The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-11-25
Revision Is EngrOssing Atten.
tiOn at Washington.
President Doesn't Consider
Task as His Job.
PROGRAM ASST STANDS
Four Items Are to Be Discussed
and Disposed Of.
Duty on Hides Will Bring About
Livelfest Contest.

IeTesting coincidence, at least, in the
fact that simultaneously with the an
nouncement that Speaker Cannon's
supporters have counted the votes
which assure his reelection comes,
also. the apparently authoritative
statement that certain matters relating
to the tariff have been settled for a
long time. These are:
Iron and steel schedules are to be cut
considerably; but the cuts are to be so
adjusted that they will not affect the
industry. 1t will have just as much
effective protection, and be just as Sc
cure against any foreign dumping, as it
is now.
Lumber rates are to be changed in
no essential respect without the consent
of the lumber interests.
Some of the agricultural schedules
may be raised.
The duty on works of art is to be re-
moved.
The duty on hides will cause one of
the biggest fights of the whole re-
vision.
This programme is, of course, subject
to change; but it is declared on excel
lent authority and belief to be the
present programme. Mr.. Taft might
shake it up considerably if he should
orously insisted that the revisionists
must state their side of the case, no
body expects he is going to make the
fight single-handed and alone. if the
revisioniSts aren't enough interested to
come around and be heard.
President Roosevelt might make some
trouble too, but he will not. That is
where the revisionists have things In
their own hand. Mr.. Roosevelt doesn't
consider that tariff revision is his job.
~ lit 1T
skunks," is the observation attributed
to the president when asked about
tariff land the tariff is Taft's skunk"
The trouble is that the tariff bill and
all the tariff dickerS will be made in
the next three months; Roosevelt re-
fuses to mix with it, and Taft can't be-
cause he isn't yet president. The ways
and means committee has fine chance
to do just as it pleases; and that's just
what it's doing
The extremes demanded by some rep
resentatives of industries have given
shock even to the devoted gentlemen
who sitting around the upper end of
the committee table, have long been re-
garded as the very high priests of pro-
lection. There has been repeated de-
mand for increase of duties. Nobody
seems willing to admit that his par
ticular industry could submit to any
reduction. The tariff is, indeed, a local
issue; everybody wants to revise on the
try, the other industry.
From all parts of the country pro-
test is rising, in daily increasing vol
ume, against the apparent purpose of
the ways and means committee to do
as little revising as possible. The i'm
preston has got to the country that
Mr.. Bayne's committee has in mind to
rewrite the Dingley act into a new
form, to talk considerably about scien-
tific adjustment, to toss some sops to
min hIr a fAN
ties where it will not make the slight
est difference, and then to pass the
measure.
1t is time that people in charge of
the matter should give ear to the
warnings against this course. There
IS little room no doubt, from the tenor
IF the Investigations thus far, that the |
house committee means to revise with
ts fingers crossed: The country has
made up it's mind that that is just /
What is doing, and it is feeling daily, |
ess cheerful about the prospect.
The determined fight of the lumber
to save their duties intact, |
.ogether with the circumstantial re-
port that the arrangement was made |
n advance by which the big lumber |
people were to be assured good treat |
nent, have caused special bitterness
n the middle west. The west has been |
,or free lumber for years. 1t must |
nave lumber, and it can't go on pay |
ng the advancing prices
The west takes some stock in the |
forest reserve and preservation move |
nent; and it wonders why on earth |
he government should spend millions !,
rying to save the forest, while at the |
same time it actually pays a premium |
% the interests that are destroying the |
forests as fast as they can. 1t is utter |
v inconsistent and illogical. If we |
ire so anxious to have the land de- |
luded of it's forests, what's the sense !
n paying out money to have reserves |
DR., if we want forests restored, why |
lot let lumber come in free, and thus |
;ave some of them?
The postoffice at Baldwin, Kan, !
will be removed next July to a site To- |
lated on the west side of Eighth street, |
between Grove and High streets.
Miss Mabel v. Harrington of Kan |
;as, has been appointed clerk at 5000 |
per annum in the census bureau.
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