Middletown transcript., 1907-01-26
WASHINGTON LETTER

Z
a WAsHIScToS, D. c., Jan. 18th, 1906.
Al ApN0CATEs of tariff revision are in
s. testeiy Pleased over the way that re
s vision talk has been revived BY the
s speech Of Secretary Root before the For
. eign Trade Consenion. All the agree
mentsof the Ilarse aud Senate Traders
that this subject should not be brought
up at the present session have gone for
! naught il lace OF the manifest interest in
! the matter all over the country. To be
sure minimum aud maximum tariff law
does not mean necessarily revision and If
the stand pat element has its way, il will
not even mean the lowering of the tariff
wall. Still, there is chance that some
concessions might be made and in this
view OF the case there is much Interest in
all quarters. There are two propositions
advanced in connections with maximum
and minimum tariff. That of the stand
pat element is to allow the present law to-
remain in force aud grant the Pre- ident
permission t'' increase the existing duties
25 per cent. where it is shown that Amer
ican exports are being Disseminated
against in any country ard to impose
25 per cent. duty where snch is desired
even IN the case OF articles now OH the
free lists. The proposal OF the revision
lists on the other hand, is that the pres
ent tailff should remain the maximum
rate aud in case it Was wished to make a
concession to friendly country the Presi-
dent sllonld bs allowed to scale down the
existing duties 20 per cent. This would
be something like revision, but there is
such vide breach between the two fac.
tions that it is very doubtful whether
/ anything in the way Of satisfactory COM
/ promise tneasue can I've agreed on at the
present session.
/ *x*~
/ Congress has come to the front with
just the promptitnde that ought to be ex-
pected in forwarding relief to the Kings
ton eartl quake sufferers The President
has issued no proclamation on the sub
ject, but the House and the Senate rushed
through joint resolution providing for
the forwarding OF the steamship Celtic
with supplies almost as soon as the pro-
posal was made. There was some little
discussion in the House over the teehni-
cal form ofth resolution, but in the Sem
ate it was put through absolutely without
RI hate TIa D.
appropriated Sc, 900, for the relief OF the
the sufferers, and this is being rushed
to Jamaica by the first steamer. All
reports of the disaster agree that it is
actually greater in loss OF life than that at
San Francisco and the suffering of the in
habitants 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 aud this
country is in a position to give them
prompter aid than any other nation. 1t
is a satisfaction TO feel that this aid lie be-
ing given SO quickly and generously as
should be the case even to an enemy in
distress, but how much more to a related
and friendly people.
~
Seeing that the Senate was not confined
to pulling cliestnuts out OF the fire for the
Honse the members got hurriedly to-
gether this week and passed an increased
salary bill for themselves. It was rather
q funny situation. Tie members had
most Of 2heAausssSss.sga ais iircrearvsss<~
eeJegns Dhs Nd voted against the pro-
posal when tie legislative and judicial
appropriation bin was passed. All of
them got on record against the salary
raise on an Aye and Mo- vote. 1t was
hoped that the Senate would insert pro-
vision for increased salaries when the bill
was passed by that body, and if this had =
been tile case tbe House could have shyly
rather under protest don't
rou know, at tile idea Of having to take
he money. Bit the Senate was not GO
ng 20 force ant such dire decision on
hem. and tlie Bill came back with the
'alary IL ease conspicuously missing
10 tile House moved to nonconcur in the
Senate bill and jainmed the increased ap-
,ropriation through without demanding
i devision The chances are that the
Senate will concnr when the bill goes to
conference SO Senators and members will
get $500 year and cabinet Of
icers $4,000
=
~
As was 10 be expected, the report OF
engineer Stevens on the Gatum dam
which il she essential feature of the lock
anal scheme at Panama, was entirely
ayorable, and disposes OF the scarce
tories to the effect that the dam could
lot be built as proposed. Mr.. Stevens
eported boring taken at the location of
he dam showing that there is good
ock foundation over nearly the whole
rea. Experimental pits have also been
unk and these show even better quality
il rock than was indicated by the drill
orps, 50 there is no reason why the dam
annot be built just as was proposed in
he original plan.
Tie President wishes 10 take drastic
measures against the railroads of the
northwest, where ii is claimed that coal
ars are being held up in the face OF a
desperate fuel familIr, affecting many
Mr.. Roosevelt has beenin
onierence With Chairman Knapp OF tue
interstate Commerce Commission and has
athered data for special message which
FiIl soon be submitted TO Congress con-
erring further powers npon the Inter.
tate Commerce Commission TO deal with
ar shortage aud car congestion whenever
shall oec.lr. Some Of the reports in,ii-
ate thai 100 loaded coal cars are beitg
eld up II Minneapolis pending the SET
lement ii trivial disputes with the eei,-
;xr,snas ri Il ,.i,.isnaa fIsat the railroads,