The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1906-06-08
Our Washington
Letter.
BY EARL w. MAYO.

e1esssesss.aessseaeaes.sessaeaes&R&sseeeE
Washington, June 6.-While Kentucky
tobacco grower are having their own
trouble with the tobacco trust, figures
just furnished to the Department of
State showing the revenues of tobacco
trusts and government monopolies in
other countries. In Australia there is
tobacco trusts which last year had
revenue of 1000, 600, with a pOpula-
ton of 100000. There are now six
factories as against nine before the
combine, but the operatives have in
creased IL per cent. with an increase
of wages. The revenue per pound is
"a cents, the revenue per capita $1.693,
and the average wages per hour 12.4
cents. In France, Austria and italy
tobacco is a government monopoly, and,
though 1t may seem strange, 1.-THE people
fare worse under this system than in
Australia under the trusts. The
revenue per pound in France is Is cents,
IN Italy 80 cents, and in Austria 81
cents, while the average wage per hour
as compared with Australia's 12.4 cents
IS only a cents in France, a fraction
over three cents in Austria, and cents
in Italy. From these figures it would
seem that those countries having a
government monopoly, have their to-
bacco troubles, as well as Kentucky.
Now that Congress is in it's last
weeks, the regular scanning of the field
for the large issues of the next session
is going on. Having dealt with one
means of transportation this year-that
is, the railroads.&c. seems certain that
next year will see demand for legis-
latlon concerning another means, that,
navigable stream all over the country.
The is growing feeling that the
government should have an important
and active part in developing the
waterways of the country, and the en-
thusiasm with which the efforts of the
National Rivers and Harbors Congress
to this end have met Indicate that this
feeling will bear fruit. Such improve
ments as this Congress is working for
would be of great value to Kentucky
in developing the river commerce Of
not only the Ohio and Mississippi, but
also of tributary streams within the
State. There seems to be a general
recognition of the fact that a broad
policy on the part of the national
government in dealing with this subject
will occupy prominent position in the
business of the next Congress, which
like it's predecessor, will thus deal with
the question of transportation, but with
constructive method.
While the rate bill has lost the CEN
ter of thee Congressional stage, it has
! by no means retired into the wings.
/ There is considerable interest mani
tested in just what changes the con-
ference committee of the Senate and
House will make in the measure, it is
not believed that these changes will
affect it vitality. The exposures made
at Kansas City, Philadelphia and in
other places of gross violations of the
rebate laws prove that the real virtue
of prohibiting these transportation
abuses. AS the Senate has incorporat-
ed in the Hepburn bill the most strin-
gent antl-rebate provisions, making
libel to fine and Imprisonment both
the shipper accepting or soliciting such
rebate and the carrier granting it,
! the end of transportation abuses has
come, provided the law is strictly en-
forced. With logical rate-making
power vested in the Commission to-
gether with provision for comprehen-
sive court review, there remains moth
ing in the bill for the conferees to fall
out over, except a few minor points
that easily can be arranged.
This is to be no "billion dollar" Con-
gress. 1t is estimated now that when
adjournment comes the expenditures
that will have been authorized will be
little in excess of $3.50, 900, 900. Rep
resentative Tawney, chairman of the
House Committee on Appropriations
has taken up the role dropped by
Speaker Cannon of watchdog of the
Treasury" Early in the session he
started in cutting appropriations to the
bone and as a result the total budget
will not exceed the amount mentioned
unless the Senate votes some increases.
The only increase of any magnitude
made by the upper branch thus far has
been in the naval bill, the appropria-
ton being raised by $2,461, O37.
Exit the immunity bath" for cor
poration. The Senate Committee on
Judiciary has reported favorablv on