Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1909-03-10

7
non side as result Of President Taf's
position and they are confident that the
sneaker will be reelected and that no
change will be made in the rules.
Signs are clear that there will be
battle over the lumber tariff no matter
what action is taken by the ways and
means committee. A report, apparently
officisl, that the committee has decided
10 recommend 8 reduction 10 the duty
of from 81 to 81 per thousand feet has
served TO fill the air with belligereut
talk. A representative Of big lumber
interests 10 the far northwest declares
that if Congress make such cut Wash
ing.on and Oregon will 90 democratic.
An Ohio republican congressman Is
equally strong 10 his declaration that
uuIess the 81 rate is cut out and lumber
placed on tue free list be and dozens OF
his associates vii fight to the finish.
Congress remove q three cent tax from
coffee in 1871 in compliance with
general protest against taking the poor
mans breakfast table" That slogan
has served so often in political cam
psigns IS TO give general credence to
the report that the committee will leave
coffee on the free list If a provision to
tax coffee should 90 Into the tariff law
the added cost to the consumer would be
considerably more than 4 cents pou I'D.
The coffee imported in 1907 amounted
to 982, 900, 900 pounds and IL wss valued
at eight cents pound. A tariff of four
cents would 1t Is claimed add to the
amount of capital broker would require
10 his business aud for the interest be
would have to pay to the banks for the
use of the incrt ased capital be would
seek reimbursement from the consumers.
Another trouble about the tax on coffee
ia the fact that it would not be a revenue
producer for about two years, BAIL,
which Is 10 the coffee business, has q
tremendous stock on hand and the
stocks held 10 Europe would be rushed
| Into this country just before the tariff
took effect. The tsrifl would be just so
much clear profit to the spectators.
There was this sort OF condition in the
wool business when the Dlngley bill
placed about As per cent duty on wool,
which had been free under the Wilson
law. Just before the DINGHY rates took
effect wool from ell the world was dump
ed into the UnitedStstes and three years
ELAPSED before tho market settled down
to a normal basis.
With the million dollar appropriation
for the prevention of fraud upon the
public domain Immediately available,
Land Commissioner Dennett is busy To-
day organizing bis force 10 clean up old
business in the land Office and to get at
the bottom ofnew frauds said to have been
committed 10 the northwestern states.
The field force of the land Office will be
Immediately increased by the addition Of
200 trained men who will be put at
work fhis SUMMER in the northwest
where cold winters make it necessary to
do most of the outdoor work IN the sum
mer months.
representative Mckinley, Of Califor
Ina, is snxious to see ali questions re-
lsting to racial troubles settled by the
federal court. This suggestion was
made by President Taft in his inaugural
address, aud Mckinley says, If it Is
adopted, it would meet With the approval
of the people OF the Pacific coast. "Oali.
fornia " 8 law abiding state" said
| Mckinley, "and if the japanese contro-
versy was brought up 10 the Supreme
Court, she would abide by the result
without a murmur. What we want out
there is a speedy settlement on the mat
ters involved and VIC think that II the
federal courts could get the cases they
would dispose of them in short order "
Remaining silent on the subject Of
changes in the Interior Department IN
der his admins ration, Secretary Balm.
ger today gave out az interview out
lining in q general way the policies be
intends to follow. he said: 81 know
of only one policy that pertains to az
administrative officer and that Is to adj
minister the law as be finds II aud co.
force the highest efficiency on the par
of his subordiuates. The Interior De-
psrtment, | think, deals with mort
statuatory laws then any other and it'
most complicated and difficult labors are
confined to the protection and disposs
OF the public domain, with which fee
considerable familiarity because OF nos
service as commissioner Of the centra
laod Office and general knowledge o
western conditions. It is understood
here that Commissioner OF lndiaI
Affairs Leupp will not be retained IL
Office and that Commissioner DenOett o
the general land Office will remain a
his post.
II the new tariff bill, being prepared
By the House, does not provide for
two-cent tax stamp on bank checks, /
was learned today that q provision t.
this effect will be added By the Senate
The duty on lead is cut 10 the new bill
so per cent. Provision will be made
for the importation every year Of $50,
600 tons of Philippine sugar free o
duty. A similar concession will be made
to the tobacco interests Of the islsnds
The revenue problem Is still worrying
the tariff makers. With the aid D
experts the members Of the way
and means committee are bnsill
eng ged in figuring out just wba
amount of revenue may be expected
from the schedules as they are now ten
tstively arranged II the result 10 no
satisfactory some OF the schedules vii
have to be revised Ii is Tor this rasOT
that there is still so much uncertainty
sbou. the fual shape that the measure
will take shsu reparied. TIE last print
ed draft of the bill left coffee free, butt j