The Detroit times., 1908-11-28
CLARK IS EXPONENT
Or FREE TRADE ON
IRON AND STEEL
CONGRESSMAN OFFERS $500 TO
SEND SOMEBODY TO EUROPE
TO INVESTIGATE CONDITIONS
OTHER WASHINGTON NEWS.
TIMES BUREAU,
MUNSEY BUILDING.
WASHINGTON Nov %.

I'm going 10 night TO place Iron and
steel on the free list" said Represen-
tative Champ Clark, OF Missouri, TO
your representative. Mr.. Clark is a
member Of the ways and means com.
mittee. This observation from
tho prospective leader OF the
Democrats Of the house was
made while the committee was
hearing Jesse +. Orion, secretary OF
the Tariff Reform Committee of the
Reform club of New York. Some of
the Republican members of the ways
and means committee, particularly
Mr.. Dalzell. were inclined 10 criticize
Mr.. Crton as theorist. whose beliefs
had no foundation In fact. Repre-
sentatives Clark and w. Bourke Cock
ran, took up the cudgels for the wit
ness.
Preliminary TO his declaration that
he will favor the abolition of the iron
and steel duty. Mr.. Clark said he did
not believe word that had been
uttered by the iron and steel repre-
sentatives who had testified before the
committee. He had had long expert
ence as lawyer, but he had never
met with witnesses who were more
shifty and chung together better than
the steel men. He was a poor man.
he added, but he would put 500 to-
ward a common purse TO defray the
expenses OF sending somebody to Bel
gium to 0nd out the facts regarding
this industry
This led Chairman Payne to remind
Mr.. Clark that for six months the
ways and means committees has had
experts making Investigations In for
eign countries regarding wages, pro-
duction. prices, ETC.. of various arti-
cles affected by the tariff. He hoped
the reports OF the experts would be
available in the near future.
Mr.. Orton made a general argument
against the protective policy. saying
that many OF the present schedules
seem designated for plumber rather
than for protection. THE head and
front Of tariff injustice is the steel
schedule" he said. UNLESS you wipe
this out Il will be shown that the PEG
ple cannot get justice at the hands o!
their representatives"
FOLLOWING his open letter. In which
he warned President-clect Tat and
others. James w. Van Cleave, presi
dent of the National Association oil
Manufacturers. has written letter &c
Mr.. Payne. OF New York. chairman
of the ways and means committee
Mr.. Van Cleave declines TO appear be
fore the committee to give testimony
regarding n revision Of the tarin. lie
crfticizes the present method OF es'
tablishing a principle for revision. and
GAYS q commission should be appointed
10 investigate into business conditions
Mr.. Van Cleave says the position OF
the National Association OF Manufac'
turers has not changed. Business
principles should be applied to bust
ness subject. Mr.. Payne replied, eI
pressing regret. and saying II Mr.. Van
Cleave has information which would
aid the committee he should appear
and testify.
Now that congress Is soon 10 con
vene. the national capital Is taking on
the usual Official garb. Senators and
representatives. with their families
Newspaper correspondents. and promi-
nent business men. who make their
homes in Washington in the winter
are arriving And with the coming
Of these groups attention draws to
the possible changes that may take
place In oficial life. Speaker Cannon's
friends are active TO secure the sup
port of President-elect Taft, but the
Illinois man must prove that he will
nD3 obstruct legislation In the future
;. - he has In the past before Mr.. Taft
Will make definite announcement.
Mr.. Taft's pledge for tariff revision is
unaltered, and IL Mr.. Cannon tries his
construction" methods there will be
Z tight. Congressman Burton. OF Ohio,
still remains strong possibility for
Mr.. Cannon's place as speaker. and.
should Mr.. Burton succeed Senator
Foraker, Congressman Townsend. OF
Michigan. Is a strong favorite. Mr..
Townsend opposes Cannon's methods.
a. shown by his record during the
last session OF congress.
As predicted In The Times recently
the alliance between the United States
and Japan Is near contamination. This
agreement dispels the pessimistic talk
OF persons In the United States and
Japan. IL means that the two couu'
tries will be cemented together; tina,
hosfilities are almost impossible, and
that II will have a very favorable ef
feet upon other powers towards the
eoal of worlds peace. II was noted In
Rrosident Roosevelt's speech recently
q the unwilling Of the Sheridan mon
ument that he sounded a note in this