Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-05-23

the time until a far more comprehen-
| sive tariff treaty could be negotiated
and approved And yet every one in
touch with the legislative situation In
the national capital IL we'll aware that
the approval of reciprocity treaty
with Germany, or in fact with any
other. European nation. is utterly I'M
possible. With the completion OF the
German4agreement, France hns present
| ed claims which cannot be ignored
without danger of precipitating tariff
war with that country. and this at
time when all American manufacturers
are reaching out for an increased mar
ket and the foreign trade of the United
States is largely accountable for the
unprecedented prosperity which the ma"
ton has so long and is still enjoying
According to the Tribune correspond
ent the programme which has been
most extensively discussed in execu-
tive and legislative conferences in
Washington, and which has many ad-
to be incorporated in the next republi-
can national platform, to call Congress
In special session soon after March 4,
1909. for the express purpose of revising
the existing tariff schedules. From
political point OF view this programme
has much to recommend IL. Practical
w. II has the advantage that the mem
bers of the next House OF Representa-
tives would then, presumably, be elect
ed under a pledge to carry such revis-
ion into effect. and the influential
would be powerless to disregard tho
recommendation of the executive, the
will of the upper house and probably
the will of the people.
The only alternative. to this pro-
gramme is for the President to urge
upon Congress the necessity of tariff
revision in his next annual message,
and prompt and effective action by tho
coming Congress. 1t may be remarked
parentheticaly that any readjustment
of the tariff schedules at short SEES
March 4. 1909. has been clearly demon
strated in the Judgment of the leaders
to be impracticable. Such a session Of
fcrs far too many opportunities for FL
clustering. 1t is between these alter
natives that the President must, before
he prepares his next annual message,
make his choice.
The President is said to have long
been convinced that the tariff should be
readjusted, and now the only problem
which confronts him is the question OF
expediency. The most powerful argu-
ment against pledging the party to
tariff revision in the next national plat
form. a revision which could not be
accomplished until practically year
later, is that the prospect Of a change
OF the tariff schedules entertained so
long in advance would have a strong
might prove gravely inimical to the
general prosperity. Business men
would naturally curtail their imports
to the bare necessities with the hope
that under the new tariff law they
could import more cheaply, and now
that so large percentage of the I'M
= ports are what is termed "manufac-
turers' materials such curtailment
y would prove most injurious. So, too
manufac turers would be disposed
to curtail their output under
they could procure their materials
' more cheaply, or with the fear that
: changed conditions might operate seri,
ously to diminish their profits on goods
. already manufactured. This argumen,
has been urged upon the President witt,
great earnestness when in the past he
has proposed tariff revision to the part,
leaders, and he appreciates that there
is force in It,
Another argument now being pressed
> is that were the Republican party &c
= tdhc VIC up ut Tue cunning SEES
sion and readjust the schedules t
changed conditions the democrac,
would be left stranded, high and dry
without a single issue. In the New
England States, In Iowa, Wise onsin, tn,
Dakotas. and in fact generally through
- out the West party leaders urge tina
% members of the House who must ap
peal to their constituents for re-elec
tion in the fail of 1908 could do so will
to this difficult and important duty
while their opponents would have n,
ground on which to go before the vot
ers. President Roosevelt will proba bl
not cross this stream until he comes T.
it, but it is worth while to keep an ey
out in this direction with reference L
possible Developments.
y AS TO TROUT FISHING.
e. CFrom the Spirit OF the Age)
IN The trout fishing season opened Wed
ii nesday, May IS. Twenty-Five hsherme
Iuvn 49, tod ana IL t. at -