The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1909-04-29
Payne Bill Has Some of the
Schedules Too High.
IS THERE AN UNDERSTANDING
liz Has Been Hinted That There h AN
Understanding Between New Eng
land Republicans and Southern
Democrats 10 Put Through the Al
drich High Protective Scheme
tute BiII-Judgeship Situation
Some North Carolina post-Office
Matters.
Special to The Caucasian

Sp1NA0a W AAI @ao&82tah'I
Washington. d. G.. April 27.-The
tariff situation here Is becoming more
complicated and more interesting
each day
The Republican platform pledged
the party to revise the tariff so as 10
lower excessive rates and 10 make
such other changes as were necessary
to meet changed conditions. The sub
stance of the pledge was that the
tariff should be revised downward to
a point SO that the rates would not
be higher than just enough to cover
the difference in the cost of labor and
production here and abroad and to
add reasonable profit for Ameri-
can enterprises.
Taft and Revision Downward.
President Taft, in his letter OF ac-
ceptance and in his speeches during
the campaign, went even further in
committing the party to a revision
downward. The Democrats in their
platform declared for a revision down
"dIo oIDoy but even loI u CdtCI IG~
duction in rates than the Republican
platform, going to the extent of de-
claring for free lumber and a number
of other important things to go on
the free list. The Republican speak
ers and the Republican literature is
sued during the campaign all admit
ted that there should be revision
downward, but claimed that it was
not wise to trust this to Democratic
statesmen, who are the enemies of
the principles of protection, and in
short, that the revision, while it
should be downward, should be made
by the friends of protection and not
by it's enemies.
In the light of these pledges and
the campaign waged thereon the sit
uation here in Congress, with an ex-
ira session called for the specific pur-
pose of carrying out that pledge, is
rather surprising. The committee
of each house in charge of the duty
of framing a tariff bill is dominated
by New England, New York and
Pennsylvania. They are not only
stand-patters but are, in fact, in
favor of revising upwards. The
Payne bill, as it left the house, was q
disappointment to the country, and
| it has been worked over by Senator
| Aldrich and his committee so as tC
make it the highest protection bill
ever proposed in the history of the
Republican party.
Democratic IncOmpetency.
This situation has presented 6
wonderful opportunity to the Demo
cratic Senators and Congressman tt
attack the Republican tariff bill a!
whole and in detail, by showing
the utter failure of the Republican,
to keep their platform and campaign
pledges, and lay the ground work fol
a campaign in which they would have
| a chance to elect Democrat,
house, but it seems that the Repub
the tariff bill in its present shape
| will be saved from a Waterloon of de
| feat by the incapacity of the Demo
Gratis.
1t was Grant. we believe, who one
said that the Democratic party eoul'
always be depended upon to do tn
wrong thing at the right time, am
the present situation is the latest o
many striking proofs of the truth O
that assertion. Instead of the Demo
cratic Congressman and Senator
seizing the opportunity, not only Il
the interests of the consumers of tn
country, but also in the interests Q
their party, to draw the issue sQuar
J from top to bottom, they are bus
hanging around the Republica
trough begging for protection dutie
: on articles in which their States haT
pen to be interested.
They are repudiating their campaig
pledge for free lumber and many c
them declaring that they want tn
highest possible rate, even highe
than the majority of the Republican
favor. The same kind of Macedor
ian cry comes up from the Demo
I cratic Senators and Congressme
from the cane sugar States South
4 from the sections where rice, iron OIL
t zinc and mica are produced, and ii
deed from every quarter of the Sout
D for something.
!, Is There An Understanding?
/ Indeed, during the last few day
1t has begun to be limited that thel
! is evidence of an understanding an
a combination between the Souther
Democrats and the New England r
publieans to put through the Aldris
high protection scheme. One thin