introduced these
bills, and we now will see whether
the Republicans were sincere in |
their reciprocity game. We will |
put them on record. II they are in /
earnest then they will support the
Williams bills, and IL they are only |
blutfing. as we suspect them to be
doing, the people OF the country will 1
have Q CHARGE before this campaign
Is oves 10 ascertain the fact. John
Sharp Williams is placing them in
the position Of having to fish, cut
bait or get out OF the boat. My
judgment anent the leadship of Mr..
published in this cores
pondence months ago. is being vim
dicated every day by his work on
the floor Of the House.
3@4
The presidential candidate situa-
lion is again agitating the solons
here the National Cabital. The
ieath Of Senator Hanna has clarified
he atmosphere so far as the Repub-
lean situation. is concerned. and
here 10 no longer any doubt that