The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1906-05-04
WASHINGTON LETTER.

The proposal to admit free of duty steel
for use ir the reconstruction of San Fran
cisco is the problem that is before Con-
gress now. The Railroad rate bill which
has absorbed the attention of that body
tfor so many weeks was temporarily sus-
pended by the California calamity aud is
now eclipsed by the tariff talk. The
amount of structural steel that will be
required when San Franciso commences
to rebuild cannot be estimated. The
earthquake proved that steel construction
for that city is alone practicable since the
buildings thus constructed we're the only
ones to survive the shock. The price of
steel in this country is kept up by means
of the protective tariff. The proposition
before Congress is to remove the tariff so
that the Californians may buy in the
markets of the world. To remove the
tariff would he to bring down the prices
in this country and make it possible to
buy steel here at the prices at which it is
sold abroad. A movement to give San
Francisco this benefit appears simple
enough on the face but in reality it pre-
cipitates the great question of general
tariff revision which Congress had posi-
lively decided should not be tempered
with during this session. The House
committee on Ways and Means which is
in control of the stand patters is planning
to let public interest in San Francisco
cool down before taking any action in the
matter, then it may be possible to stave
off the question until the end of the ses-
sion and let it die in the Senate. Repre-
sentative Madden of Illinois has charge
Of the bill though and as he is fighter it
is probable that he will not accede to any
such plan. His theory is that if this res
olution does not come to vote San Fran
cisco's immense demand for structural
steel will pull the market, exhaust all the
possible supply, make it practically i'm
possible for building operations to be
carried on in other cities and making it
necessary to import steel and pay the duty
on it will SO disgust the country with the
situation that the revision movement will
be greatly strengthened. Many Repub-
licans in Congress are of the opinion that
the safest plan would be to pass the bill
without delay SO as to prevent the discus
sion of it and the possible amendments
that would be used to open up the whole
tariff issue. John Sharp Williams, the
minority leader, believes that the tariff
should be suspended for year or two for
the benefit of the entire country, since,
according to his Judgment, it would be
impracticable to extend it to California
alone. Whatever Congress does in the
matter, however. it is apparent that the
tariff question, which is such bug,
bear about election time, is going to come
up and Congressman whose fences need
looking after at home are decidedly en-
barassed by the suggestion which was as
unlocked for at this time as the earth,
quake itself
~
Gossip about the Capitol now has it
that joint statehood will yet be the sue.
cessful issue despite all the opposition
that it has suffered. 1t is believed that
out of the present ENHANCEMENT in Con-
gress will come two new states in the
Southwest, one composed of Indian Ter
ritory and Oklahoma and the other of
Arizona and New Mexico. Those who
are leading the Administration fight for
joint statehood say they are confident
that Arizona and New Mexico will enter
the Union as one state though the meth
DDS by which it is to be accomplished are
decidedly strategical. The plans of the
House leaders are to turn down in con-
ference the various compromise PROPOSE
tions that come from the Senate and
ultimately agree to the joint statehood
bill as it left the House with an amend.
ment offered by Senator Foraker more
than year ago. This amendment pro.
vided for constitutional convention of
proposed state formed of Arizona and
New Mexico, the forming of a constitu-
| tiOu hOAdlbS "a q oNdhG CACCtlOu W
vote on the acceptance of the constitu.
ton. By carrying the proposition to
accept the constitution the majority OF
the voters in each territory would be for
the combined state and its admission to
the Union would be practically decided
II this plan cap be successfully carried out
the lower House will for once have out.
witted the Senate and won by the meth.
DDS which that body has so often sue,
cessfully used.
/ ~
| Washington, which depends to an ex-
tent for its business on having Congress
in session, is glad of the prospect of a
long session, but Congress itself is not a
little worried over the date of adjourn
weut Speaker CsuuUu, who plays poll