The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1909-05-12
talk DELAYS
TARIFF BILL
Review OF Business Conditions
Shows Uncertainty as to Pas
sage Of Measure Is OBJ
staCle to Recovery
ATTACKS FROM WESTEHERS

Senator Cummlns noul9es IN nsu'Sa'
Language and Threatens other
Speeches - Vote or Lead Amend
ment Shows Passage Of Bill Before
July Is Possible.
There is every reason for believing
that with the prompt enactment OF u
new tariff bill there would at once iol-
low a full restoration of normal indus
trial and mercantile activity. one OF
the country's big commercial agencies
in its review of the situation as pre-
scented during the week ending Satur-
day. May s, states positively and
souarely that tariff revision is liter
ally the last obstacle to the accom-
plishing of such a condition.
In support of this optimistic claim
significant figures are quoted; BANK
clearings outside of New York are
l5.9 per cent. better than they were
during the same period last year and
PAS per cent better than in 1906, ana
in New York they are 24.1 per cent
larger than in 1908 and 1,3 per cent
larger than in 1906. Railroad earn
ings for April show a gain of l3.s per
cent over 1908, and only 1913 per cent
decrease. as compared with the AN
ner year. 1907. immigration is 2l2,-
900 larger than last year. Imports
are much greater than they were III
1908 and nearly equal to those OF
1907. In the iron and steel trade
there is a distinct gain both in orders
and in prices, and in copper there IS
a hardening tendency. New works oil
construction are going rapidly for
ward and in almost all other fields Ia
yornble developments are reported.
Meanwhile the effect of the long
wait on the completion Of the new
tariff bill and its submission for the
signature of the President is to pro-
duce uncertainty and a suspension OF
activity in the lines of trade which
are the most affected by the pending
legislation. High or low duties make
high or low prices, and until 1t is
known what the duties shall be, 1t Is
obviously out of the question to place
large orders. II is evident, however.
that no matter what the duties may
be. the termination Of the t6<in I'M
certainty will release a vast pent-up
volume of trade and complete the
commercial and industrial revival.
This is a cheerful prospect and it
should afford corresponding encour-
agement to waiting capital and anx-
ious labor. II is satisfying to feel con-
WINGED that, whatever the lawmakers
may do, the return Of prosperity Is
certain and cannot be long checked.
At the same time, however, 1t Is
somewhat irritating that 81 much val.
liable time should be lost as there
was, apparently, in the United States
Senate during the same week covered
by the commercial agency review re-
ferred to. Those Senators known as
the Insurgents were very much in
evidence and they assailed Senator
Aldrich of Rhode Island, chairman OF
the Senate finance committee, with in
Vulnerable questions and propositions,
and talked. talked, talked! The princi-
pal. or rather the longest speaker, was
Senator Deliver of Iowa, a well-in'
tcntioned citizen, but one who has been
considerable of a "ructionist' OF late.
He had no sooner finished a two days
speech than his colleague, Senator
Cummins of Iowa, took the floor n
reiterated what Senator Dolliver had
declared was the demand Of the peo-
pie for a revision Of the tariff down.
ward. Without mincing Of words, Mr..
Cummins denounced what he declared
were commercial developments tend
ing toward trusts and monopolies, and
issued the warning that unless legis-
lation of a corrective character Is
granted by Congress and a bride
placed upon the trusts the common
people and the lamp posts" will re-
main after the alleged thralldom of in
dustrial slavery has disappeared.
1t is reported that Senator Cum.
minis intends to make FIVE or six
speeches during the consideration OF
the tariff bill. If they are to be mod
eled after this particular one the ques-
ton naturally presents itself how far
will they go toward bringing about
the era Of prosperity forecasted for
so many months past and now, accord
ing to the experienced business re-
viewers, hating tiptoe on the threshold
of Today?
With a view to demonstrating his
Republicanism Senator Cummins
made this explanation: 81 do not be-
lieve in lowering the duties to a point
that will enable foreign producers to
take the home market from II pro
ducers." But as a radical tariff revi,
sionist he insisted that the question OF
reasonable profit" has confused and
complicated an already embarrassing
situation and is being used as a cloal
to hide excessive and prohibitive rates
!. AS Senator Cummins followed Sena
tor Dolliver, so Senator Clapp OF Min
nesota walked in the footsteps of tn,
I senior senator from his state, Knut,
! Nelson. Senator Clapp Joined the 9th
I er insurgents" in warning Senate
! Aldrict that unless there were fur
4 ther reductions of duties the tarli
/ wcIld be revised by the enemies c
I protection two years hence.
Instead ri being worried by thes