The Washington herald., 1909-05-16
SUNDAY, MAY IS, 1909
(By the Universal News anslys1s.l
Congressional.


was stiI on the job. with Aldrich at the
lever, despite the heroic efforts OF the
Republican insurgents and q large sec
ton OF the Republican press 10 obstruet
It's progress or to change its direction. an
apparent willingness to make some con-
cess!ons was shown by the engineer the
next day. when Senator Root, Of New
York. challenged the Finance Committee
10 explain the high rates in the window
glass schedule. The test came on the
proposition Of Cummins 10 reduce by a
quarter OF a cent a pound the duty OF
21-s cents a pound on pig lead, fOrty-two
Republicans and TWO Democrats voted
against the reduction. while twenty-fOur
Democrats and eleven Republicans voted
for Il. The proposed reduction was moth
ing more nor less than the rate fixed by
the House in the Payne bill Again
Reveridge moved to cut the duty 10 >
cents fat. but this too was defeated. g
10 45-
II was Beverfdge who succeeded in
smoking out the man al the lever by
quoting a previous speech Of AldTich. in
which he admitted that he had not read
the reports Of the House hearings, where
as later he had said he knew al about
them. Angriiy. Aldrich replied with the
sarcastic remark that the impression pre-
vailed that Mr.. Beveridge knew il all"
-. he advised the Indlanian TO learn
more and say less. Borah asserted that
TO amount OF duty given or withheld
could affect the lead trust or the smelter
trust. as they have interests on both
sides OF the American border. and can
shift their operations on z moments
notice"
Near the end Of Tuesdays session the
first break IN the AIdrich programme was
made q mild inquiry from Root about
the proposed high rates on glass. in view
OF the statistics showing a decline in
glass imports under the existing law
Aldrich moved adjournment. and after d
personal conference with the New York
Senator let It be known that he would
withdraw the glass schedule for repairs
downward This was regarded BY some
as surrender to the administration, OF
which Root Is the acknowledged spokes-
man Others argued that this and other
proposed concessions were now in order
merely to placate public opposition.
On Wednesday Aldrich asked that every
item on which objection was made TO be
passed over for further consideration by
the committee. The discussion on the
glass schedule showed that competition in
window glass is such that tariff rates
DO not affect It one way or the other.
Aldrich himself admitted that the duty
had no relation 10 the retail price Hale
jumped into the retailers IN order 10
contrOvert the economic failacy Of the
Democrats that the face Of duty Is
added 20 the price paid by the consumer
Of Germany Gore. OF Oklahoma. replied
in defense Of the retailers. saying that n
most cases goods were sold 20 them 10y
the manufacturer under contract TO be
sold at a specified price.
When Representative Olmsted- Of Penn
sylvania. asked the House Thursday for
unanimous consent 20 consider z bill 10
carry out the wishes OF President Taft
as 10 the legislative deadlock IN Porto
Rico, objection was made BY Leader
Clark. Of the minority. on the ground
that the measure had not been considered
by any committee. as no committee on
insUlar affairs existed in the House Later
q resolution, offered by Representative
Garnet. Of Tennessee. requesting the
Speaker 10 appoint the committee on in
sular affairs. was defeated by the ma
jority- The Speaker has taken the posi-
tiOu that at the extra session only such
committees should be appointed as were
imperative for the revision OF the tariff
On Monday the Republicans had tried
TO have the Porto Rican bin referred 70
the Ways and Means Committee. but the
Democrats had objected.
On Friday, by the vote OF 81 20 q. the
committee amendment to assess iron ore
3 cents a ton was accepted forty-three
Republicans and eighteen Democrats be-
ing recorded for IL while ten Democrats
and fourteen Republicans voted no The
Democrats who stood by The Republican
committee were all from the South ex-
cept Chamberlain, Of Oregon The Re
publican dissenters were those known as
the insurgents. In brief speeches, Sen
ators Bailey. Daniel and Money. on the
Democratic side. had argued that. as Il
was necessary 20 tax some articles for
revenue. iron ore was one that could
serve that purpose without appreciable
benefit TO the steel trust Bailey. indeed.
attacked the trust violently saying its
officials should be in Jail OF fugitives
from justice He warned the Republican
Senator's that they were sleeping on
volcano and that they would hear from
the people If they refused to lift the bur
den OF tS0,000, 600 from the backs OF the
people by passing an income tax law.
He urged Aldrich to consent to an early
vote on that proposition. as well as on
the bill as a whole and the Republican
leader would have consented but for the
objection Of the insurgents.
4 favorable report on the Philippine
tariff bill was made by Chairman Payne
IN the House Thursday. and discussion
OF the measure was begun The commit
~,~orocn1 70 - Fr- ho~
fusUlar revenue taxes placed on all i'm
ports from countries other than the
United States.
That the tobacco trust had muIcted the
consumer out OF S1S4.0o0 900 in eight years,
through q legislative joker which en-
abled Il TO sell understood packages. was
the startling assertion made BY Senator
BeveTidge Friday.