The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1906-04-06
Tariff Will Bob Up SereneIy in
Lower House.
MANY FAVOR THE CHANGE.
MccIeary Cooking Up Standpattism
While Other Congressman Are Do
ing Something for The People.
FREE PRESS BUREAU,
WASHINGTON. ID. c.. MARCH 81.

When it was predicted in this cor
respondence one week ago today that
the tariff question could not and would
not be kept in the background during
the present session of congress your
correspondent did not have any idea
that the agitation would come so soon.
For several weeks past there have
been conferences and consultations be-
tween many republican members of the
house from different sections of the
country.
In the cloak room and at committee
meetings the matter has been discuss
ed but it was not until Secretary of
the Treasury Leslie NJ. Shaw went out
to Des AIoines and made a ''standpat'
speech that the tariff question was sud
denly precipated.
The Massachusetts republican mem
bers of the house conferred with other
members who favor change in the eX-
isting Dingley schedules and it was
finally decided that the question should
be put up squarely to the ways and
means committee of the house, as to
whether or not the several propositions
looking towards tariff revision and reel
procity would be considered.
The result was the very clear and
comprehensive letter indicted to Hon.
Serene E. Payne chairman of the ways
and means committee of the house.
Mr.. Payne's reply even from stand
pat standpoint is regarded not only by
those republicans who desire tariff re-
vision, but by the stand patters them
selves as a lame and evasive attempt
to shift the question off to some future
time Mr. Payne did not add to his
reputation, glory OF prestige as the
floor leader on the republican side of
the house.
Nut he has lost that title anyway,
and his counsel and advice are no Ion
ger followed.
Many Republican congressman are in
clined to take issue with Mr.. Payne
and to challenge him to marshal his
forces for a stand ON the tariff ques-
ton.
Local Interests Involved.
But it is not likely that this will be
done. After making some protests and
placing themselves on record as favor
ing tariff notifications, the members
who want revision will not undertake
to press matters at this late day in the
season.
They are more interested right now
in the public building bill, and other
measures of local Importance.
The skies are clearing up somewhat,
so far as the railroad rate bill in the
senate is concerned.
1t is no longer denied that President
Roosevelt will secure substantially what
he wants in that much discussed meas
ure
When it is on the statute books. and
tested, the people will begin to under
stand what gigantic task it was to
perfect into law the many intricate and
difficult problems surrounding the trans
portation question.
While there are a considerable num-
Der of senators and representatives who
would be willing and content to re-
main in Washington until the real hot
weather continues, if there were any
assurances that congress would take up.
consider and amend, the Dingley tarif
act, the general impression is that this
great question will be made para
mount one in the Forthcoming congress
sional campaigns.
1t is therefore stated as fact, soon
to be demonstrated that the tariff re-
form element of the republican party
will at once begin, lin fact it has already
begunl a thorough campaign in hehalf
of tariff revision.
The talk among the revision element
of the party is that every republican
candidate for congress this fall in at
least thirty of the forty-fve states of
the union will be called upon before
he is nominated to state his position
on the tariff question ti'
The Minnesota delegation will not be
an exception. And it is to their credit
eight of the nine congressman from our
state stand ready here and now to re-
main in Washington for six weeks af.
ter June lst. if it is necessary to amend
the Dingley bill.
They know that revising the tariff is
a pretty big proposition, and that it
takes much time and heavy work. But
they are not of the never-change stand
pat variety of statesmen. :,
Volstead to the Front.
Congressman Volstead discussed the
bill to remove the internal revenue tax
from alcohol to be used in the various