Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-12-01
A DIMINISHING SURPLUS.
shaw's Report Will Call Attention I
Necessity Of PROVIDING for This.

shaw's Report Will Call Attention to
Necessity Of Providing for This.
Washington. Nov. 29.-Secretary
shaw's Forthcoming annual report to
congress will specifically call attention
to the diminishing treasury surplus and
suggest that II expenditures and re-
ceipts are to balance each other here
after congress will have to provide TO:
additional revenues.
The secretary will not go so far as to
suggest economy in expenditures, be-
cause congress might not regard such a
suggestion from cabinet officer with
complaisance. The suggestion that
additional revenues be provided. how
ever, will receive earnest attention and
is likely to enter into the calculations
of republican leaders Of congress IN
considering tariff revision.
The leaders do not believe that the
internal revenue laws can be modified
so as to increase treasury receipts
without provoking public clamor. They
are assured. however, that numerous
products which are now imported free
of duty can be taxed.
Coffee is product which will here
after have to pay q tax. The specific
grounds upon which 1t will DO taxed
will be that the products Of South Am
erica plantations compete with Porto
Rican coffee, which is an infant indus
try. 1t is not claimed that Porto Rico
can or ever will be able to supply the
United States market, but the coffee
planters Of the island claim. neverthe-
less. that their product Is entitled to
protection against the competition OF
South America plantations.
Senator Spooner, who 10 giving the
subject Of tariff revision a great deal
Of thought and who agrees cordially
with the president that the Dtngley
schedules ought to be revised, does not
believe that cangress will place q
tax upon coffee, but In this he dis
agrees with leading standpatters.
These gentlemen say It Is republican
policy not to revise the tariff down.
but to rearrange old schedules, strik-
ing out those which have bsen rem
dered absolete by changing industrial
and commercial conditions, adding new
one which new conditions demand and
amending others to meet the require
ments OF the enterprises which they
relate to.
spooner RevisIonist.
Senator Spooner, on Thursday, after
his return from New York, will issue
a formal statement setting forth his
views on the subject Of tariff revision.
That he will indorse the presidents po-
sition Is accepted as q forsgone conclu-
sion by persons who know his own.
Senator spooner was in favor OF tar
iff revision two years ago. He was the
strongest advocate Of the idea that the
Dingley schedule needed q complete
overfauling, and he has not changed
his mind on that score In the mean
time.
The need of economy in public ex-
penditures is impressing itself strong
ly upon the minds Of senator's and rep
resentatives. Powerful opposition to a
rivers and harbors bill and public
building bill, Is cropping up In quarters
which were supposed to be friendly to
measures Of this character.
improvements Threatened.
The rivers and harbors committee
held a meeting yesterday, but beyond
discussing tentatively q large NUMBER
Of projects which were submitted DUR
ing the laSC SGSSlOu VI SoH6ASso ebe
tempted to reach no conclusion. The
committee will not agree upon any
thing until Epeaker Cannon reaches
Washington, and then Chairman Bur
ton will endeavor to secure an under
standing as to the scope and character
of a bill which the speaker viii be will
Ing to support.
II Mr.. Cannon should put his foot
down hard on any kind Of a rivers and
harbors bill 1t is doubtful II the COM
mftee would undertake the preparation
Of one. 1t Is not believed, however,
that the speaker will adopt this drastic
course, because he appreciates that
there are great many deserving pub
lie works in need Of assistance and Is
willing that adequate appropriations
should be made TO carry them out.
What the speaker is likely to do is to
impose a limit upon the committee
which will serve to bar from the bill
a multitude Of minor enterprises that
are valuable only to their authors.