The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1905-12-29
WASHINGTON LETTER.

During the two weeks of Adjournment
for the Christmas holidays there will be
no legislation, but it may be interesting
to consider some of the important measur-
es that have been presented and which,
whether they will or not, ought to pass
and become laws. The brilliant Mr..
! Williams of Mississippi, leader of the
minority, has presented measure entitl-
ed IA bill to reduce taxation on American
citizens who use hides, leather, boots,
shoes, saddles and harness" This bill
provides that those articles when import
led shall be duty free ifthe country which
they come admits to its ports products
and manufactures of the United States at
Its minimum rate. Mr.. Williams urges
that this is in the liae with the general
notion of freer and reciprocal trade rela-
tions. He also introduced bill to re
duce the tariff tax on hides to S per cent
ad valorum, also to reduce tariff on other
articles comprising leather, shoes har
ness and gloves made out of skins or
leather. Both of these bills are deemed
by the Democrats response to the de-
mands of Massachusetts, manufacturers
for the reduction of the tariff ON articles
used by them.
Mr.. Williams has again introduced his
bill which was presented last session for
bidding any person, firm or corpora
ton engaged in interstate commerce
from making it a condition of sale for
their goods that the purchaser shall
not sell or deal in the wares of any
| other person. firm or corporation. The
bill makes the violation of the act mis-
demeanor, calling it "a contract in re-
straint of trade" and subjecting the vio-
laters to the penalty of the antitrust law.
This bill, it may be said, is an almost
exact duplicate Of the Massachusetts stat
ute upon that subject, the main change
being that it applies to corporations en-
gagged in interstate commerce instead of
commerce within the state.
~ =,
The first and only bill passed by Con-
gress this session was signed by the
President Thursday last. 1t is the one
appropriating SRI 1000, 900 for the Pan
anna Canal. This appropriation is
really an emergency fund and the total
amount actually needed to meet the dis
bursements for the balance of the year
has not been given out. The bill just
passed perfects the legislation relating to
the issuance of Panama Government
bonds and makes it possible to issue them
at any time, but it is the announced in
tention of Secretary Shaw of the Treas
ury to defer their issuance until later
when it is believed that conditions will
be more favorable 1t is claimed that an
immediate issuance would withdraw
money from the channel of trade where
it is needed to the amount of the issue.
| ~
Representative Longworth, who is very
conspicuous now as the fiancee of Miss
Roosevelt, has introduced bill authoriz-
ing the Secretary'of State at a cost of not
more than $1,000, 900 to purchase avail
able sites and buildings for the use of
American ambassadors and ministers 10
foreign countries. Our county now owns
but three diplomatic residences. namely
those in Peking. Toyko and Seoul. Mr..
Longworth in a brief statement of the
object of his bill emphasized that it was to
euable those properly qualified to diplo-
matte service whether rich or poor to go
abroad in the service of the country He
said that under our present system, no
man whatever his learning, experience,
or ability can represent this Government
abroad unless he is man of great wealth.
He urged that no matter how much sal
aries may be increased above their present
maximum of ST. 900 there would always
be an evidence of the wealth or the lack
of it of each particular incumbent empha-
sized according to the style of. residence
he occupied While if the Government
purchases a respectable official residence
for the use of each of our diplomatic rep
representatives., then at least in external
appearance the rich and poor diplomat
would be much alike.
Strange as it may appear there will be
opposition to the bill placing the consular
service under civil service rules. The
Senate has been given to understand that
the President and the Secretary of State
are anxious for the prompt passage Of the
bill, and it is thought that the Senate
may side track the San DOMINICAN treaty
until this bill which is in charge OF SEN
ator Large, shall be disposed Of
-
1t is characteristic Of Congress that it
should have been able in the several
,veaks u has airaudy hhA,, Il, asses,ss - |