The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1905-08-18
WASHINGTON LETTER.

It is said that the President in spite OF
his previously expressed determination
to send no more reciprocity treaties to
Congress will reconsider his threat and
give the Senate chance to turn down
some more reciprocal arrangements.
This is a consummation devoutly to be
hoped for and it is said to be forced by a
growing demand 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 For
eigu Office and Ambassador Myer for a
new treaty that will admit American
goods to Russia on par with those OF
other countries. America had good
and growing trade with Russia half a
dozen years ago and it was killed at a
blow by decision of the Supreme
Court which declared that Russian sugar
was bounty fed and in consequence had
to pay discriminating duty on coming
to this country. Now Russia exported
little to US except sugar, while our ex-
ports to her were large and varied. Our
exports were about fifty million above
our imports with that country alone. 1t
is probable that Russian sugar was boun-
ty fed within the strict meaning of the
act though Russia never would admit the
contention. Anyhow when we shut out
her sugar she Disseminated against our
manufacturers aud we have not only lost
the benefits of 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 par
ticular reason why Russia should want
to negotiate fresh treaty with us ex-
cept on the general score of friendship
and that does not count for much be-
tween nations. But the chance has been
offered and it is possible that advantage
will be taken of the next session to bring
the matter to the attention of Congress.
~
It 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, 1906, and the farmers
of this country are threatened with a
discriminating duty against American
foodstnffs that will be quite as disastrous
to them as to Germany if it comes down
to a tariff war. Then there is the Chi
uese question. The boycott against
American goods is spreading in China
and while the government processes to be
helpless in the matter, it is well known
that it is using the agitation as power
full lever to force the more liberal recep-
ton of Cinnamon in this country. There
is a serious question whether Congress
will permit more liberal rendering OF
the Chinese exclusion act. The chances
are that it will not But at the same time
it is possible that against the chance of
losing a very valuable export market,
Congress might be willing to make some
concessions, in dutiable articles from
China that would suit the Chinese
almost as we'll as lifting the ban that has
for so many years hung over Chinese
labor.
x*x
At the very time that there has been
SO 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 Canadian
border near Buffalo where they we're at
tempting to get into this country in de-
fance of the immigration restrictions.
This news was brought to the attention
of the Treasury Department by its in
spectors who made the capture and it
will not do the Chinese government any
good in their fight to have the bars let
down in the case of Chinese laborers in
this country.
~
The Postofice Department has made a
number of important arrests lately OF
people who have been defrauding the
public by means of raised money orders.
The loss for this has not fallen on the
government, for the money orders are
written in manifold and the carbon copy
of the order is sent to the postmaster
who is to pay out the money and he has
the duplicate copy as check on the man
who prese nts the order at the Office. But
money orders while not legal tender
have been recognized almost as readily as
money and many storekeepers and es-
pecially saloonkeepers have cashed them
and paid the holders the difference on a
small purchase. The thieves who have
made use of the raised orders have
worked them off elsewhere than at the
postofice to the great loss of the store
keepers who cashed them. The Post
master General has now provided for a
INV form of order that will be punched
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