Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1909-05-30
GERMANY IN TARIFF DEBATE
Senator Aldrich Charges it is Trying
to Influence Legislation.
SECRET STATEMENT OF WAGES
Document said 10 Have Been Sub
mitted by German Manufac-
facturers for Purposes of
Their own.

WASHINGTON, May Ex-senator Aldrich
denounced as "impertinent" the efforts of
the German government TO influence Amer
lean tariff legislation by supplying anony-
nous information as to wages paid German
workmen. His characterization followed a
statement by Senator Depew intimating
that German manufacturers were striving
to influence congress through the German
government and American importers of
German goods
The reply of the president to a senate
resolution calling for a statement of the
German government as to wages In Ger
many proved the signal for this animated
discussion as soon as the senate assembled
today. The president stated in his mes
sage that the document in question had
been sent 10 the committee on finance April
13 Senator Nelson, gong to the desk of
the vice president, took the presidents brief
message and as he held 1t in his hand
asked that the statement referred TO be
printed as a senate document.
'T am surprised" said Mr. Nelson, that
the finance committee has withheld the re-
port"
"I have made some investigation as to the
character of that report" replied Mr. Aid
rich land find that II consists OF state
ments by certain boards Of trade In Ger
many transmitting anonymous testimony
of manufacturers in answer to statements
made before a cCAnmittee OF congress. I am
quite willing that this document should be
printed"
Germany I'm Tariff Debate.
Mr.. Aldrich said that the statement
had been sent back to the state depart
he
said Mr.. Depew spoke of the Importance
OF the business before congress and as
serted that it was purely an American
| question. Yet" he said, I'VE find that
foreign governments are entering the SEN
ate chamber for the obstruction of legis-
lation for which the president has called
an extra session"
Stating that an internal question was
involved. MI, Depew said the publication
of the confidential document would be as
serious a matter as ever had arisen be-
tween the United States and a foreign
government. Continuing, the New York
senator said:
'T am told that Prince Won Buelow has
sent to this government an anonymous
statement. so ir detail that II has gone
even into the question of razors. Their
am told that it has been put by The
| German government into the hands OF
importers and they have put it into the
hands Of senators with free trade ten
denotes The question is one which arises
far above that of political party, as the
information was sent TO the State depart
ment under the seal of the German gov
ernment."
Mr.. LaFollette said he had been in
formed that the fact that the report had
not been given to the senate for its con
sideration had been the subject of criti'
cism and of some feeling on the part OF
the German government, as II contained
information in response TO a request OF
this government. Mr.. LaFollette declared
| that as received, the statement concerning
wages in Germany had been signed by the
German manufacturers supplying il. bu
that the signatures had been erased.
statement to BE Private.
Mr.. Aldrich then explained that th'
statement had been transmitted by tn,
German government on the condition tha
it should not be printed and such testi
mony was he said. worthless from hi
point OF view. Mr.. Aldrich said that th'
American ambassador at Berlin had re
| quested the information, but he eXplaines
he could not have asked for replies TO ties
timony given before the ways and mean
committee.
Nothing on the record" he said, show
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