Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1904-03-02
FROM WASHINGTON
Washington. Mar. /.

Congress to aid the sufferers from
,be Baltimore fire by putting build
mo materials, to be used in the
hurned district, on the free list.
Similar legislation was passed to
aid the sufferers from the Chicago
fire in 1871. Two or three ipqui-
ries. however, are suggested by
this legislation:
1. If the tariff does not increase
the cost of building materials or,
in other words. IL the foreigner
paws the tax, as the republicans
declare, why remove these duties
now.
.. If 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 of
these duties on all building mater
ials 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 them
selves as good homes as their mea-
ore income will permitl
3. Is this a government of, by
and for the rich and at the expense
of the pOorl
The Hon. John Sharpe Williams.
the Democratic leader of the
House of Representatives, is about
TO execute a flank movement on
the Republicans which Is likely TO
cause them to squirm like cut
worm. He will soon introduce
several reciprocity bills which will
practically be duplication of the
Kasson treaties. negotiated in 1896
to 1900 with foreign 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 interesting story.
When the Dingley bill was put
through in the spring of 1897,
many duties were intentionally
left considerably higher than was
thought necessary, even by the
leading prOtectiOnistS. 1t was ex-
pected 10y Dingley and other Re
publicans that reciprocity treaties
would soon be made with foreign
countries and duties were left very
high so that we would have large
margin or bargaining power.
Then, after swapping tariffs with
those countries, we would have
ample protection left. The Hon.
John A. KasSon, of Iowa. was
made a special commissioner plen-
ipotentiary and negotiated treaties
with France, Argentina. Ecuador.
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 consum-
ers of this country. The fact that
a Republican Senate would not al
low them to pass means that our
consumers are now paying duties
higher than were planned, even by
the. protectionists.
1t means that the trust are re-
ceiving more protection than many
protectionists would have conceded
had not reciprocity treaties been
contemplated.
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
reciprocityclause been omittedfrom
the Dlngley law. Thus, it is for
the purpose of correcting this ano-
maly that Mr.. Williams has intro
duced these bills, and we now will
see whether the Republicans were
sincere IN their reciprocity game
We will put them on record If
they are in earnest then they will
support the Williams bills. and if
they are only blufRng, as we sus-
pect them to be doing, the people
OF the country will have chance
before this campaign is over to as
certain the fact. John Sharna
Williams is placing them in the
position of having to fish. cut halt
or get out of the boat. NV iudo-
ment anent the leadership of Mr..
Williams, published in this corres-
pondence months ago, is being
Vindlcatad ovar,, l