Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1904-03-18
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Z iASnlNGj1ON LETTER fi[Ii ! +.

WASHINGTON LETTER Fl
Fsb. se-Hon: John sharp Williams,
tho democratic leader Of the House of
Representatives, IL about to execute q
flank movement on tho republicans.
He will soon introduce several reoipro-
city bills which will practically Be
q duplication Of the Kasson treaties,
negotiated in 1896 with foreign coun-
trieeI but which never were ratified
by the Senate. The sad fate Of those
tresties. which were smothered to
death in the Senate pigeon holes,
forms an interesting story.
When the Dingley bill was put
through in the spring of 1897, many
duties were Intentionally left oonsid-
erably higher than was thought neces-
sary, even by the leading protection
lists. 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 a
large margin or bargaining power.
Then, after swapping tariff with those
countries. we would have ample pro-
lection left The Zion. John, A. Kas-
son Of Iowa was made special COM
missioner plenipotentiary and negotia-
ted. 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 consumers of
this country. The fact that q repub-
lican Senate would not allow them to
pass means that our consumers are
now paying duties higher than were
planned even by the protectionists.
It means that the. trusts are receiv-
ing more protection than many pro-
tsctionists would have conceded had
not reciprocity treaties been contem-
plated.
It means that our goods-wheat,
corn, beef, pork, canned goods, etc. -
are being kept out Of France and
other countries by duties ten to twsn-
| ty per cent, higher than would have
been the case had the reciprocity
clause been omitted from the Dingley
law. Thus, it ts for the purpose OF
correcting this anomaly that Mr..
Williams has introduced these bills,
an. I'VE now will see whether the re.
publican were sincere in their recipro-
city game. We will put them on re-
cord. If they are in earnest then they
will support the Williams bill. and II
they are only blufing, as we suspect
them to be doing, the people of the
country will have chance before
this campaign is over to ascertain
that fact. John Sharp Williams il
placing them in the position of having
to fish. cut bait or get out of the boat.
Ny Judgment anent the leadership
of Mr.. Williams published in this
correspondent months ago. is being
indicated every day by his work on
the floor of the House.
March 5-The Hon. John SHARP
Williams. floor leader of the Democ.
racy in the house of representatives,
has introduced a'bill for the relief Of
the sufferers by fire at Baltimore by
rebate on duties on building material
and suspension Of certain internal
revenue taxes. By go doing he hal
again put the Republicans in I hole,
soaped the sides and pulled up the
ladder. If they refuse to pass the
m easure they will go up against q
precedent established when the Chica-
20 fire occurred in 1871 and thereby rob
many honest men who have been un-
fortunate. If they do pass it they will
admit the democratic contention that
the. tariff is tax and that the tax Is
paid by the consumers Of the country
and not by the foreigners, as main
tanned by them. They are up against
it. This bill cuts both ways like q