The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1909-11-13

speaker here last night before the Uni
versity Civics club. He had been I'M
vited to address the club on the sub
1ect--The Tariff Act of 1909. An I'm
feresting programme had been ar
ranged following a banquet Among
the speakers were President McVey OF
the North Dako-a university, Dean
Bruce Of the law department and Sen
ator McCum5er.
The senior representative In the up
per branch Of the federal congress
from North Dakota was ELOQUENT and
Impressive His address. while some
what extended, was as short as ii
could be made to cover the big subject
on which he spoke by special request
He said
Mr.. Chairman: i did not choose my
subject for this address, It was chosen
Tor me. am gratihed, however to have
the opportunity Of discussing the tariff
act OF 1000 Although often yexed be-
cause OF false statements concerning both
the bill and my attitude thereon, I have
not had occasion since the enactment OF
the law to address myself to its subject
tage OF your courteous invitation to make
the subject as clear as possible
snail spend no time In considering the
partisan question Of whether free trade,
tarin should be our national policy /
assume what you want to know Is what
the new act Is, whether there Is a sub
stantlal reduction from the Dlngley bill,
and II so to what extent, and what new
provisions enter into 1t, and their purposes
In some respects l can make the subject
more clear by showing my own connection
myself from It,
There has been 50 much of the false
published and 30 little of the truth con-
corning this tariff bill, and what actuated
those who voted for It, that | purpose to
lay before you the whole subject Of tariff
legislation, not In detail, as that would
require volumes but comprehensively
enough to make 1t reasonably clean If
truth plainly stated can convince the mind.
then Ishall convince you that the presi-
dent In approving the legislation subsery-
ed the very best interests of the people
Of the whole country, and that every act
and every note Of my colleague and my
sel had Tor It's foundation the welfare of
the people of the state of north Dakota.
How Senate Committees Made.
I have seen 1t limited 50 often in pub
locations that in order to secure posi-
lion on great committee In the senate,
Dne must be In accord with the chairman,
[ shall first explain how these committees
are made up. think It will interest those
who are not acquainted with the rules
governing the creation of the committees.
The republicans Of the senate have what
they call a chairman Of the republican
caucus He Is generally the senator hay
Ing the longest service he calls the
members of that party together to dis
cuss questions involving party principles.
The democratic members are organized
exactly the same way. When entered
Senator Allison Of Iowa After his death
Senator Hale Of Maine became the chair
man. Now, at the beginning Of each CON
s gPess, every Two years, the republican
tion direct the chairman to appoint nine
republican members of the senate as
committee on committees. These mem.
bers are collected so as to- represent as
nearly as possible each section Of the
country, and for the most part different
senators are selected each two years.
These nine senators SO appointed proceed
to make up the many committees That ls,
they select the republican members Of
each committee and the democratic COM
mittee on committees select the democrat
tc members to serve on each committee.
1t must be born In mind that by an
unbroken rule of the senate no senator
can be removed from committee OF which
he is member without his consent So
the duty Of this committee on commit
tees Is simply to place the new mem ers
and reassign the older members who wish
to change one committee for a better one
This explains why the older senators who
have from year to year secured places on
committees by advancement now hold the
chairmanshtps and are members of all the
I have now been In the senate ten years
and by location as well as seniority, be-
came entitled to appointment by chairman
as one Of the committee on committees.
How Got on Finance COMMITTEES.
In the Encouragement Of the committee
on finance, 1t was found that there were
several vacancies. This section OF the
country was emitted TO a place on thar
committee, and ! claimed the right for
our state. Otherwise the entire north
AfFhNQQn Ia
not be represented. was accorded that
position. These places are not traded
and any statement that promises were
made or had to be made are wholly with
put foundation. The committee on com
mittees tried to be fair to every section
Of the country.
cause knew / could better protect the
grain and stock interests of the state OF
North Dakota, and because / could ac-
complish much more In securing reductions
where / felt that the duties on any Items
ought to be reduced or repealed entirely,
than | could II were not on the COM
mittee AS everyone knows, all bills are
work is done, and the bill which "a re-
ported out Of the COMMITTEES generally
passes with little change. Those who
have doubts about any proposition gener-
which Is charged with its investigation,
and hence the necessity OF securing a
proper committee report
What | Stood for in the COMMITTEES
In this COMMITTEES I stood for the lowest
possible reduction all along the line. con-
sistent with proper protection and for no
tariff whatever on those great resources
of the. country which when once used be-
come forever exhausted. stood for free
lumber to build our homes, our barns. and
our granarles; for free coal to warm those
homes during the kong. cold winter months
long winter nights. / did not secure ab-
solutely free lumber but did get the
tariff reduced about so per cent / did
get coal reduced to 40 cents per ton, aud
nail which Is used In building those homes
reduced 20 to 80 per cent / got every
window pane reduced about 20 per cent
white lead for paints reduced 10 per cent
! got the tarin removed from every post
used In building fences, and secured d
reduction on barbcd wire for fencing OF
81 per cent. ! secured a reduction Of 25
per cent on all wagons, mowers, binders
harfows, drills, threshing machinery, rakes'
plows, cultivators, planters, etc.
OF course no one can say that he alone
secured this and that reduction. 1t re-
these reductions which I have mentioned
were secured more through my efforts with
the committee than those OF any other sem
at0r
Now, in addition to the reductions
mentioned, we secured reduction on al
most every iron and steel article which we
purchase. We secured a reduction OF 90
per cent on hammers, sledges, crow-bare,
bolts, saws, screws, sewing machine aud
fv3aewriter: reduction OF 10 per cent ON
NsH@ets Usually worm a reiuc-
tlon Of 40 per cent on boots and shoes,
s 50 and betting. rs per cent;
On gloves, generally used, 30 per cent
on harness. saddles, etc, So per cent; on
sugar from the Philippines no duty what
ever, from Cuba reduction Of 20 per cents
sugar from other countries but slight
Now. let any fair minded man answer,