Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1905-12-24
But Littauer Is Confident
Bill viii Pass.
HOUSE WON'T ENTHUSE OVER
ADOPTION OF METRIC SYSTEM
Movement to Chop Tariff on Philip
pine Sugar Bound to Result
in a Big Fight,
Correspondence Morning Journal.

Correspondence Morning Journal.
Washington, Dec. 2S.-The move
ment to supplant our English system
of weights and measures by the intro
duction Of tho metric system has been
revived in this congress by the intro
duction of a bin by Representative Lit
tauer. of New York. Mr. Littauer apt
ly refers to the movement as the
coming Of the kilograma" Ii provides
In short that on and after July /, 1908,
the standard of weights and measures
used by the United States shall be the
metric system II is calculated that
once the government adopts this
method that it will within a short time
become the method of commerce.
John &. Shanroth, of Colorado. the
man who after several terms In the
house voluntarily resigned when he
discovered that frauds had been used
20 accomplish his election in Denver,
was one of those most interested in the
metric system while he was in con-
gresS. He presented a bill which was
fayorably reported by the committee
on coinage weights and measures.
having the subject in charge, but IL
was never taken up in the house.
Now Representative Llttauer has taken
up the fight for the adoption of the
system. 1t may he said that pracu-
cally all of the members of the COM
mttee are in favor of the proposition,
but 1t Is rather difficult matter To
get the house as q whole 10 act upon
1t, although it will doubtless come In
the end
1t is claimed by those who are en-
thusiastic over the subject that the
metric system will be to weights and
measures IN the United states what
the decimal system is TO our money.
and for which the country has to
thank Thomas jefferson England and
the United states are practically the
only countries of Importance which
do not use the metric system. Repre-
sentative Littauer thinks that he has u
chance this year of getting some con-
sideratinn of the bill
Sugar Tariff.
Probably sugar has caused more
trouble IA the making of tariff sched-
ules than any other article of COM
merce. Certain II is that It has been
productive of more argument and de-
bate and disagreements. The subject
Is up again, as the republican leaders
purpose reducing to rs per cent of the
Dngley rate the duty upon Philip
nine sugar imported into the United
States. This has aroused the beet SUI
gar producers To action. and they have
come down upon the ways and means
committee in droves and filled volume
after volume with testimony They
assert that the admission of Philippine
sugar at 25 per cent OF the Dingley
rates of duty would ruin their indus
try Evidently the ways and means
committee. a majority OF whom are
'standpat" republicans does not think
that tho fears Of the sugar men In
this respect are we'll founded. for
they are determined To report the bill
fivorahly to the house. and there Is
little OF no doubt about its passage
It Is claimed that with labor at 90
cents day in the Philippines.
that the Philippine producer can land
freight rates from Iloilo to New York,
for one cent a pound. and that there
IS now In bonded warehouses many
tons OF the produce awaiting the pas
sage OF the pending bill in order to
come In under the reduction. II Is
asserted that the loss in revenue upon
this sugar alone would exceed $3.50
900 aud that the benefit would accrue
10 the British owners OF the sugar.
However. that may he. all Philippine
interests. members Of congress who
have been IN the islands and those
who are the best friends Of the Islands.
such as Secretary Taft. are heartily IN
favor OF the measure.
The beet sugar men in congress. how
ever have formed combine not only
to attack the proposition on the hoor
of the house but to fight II to the last.
and vote even against the will of their
party leaders.
While this controversy Is going on
Senator Hale of Maine. who Is a
staunch republican. nevertheless adj
heres to his opinion advanced at the
outset that It was great mistake TO
have acquired the Philippines. In this
connection he narrates an incident
which is interesting. He tells that he
WAS ut White House conference
when the subject Of ordering Dewey to
Manila was discussed Senator Hale
had opposed the Spanish war. behev-
ing that Il would Involve US IN diff
cultles which wodld be for many years
source OF much annoyance. Events
have no doubt proven the wisdom of
his opinion at that time. The tele-
gram was written 20 Dewey: PRO
ceed to Manila and destroy the Span
ish fleet" = have never felt salts
fed" declares General Hale. that we
did not add 10 the message the words.
"and return NJ once 10 Hongkong'
II Vea hod done that tva ,,.tolf net