The St. Louis Republic., 1904-12-05
Extravaganza Under Republican
Administration Has Almost
Depleted Treasury.
TARIFF FIGHT GROWS WARMER
President Anxiously Watching to
See Which Wing of His Party
Is Stronger-Other Wash
ington Matters.
The Renubl!o Bureau.

The RerubIic Bureau.
lith St and Pennsylvania Ave
Washington, Dec. 4.-Missouri and the
Middle West at the second session OF the
Fffty-eighth Congress. which begins to-
morrow, will be interested chiefly in that
portion Of the appropriations to revert TO
local projects. It is to be session de-
voted to routine. though greater and
special problems, notably the tariff, will
be the central themes for discussion
To stand pat or 10 revise will be the
question for Republicans 20 decide. and a
beginning Of the decision. in SO far as a
lineup will come about, must appear
this winter.
The genial Congressman who expects to
win applause in his district by getting a
nice lump of Government money for home
improvements probably will be disappoilt-
ed. Speaker Cannon, the very first day
after he had arrived for the session. per-
petrated this graphic and meaning de-
cription of the situation:
Secretary Shaw already reports a gap
OF s2ooo0.coO between the vest and the
pants this year"
The deficit grows and the revenues do
not keep the pace. Republican conduct of
affairs has involved policies creating enor-
nous expenditures ITO back up in large
particulars is quite impossible, SO the soiu-
ton lies in cutting and shaving on internal
expenses until that unsightly aperture in
the ill-fitting attire of the party shall have
been adjusted
Last session, the genial Congressman in
all cases came here hungry for the where
withal to satisfy his local demands He
was told that economy was the watch
word: that an election was coming on
Ee is to be told this time that the ensr-
sency is IS critical. il not more 80. The
Speaker already has squelched tax o. a
PORK barr l. bill. that is, public tuild-
lngs measure. Chairman Burton chair
man OF the House Committee on Rivers
mittee in session: and the present mo
gramme includes a bill of that descrip-
non. Here lies hope for the rivers Of the
Mississippi Valley. '-ie
Inc outlook points TO a systematic ef-
Tort to boost revenues as well as to cut
appropriations. Several propositions OF the
former description have assumed definite
character. The ons would reduce the
present prohihitive tax on colored oIeo-
margarine: second proposes an impost
upon wood alcohol: q third and a minor
grape brandy used for .tortihcation" pur-
poses in wines.
A bin incorpora ting the oleomarsarine
Proposition has beer. drawn by Repre-
sentative Boutell- and it is declared that
II has the Endorsement of the Ways and
Means Committee of the House The
matter is Of interest to every farmer and
dairyman. The legislation would serve
the beet-packins corporations. though it
would place upward OF 100000 year IN
the Treasury.
BY act of March 2. 1892 a tax of 10 cents
pound was assessed against colored oleo-
margarine, with the proviso that when
this substitute is free from artificial
co!oTstion that causes 1t TO look like but
ter. the tax shall be one-fourth CT cent
a pound. The law has been sustained in
the Supreme Court. Under the original
law the tax was . cents pound.
During the fiscal year ending June 60 1902.
lea, 1s1.74s pounds of oleomargarine paid
the tax. which means in cash return to
the Government se.4se.63i.9s. During the
year ending June %. 1903, there were pro-
and ss4ss4o.ss was collected. SO the op-
rortunity seems to be tempting one
from the Republican standpoint.
1t is expected that grape brandy can be
encourage wine making in the United
States, a law of 1890 permits any pro-
ducer of pure sweet wines to withdraw
grape brandy free of tax from any bonded
produced by him. In the growth of the
wine-produc!ng business the quantity OF
brandy used has increased from 1s5 557
gallons in 1891 to 4.17o,3ss-s in 1873. and s.
posed rate OF . cents a gallon this would
have meant sLoie,Sn in 1903.
1.-THE Democracy has never had a better
opportunity than now"
A Southwestern Senator of consequence
was talking. and he spoke warmly. even
enthusiastically. He was SO decidedly in
oratorical. His index finger at the end
OF an extended arm quivered in close
proximity to the listeners nose.
even NTH If Their W judgmen. ta inciines them to at
tempt il. Their party is committed TO the
stand-pat policy. and the tartn-protected
industries rest upon that fact. Now let
them undertake the task. Let them touch
| one schedule and the benefciaries of II
will raise outcry.
."rhey cannot advance a foot without
striking at some OF the largest business
| combinations in the country And they
1 cannot tinker with insignificant items and
convince the people that they actually
| have done the work. II they merely evade
| them than to have let the present sched-
| ules remain. They will not revise because
| they cannot"
The ruling coterie Of the Senate VIII de.
/
| Senators Spooner of Wisconsin. Aldrlch @,
| Rhode Island. Platt of Connecticut and Al
| lison OF Iowa held an Informal conference
| yesterday. and the tariff was the suoJec'
| of IL. This talk increases in volume daily
[ and the President now is generally re
garded as anNiously listening 10 determine
which side is the stronger; The ssna5or.
| counsel caution. and sottiy tne ieauers
| will tread for a while.
Statehood for the Southwestern Terri
| tories is the proposition which will be thu
| most conspicuous in the debate upon thu
| floor of the Senate. Senator Beveridge o.
Indiana will have charge of the bill. Th'
Senator has arrived in Washington. ant
he seems in the most amiable mood posi-
BILE with regard to the measure as i
| stands.
| Perhaps. with minor changes. It vii
| come from his committee favorably rec
| commended for passage. In many ways III
! bill is obnoxious to Democrats. Not leas
| of the particulars cited against 1t are pro
| visos which would turn over the proposs'
State of Oklahoma at the outset to tn
| tender mercies of Republican macnine
| Still. Matthew Quay. the leader OF forme
| opposition to Statehood, has passed away
| agreed to annex the Territories 10 tn
Union.
Senator Stephen 3. EIkins. chairman o
the Senate Committee on Commerce. ha
stated that one of the important matter
to be considered by Congress relates t
the complaints of excessive freight charge
had called on President Roosevelt ant
talked briefly with him about the s-bject
Senator Elkins will see the Presiden
again this week and have an extende'
learning just how he feels about legisla
tion TO curb the railroads.