Middletown transcript., 1905-05-27

THE protected hogs must take their
hind feet out OF the trough" Il
demand the most favored nation treat,
ment for ourselves in the construction Of
the Panama Canal" "For American
manufacturers to sell to foreigners, at a
profit, at prices from one-third to one
half lower than they sell the same goods
at home is not a square deal to the folks
at home" With these characteristic and
forceful, homely phrases President Roose-
welt has launched a new issue, at least a
new one for the Republican party, and
there are strong indications that lie will
gain the support Of the American people
and put some hide bound ultra protec-
tionists to confusion.
~
In his message to Congress, last De-
cember, the President worte, II will have
something to say on tie tariff question
later on" but prominent members Of his
party who we're permitted to read proof
Of the message before it was made public
pursuaded him to strike out the sentence
He yielded to their request, but then
endeavored to secure some sort OF an
agreement from the leaders that provis-
ion would be made for a readjustment Of
the Dingley schedules later on. They
had ,rrnod tbaf or;fof;or rs tba ,,h;oot =,
advance would unsettle business, so he
called them to the White House and
asked what they thought Of calling Con-
gress in extra session this spring for the
re-adjusting of the tariff schedules. The
stand patters claimed that it would re-
quire time for investigation and that the
session had better be called in the Fall.
To this the President agreed and October
was fixed as the date of the special ses-
sion. The President supposed, Of course,
that Congress would make provision for
an investigation OF the existing schedules
during the summer, and the Senate did,
but the stand patters who control the
House failed to do so and adjourned in
fancied security, supposing that they had
defeated the'President. But they counted
without their host
~
When the Panama Canal Commission
came to purchase the large quantities of
supplies and machinery needed for that
enterprise they found that the prices
they would have to pay to American
manufacturers were far in excess of those
charged by the same concerns to foreign
ers. They could even buy American
made steel rails, Of which they needed
large quantity to relay and double track
the Panama Railway, for 500 ton abroad
all charges paid to London, including
about So freight, while the price asked
in New York was $33 ton. The prices
for structural steel showed similar yaria-
ton, the American price being about so
per cent. greater. 1t was estimated that
it would require about $50, ,OOO,OO worth
OF structural steel lat the domestic price,
for the canal, which amount tould be
bought abroad for $2O,0OO,OOO. Two
ships which were needed would cost ST.
100000 if purchased in this country,
$3.50, 900 if purchased abroad, and SO on.
Had the French company been con-
structing the canal, American manufac-
turers would gladly have accorded them
the full foreign discount, as they would
any other foreign nation, but they pro-
posed to hold up their own government
for the full domestic price, and the
undertaking, being most expensive one
at best, the President determined that
the supplies should be bought from the
cheapest bidders whether American or
foreign. He demanded "the most favor
ID nation treatment for ourselves" This |
means, of course, that the American
will be favored, their
prices being as good, and that they will
ret the business, but that they will have
Q bid as low to the United States govern |