Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-01-22
Points of Difference Between Repub-
Iican Factions-saIary Bill Will
Probably Pass the Senate and House
Increases Be Adopted-President Fa-
vors Drastic Measures Dealing With
Car Shortage.


the present session have gone fol
naught in the face of the manifest IN
terest in the matter all over the coun-
try. To be sure a minimum and max
imum tariff law does not mean neces-
sarily revision and If the standpat ele-
ment has it's way, it will not even mean
the lowering of the tariff wall. Still.
there is a chance that some conces-
sfons might be made and in this view
of the case there is much interest in
all quarters.
There are two propositions advanced
in connection with maximum and min
imum tariff. That of the standpat ele-
ment is to allow the present law to re-
main in force and grant the president
permission to increase the existing du-
ties rs per cent where it is shown that
American exports are being discrimin-
ated against in any country and to
impose rs per cent duty where such
is desired even in the case OF articles
now on the free list.
The proposal of the revisionists, on
the other hand is that the present tar
iff should remain the maximum rate,
and In case it was wished to make a
concession to friendly country the
president should be allowed to scale
down the existing duties 20 per cent.
This would be something like revision,
but there is such a wide preach De-
tween the two factions that it Is very
doubtful whether anything in the way
Of a satisfactory compromise measure
can he agreed on at the present ses-
sion.
Congress has come to the front with
lust the promptitude that ought 10 De
expected in forwarding relief TO the
Kingston earthquake sufferers. Inc
president has issued a proclamation on
the subject, but the house and the SEN
ate rushed thru joint resolution pro-
yiding for the forwarding Of the
steamship Celtic with supplies almost
as soon as the proposal was made.
There was some little discussion In the
house over the technical form Of the
resolution, but in the senate it was put
thru absolutely without debate. Inc
American Red Cross has appropriated
So 900 for the relief Of the sufferers and
this is being rushed to Jamaica by the
first steamer. All reports Of the dis
aster agree that it is actually greater
in loss of life than that at San Fran
cisco, and the suffering of the tnhabl-
tants is the more acute seeing that
they are so isolated from sources OF
relief. The first supplies which reach
them will naturally be most welcome,
and this country is in a position to
give them prompter aid than any 9TH
er nation, The Swettenham incident
has somewhat dampened the ardor OF
others who were disposed to give.
Seeing that the senate was not con-
fined to pulling chestnuts out OF the
fire for the house, the members got
hurriedly together this week and pass
ed an increased salary bill for them
selves. It was rather funny situa-
ton. The members had most Of them
wanted the increase bad enough, but
had voted against the proposal when
the legislative and judicial appropria-
ton bill was passed. All Of them got
on record against the salary raise on
an "Aye and No" vote. 1t was hoped
that the senate would insert q provis-
ion for increased salaries when the bill
was passed by that body, and if this
had been the case the house could
have shyly acquiesced, rather under
protest don't you know, at the idea OF
having to take the money. But the
senate was not going to force any such
dire decision on them, and the bill
came back with the salary increase
conspicuously missing. So the house
moved to non-concur in the senate bill
and damned the increased appropria-
ton thru without demanding a divis-
ion. The chances are that the senate
will concur when the bill goes to con-
ference so Senators and members will
hereafter get $1,000 a year and cabinet
officers $4,000.
AS was expected, the report of Engi-
neer Stevens on the Gatun dam, which
is the essential feature of the lock ca
nal scheme at Panama, was entirely
favorable, and disposes Of the scare
stories to the effect that the dam could
not be built as proposed. Mr.. Stevens
reported boring taken at the location Of
the dam showing that there is a good
rock foundation over nearly the whole
area. Experimental pits have also been
sunk, and these show even a better
quality of rock than was indicated by
the drill corps, so there is no reason
why the dam cannot be built just as
was proposed in the original plan
The president wishes to take drastic
measures against the railroads of the
northwest, where it is claimed that
coal cars are being held up in the face
of a desperate fuel famine, affecting
many communities. Mr.. Roosevelt has
been in conference with Chairman
Knapp Of the interstate commerce COM
and has gathered data for
special message, which will soon be
submitted to congress, comforting fur
Their powers upon the interstate COM
merce commission to deal with car
shortage and car congestion whenever
1t shall occur. Some of the reports in
dictate that 1900 loaded coal cars are
being held up at Minneapolis pending
the settlement Of trivial disputes with
the consignees 1t is claimed that the
railroads, especially the Great North
ern and the 500 Line. have not lived up