Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1908-05-20
(washington Specially

washington specially
Tarin revision win be taken up al
q special session Of the next congress
Immediately following the Inaugural
ton, March 4, 1909. Republican lead
ers, including President Roosevelt and
Secretary Of War Taft, who is certain
to be his successor are agreed to this
programme and the national conven-
ton will declare in favor or it as al.
ready has the Iowa Republican con-
vention, controlled by the friends of
Senator Allison.
The Republicans OF Iowa will bs
called upon, therefore. to decide at the
state primaries on June whether
they will have Senator Allison or Gov
ernor Cummins participate in the next
revision Of the tariff. Az a ere busi-
ness proposition this choice will mean
millions OF dollars to the farmers,
stockmen and producers Of Iowa. Up
on 1t win Depend whether Iowa farm
products will continue to be protected
by favorable tariff, which Senator
Allison always has secured for his
state. or whether Iowa farmers and
stockmen want to have Canadian
products enter this country in free
competition with them, as repeatedly
advocated by Governor Cnmmins.
Iowa or Canada?
The choice between Allison ana
Curnmfns Is a choice between farm
psetSction and Canadian competi-
ton. This fact alone ought to
be sufncient to give Senator ALI
son the united support OF every
farmer and stockman and every
person interested in the prosperity OF
Iowa. It's a pocketbook question with
every resident Of Iowa It's up to the
people Of Iowa to determine whether
they have had too much prosperity
and are now willing to let Canada and
Canadian land promoters and all the
trusts interested in the development of
that British soil take that prosperity
away from them
IS When thenext~congress takes mp tar
ia revision the real battle win be
fought out in the house committee on
ways and means and the senate com
mittee on finance. which will have in
charge the preparation of the tariff
bill. Iowa has no member on the house
ways and means committee and Sen
alter Allison is Its only representative
on the senate finance committee. The
state thus has to depend on Senator
Allison If 1t is TO have representation
on the tariff committees 1t is impossi.
bic for new member to get on these
committees, either in the house or the
senate. for they are the most eagerly
sought after and invariably 60 to the
older members. Senator Beveridge has
been trying ever since he got in the
senate to get on its finance committee
and is still long ways from it,
Eastern states. particularly those
that are interested In the reduction OF
tariff on agricultural products and Ca
madam free trade have seen to il by
long continuance Of their representa-
tives and senators in congress that
their places on the tariff committees
have been well secured. New York
alone has three members on the two
committees, including the chairman of
the house committee. Rhode Island has
two. including the chairman of the sen
ate committee. Pennsylvania and Mich.
igan have two each and Connecticut,
Maine and Massachusetts are repre-
scented by strong members.
Allison's Influence.
No state, however, Is more power |
fully represented. not even New York |
with its three members, than is Iowa |
with Senator Allison He is ranking
member OF the senate committee next
to the chairman. lie has been a mem |
Der OF the senate committee since 1877 |
and could have been its chairman |
number of times. but preferred to re- |
tain the craftsmanship OF the great APP |
preparations committee, which gives |
him added power on the finance COM
mittee. No man in congress has had as |
much to do with the tariff laws as Sen
ator Allison and it Is conceded that |
he Is one of the best posted men in |
the history of the nation on that sub |
5ect.
After tariff has passed the house |
It goes to the senate. where innumer-
able amendments are made or some |
times new tariff bin substituted for
the house measure. The house will
then refuse to accept the senate
changes and the entire matter Is re-
ferred to conference" committee
consisting of the ranking members OF
the house and senate committees. This
Is the all-powerfui committee on the
tariff, for 1t is the final and most vital
battle-ground between the rival tariff
interests. From this final report the tar
IN law comes, for II is rare that eth
er the house or the senate rejects q
conference committee recommendation,
which is in the nature Of an arbitration
agreement.
Unless Mr.. Allison Is reelected to
participate In the next tariff revision