The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1908-12-16
WASHINGTON Letter.

DEC. 15th.-Throughout this session
and until the adjournment of the extra
session, which the President will call, the
most important legislation before Con-
gress will be the measure revising the
tariff schedules. The tariff bill will not
be reported until the new Congress as
sembles for the extra session. But the
Ways and Means Committee has been
holding hearings at which representa-
tives of the various interests affected by
the proposed revision have appeared
and submitted statements outlining
their demands in the preparation of the
revised schedules. The great industries
of Pennsylvania are depending upon
Senator Boies Penrose to protect them
in the enactment of tariff legislation.
Since Congress assembled for this ses-
sion Senator Penrose has been one of
the busiest men in Washington. The
great lumber, mining, glass cutting and
other manufacturing industries of the
Keystone State have sent delegations to
Washington to consult him regarding
the schedules in which they are interest
ed and to appeal to him to see that they
are dealt with fairly in the revision. No
other Senator will have more to say re-
garding the proposed legislation than
Senator Penrose. As the representative
in the Senate of the greatest industrial
State in the Union and as a member of
the Senate Committee on Finance he
occupies a commanding position in the
enactment of tariff legislation. The tar
iff bill will be referred to that Commit
tee when it reaches the Senate, and Sen
ator Penrose will be consulted with re-
ference to every provision affecting
Pennsylvania. By reason of his famili-
arity with the industrial conditions in
the Keystone State, Senator Penrose is
well equipped for the work of preparing
a tariff measure. He is stalwart pro-
tectionist, and while he recognizes the
fact that many of the schedules should
be revised the prediction that he will in
sist upon the fullest protection for the
industries of his State is a safe one.
The certainty that Penrose will be re-
elected has greatly increased his influence
in the councils of the Senate. Already
there is talk of his selection as chairman
of the Committee on Finance, in many
respects the most important Senate
committee. Senator Aldrich of Rhode
Island, who has been chairman for
many years, has announced that he
would retire from public life at the end
of his term and the general belief at the
capitol is that the Pennsylvania Senator
will be his successor. Senator Penrose
now has one of the most important
chairmanships. AS head of the Com
mittee on Postoflices and Post Roads he
directs the deliberations of the great
business committee of the upper branch
of Congress. At each session that COM
mittee prepares and reports the largest
appropriation bill considered by Con-
gress. 1t provides expenditures for the
entire postal service. At the last ses-
sion it authorized appropriations ag-
gregating about 1925 ,000,0 600. Anindcx
to the extent of the Committees work
is found in the fact that on one day last
week, President Roosevelt sent to the
Senate the nominations of more than
four hundred postmasters. Each of
these appointments must be considered
separately by the Committee before it
can be reported to the Senate for con-
firmation or rejection. In addition to
his duties as chairman of the Commit
tee, Senator Penrose is chairman of the
Postal Commission, which is now pre-
pairing bill, which, if enacted, will
bring about an entire reorganization of
the business methods of the Postoffice
Department. Senator Penrose is a con-
spicuous example of the United States
Senator who more than earns his salary.