Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1905-08-17
Washington Letter.
(FRoM OUR REGULAR CoRREsPoNDENT.)
Saturday, August IL, 1905


Saturday, August IL, 1905
The reciprocity question is to be
given new flip at the meeting o.
Congress. 1t is said that the Presi-
dent in spite of his previously express
ed determination to send no more reel
procity treaties to Congress will recon-
slider his threat and give Senate Q
chance to turn down some more reel
procal arrangements. This is consul
nation devoutly to be hoped for and il
Is said to be forced by growing de
mand of the voters in the wheat and
cattle regions that something shall be
done for their relief. 1t is stated from
St. Petersburg that Russia has already
arranged between the Foreign Office
and Am bassador Myer for new treaty
that will admit American goods tc
Russia on par with those Of other
countries. America had good and
growing trade with Russia half a doz
en- years ago and it was killed at blow
by a decision OF the Supreme Court
which declared that Russian sugar was
bounty ted and in consequence had tc
pay discriminating duty on coming
to this country. New Russia exported
little to US except sugar, while our ex-
ports to her were large and vaiied. Our
exports were about fifty million above
our imports with that country alone.
1t is probable that Russian sugar was
bounty fed within the strict meaning
of the act though Russia never would
admit the contention. Anyhow when
we shut out her sugar she discriminate
ed against our manufacturers and we
have not only lost the benefits Of a
good many years trade with rich and
growing country, but have lost our
place in her markets which has been
filled by manufacturers from other
countries. There seems no particular
reason why Russia should want ia
negotiate fresh treaty with US except
on the general score Of friendship and
that does not count for much between
nations. But the chance has been Of
ferred and it is possible that advantage
will be taken of the next session to
bring the matter to the attention OF
Congress.
1t is certain on the other hand that
something will have to be done about
the German situation. Germany has
denounced her treaty with US that will
expire in March 1909, and the farmers
of this country are threatened with a
discriminating duty against American
foodstufs that will be quite as disas.
trous to them as to Germany If it come
down to a tariff war. Then there is
the Chinese question. The boycott
against American goods is spreading in
China while the COVE. nment PROCESSES
to be helpless in the matter, it is well
known that it is using the agitation as
a powerful lever to force the more lib
eral reception Of Cinnamon in this
country. There is a serious question
whether Congress will permit a more
liberal rendering of the Chinese exclu'
sion act. The chances are that it vii
not. But at the came time it is posi-
pie that against the chance of losing g
very valuable export market, Congress
might be willing to make some conces
sions, in dutiable articles from Chinf
that would sut the Chinese almost al
we'll as lifting the ban that has fol-
so many years hung over Chinese labor
At the very time that there has beer
80 much pressure brought to bear from
China to mitigate the rigors Of Chinese
exclusion, there has been very impor'
tant capture of Chinese on the CaIadi
an border near Buffalo where they were
attempting to get into this country il
defiance of the immigration restrictions
This news was brought to the attention
Of the Treasury Department by its in
spectors who made the capture and i
will not do the Chinese government
any good in their fight to have the bars
let down IN the case of Chinese la5orers
in this country.
The Postoffice Department has made
a number of important arrests lately
of people who have been defraudini
the public by means of raised money
orders. The loss for this has not faller
on the government, for the money or
ders are written IN manifold and the
carbon copy of the order is sent to the
postmaster who is to pay out the mon
ey and he has the duplicate copy as {
check on the man who presents the or
der at the office. But money orders
while not legal tender have been rec
ognized almost as readily as money anC
manv store keepers and especially sa