The San Francisco call., 1909-05-30
DIGNITY
AWFULLY RUFFLFD
AIdrieh Practically Tells the
Kaiser to Mind His Own
Business
German Government Is Accused
of Impertinent Meddling With
the Tariff Tinkering

WASHINGTON, May Ex-senator
Aldrich denounced as .impertinent" the
efforts of the German government to
influence American tariff legislation by
supplying anonymous information as
to wages paid German worlimen.
His Characterization followed state
ment by Senator Depew intimating that
German manufacturers were striving
to influence congress through the Ger
man government and American i'm
porters of German goods.
WAGES IN GERMANY
The reply of the president to SEN
ate resolution calling for a statement
OF the German government to wages
In Germany proved the signal for this
animated discussion as soon as the
senate assembled today. The president
stated in his message that the docu-
ment in question had been sent to the
finance committee April 13.
Senator Nelson going to the desk of
the vice president took the presidents
brief message, and as he held it in his
hand, asked that the statement referred
to be printed as a senate document.
ANONYMOUS TESTIMONY
'I am surprised" said Mr.. Nelson,
that the finance committee has with
held that report"
81 have made some investigation as to
the character of that report" replied
Aldrich. "and I find that it consists or
statements by certain boards of trade
of Germany transmitting anonymous
testimony of manufacturers in answer
to statements made before a committee
of congress- 1 am quite willing that
this document should be printed"
Depew spoke of the Importance of
the business before congress, and as
serted that it was purely an American
question.
Yet" he said, I'VE find that foreign
governments are entering the senate
chamber for the obstruction of legisla-
tion for which the president has called
an extra session"
GOES INTO DETAIL
Continuing, the New York senator
said:
'I am told that prince Won Bulow
has sent to this government an anony-
nous statement so in detail that 1T
has gone even into the question of
razors. Then 1 am told that it has
been put by the German government
into the hands of Importers and they
have put it into the hands of senators
with free trade tendencies. The ques-
ton is one which arises far above that
of political party, as the information
was sent to the state department under
the seal of the German government"
GERMAN GOVERNMENT MIFFED
La Toilette, declaring that the senate
was entitled to such information, said
he had been Informed that the fact
that the report had not been given to
the senate for its consideration had
- 1F
some feeling on the part of the German
government, as it contained informa-
tion IN response to a request of this
government. La Toilette declared that
as received the statement concerning
wages in Germany had been signed by
the German manufacturers supplying
it, but the signatures had been erased.
Aldrich then explained that the state
ment had been transmitted by the Ger
man government on the condition that
it should not be printed and such
testimonies, he said, would be worth
less from his point of view.
Aldrich stated that the American
ambassador at Berlin had requested in
formation, but he explained he could
not have asked for replies to testimony
given before the ways and means com
mittee.
THINKS 1T IMPERTINENT
Nothing on the record" he said.
shows what the ambassador asked
for. II / am not saying something
harsh I would say the attempt on the
part of any government or of manu-
facturer of any government to influ-
ence legislation of congress in this
way is to say the least, impertinent."
Further discussion with reference to
this report" said Carter, relinquishing
the floor and smiling, may we'll be
postponed until the document itself is
printed"
The presidents message was referred
to the committee on finance, Aldrich
remarking that he would have the Ger
man report translated at once and
printed.
An amendment was adopted fixing the
duty on barley at 80 cents bushel-
Aldrich then offered a committee
amendment making the 25 per cent ad
valorem duty on biscuits applicable to
unsweetened biscuits and fixing duty
of so per cent ad valorem on sweet
fed biscuits and other baker articles.
The amendment was agreed to.
DUTY ON HOPS RAISED
Another amendment offered by Al
drich and agreed to increased the duty
on hops from Is cents per pound, the
senate rate, to 20 cents. The house
rate was IL cents.
An amendment offered by Dupont
increasing the duty on potatoes from
25 to As cents per bushel of so pounds
was adopted.
The McCumber amendments, redraft-
ing the paragraph covering flowers and
bulbs and substituting specific rates
for ad valorem rates was agreed to.
The fish schedule was further amend
ed by placing a duty of 25 per cent ad
valorem on oysters in the shell. Eels
or smelts, fresh or frozen, are also
taxed / cent per pound.