The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1904-04-06
1T is PROBABLE A MAXIMUM AND
MINIMUM TARIFF WILL BE
ADOPTED.
Republicans in Congress Are Widely
Divided on the QUESTIONABLE
Two Classes.

WASHINGTON, D. c., April 6.-The
policy of inaction of the present ses-
sion of congress, especially in affairs
affecting the tariff, seems likely to get
its members into habits of mind from
which they may not easily be aroused
Republican members 9rvn, the
northwest, who regard the protective
tariff as a provision of exDediency
which should be modified to suit the
times, have become wearied by the
studied Indifference of the ways and
means committee of the house, and
especially of its chairman, Serene E.
Payne, toward every proposal. no mat
ter how meritorious, which might af-
fect the tariff.
One of these members referred to
ne ways and means as the lullaby
rommittee.' while Representative
rawney. himself a republican MEM
Ger CT it, speaks OF Mr. Payne as
chairman of the committee on the ad-
jOurnment of the house.
This is the atmosphere which sur
rounds the Canadian reciprocity pro-
oosal. Republicans in congress may
a practically divided into two classes:
Those who outWardly and squarely
oppose it. and those who feel sure it
cannot be accomplished.
Opposition In Senate.
Any one who has observed the diff
culties of getting Cuban reciprocity,
after so prolonged a fight, cannot re-
Canada as very promising in the pres
ent composition of the United States
senate.
The fact that in the census period
between 1890 and 1900 the factory
cities of New England and the east
gained most rapidly in population,
with few exceptions, of any cities in
the union does not support the view
that the extreme northeastern part of
the country is on a decline, however
much greater might be it's growth with
a larger range of tributary country.
Under our general tariff, manufac-
turing should theoretically be con-
Quoted more profitably near the great
centers of consumers. Chicago and
st. Louis are aided by very cheap
steam producing coal, which is at the
basis of manufacturing, while New
England is shut off by the same tariff
from the supplies which nature has
put beside her.
1t is, of course. illogical to discuss
a proposal of trade extension on the
basis Of whether a country. or a sec
ton ike Me-, England, is now pros
porous.
A good proposal should not be
discouraged because a section is get
ling on pretty we'll now. Practically
speaking, however, most of our tariff
proposals are discussed on this basis
Canada's Attitude.
What the attitude of the Canadian
government would be toward a COM
mercial treaty with us seems some
what obscure. Outwardly. Sir Will
liam Laurier does not seem anxious to
Ir@l-
boundary, which so long INSTRUCTED
reciprocity, is now settled, but the
wounds which it left have not been
healed.
1t is of course possible that Canada
may be acting on the principle which
Senator Hoar has so often laid down
that a country which desires rece-
procity with another should keep
rather quiet about it lest advantage be
| taken of its zeal by exacting severe
terms in the trade.
The latest catch phrase which has
worked it's way into reciprocity dis
cussion is the stipulation that the
products shall be nom competive,
but the number of non-competing
articles in this world is rather small.
The exchange of Florida oranges and
icebergs would not make great
volume of international trade.
Yet the United States is giving
very nracticaI ayidopoo :, o+h. i;
rections that it wants trade. 1t
seems willing to pay people to run
the international blockade by carry
ing it on, yet the standpat policy
makes it extremely difficult to en-
courage the exchange of commodities
such as the ships might bring.
Probable Action.
The isthmian canal is another great
American enterprise for increasing