Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1909-04-21

denied that it is a merit system.
Senator Clapp, referring to the re-
marks of Mr.. Smith, said they limited
at matters that could not be publicly
debated and he criticised the general.
operation of the law. Senators Scott,
Bailey, Gallagher and Bacon all
Joined in a general denunciation OF
the law, especially criticising the
pending bill which, as amended by
the committee, included messenger
boys and charwomen among those
who must be examined for appoint
ment for work in the census Office.
No action was taken.
Tariff Bill Passes.
Washington, D. c., April 9.-Late
this evening the tariff bill passed
the house. 1t is substantially the
measure reported by the ways and
means committee in the first place.
except that it has been modified by
various amendments submitted by
that same committee in humble ac-
acknowledgement of the fragment OF
mistakes it has consistently made. In
the tariff bill as adopted by the house
hides are free, sawed lumber remains
at 81 per thousand feet, which is
half the Dingley rate, tea is free, COT
fee is free oil is free, and the coun-
teryailing duties on oil, lumber, and
coffee, which were evident avenues OF
fraud ON the people, have been re-
moved. The advances made, to the
surprise of the people, on hosiery and
gloves, unfortunately remain. The
rates now in operation on cotton,
wooden, and silk goods of the kind
women buy in dry goods stores are
unchanged and the present high
prices will be maintained SO far as
the house of representatives is con-
cerned There was no vote In re-
gard to- hosiery and gloves, the lead
ers of the house having been afraid
to trust their colleagues to go on rec
ord The protest of the women was
ignored absolutely.
The managers of the house major
ity made a sensational surrender at
the opening of proceedings and pre-
scented a ways and means committee
amendment providing for absolutely
free OIL
at seems to be the sense of this
house," said Chairman Payne in
thick voice, that petroleum and its
products should be on the free list
The amendment was adopted with
a whoop and for the first time since
the organization of Standard Oil 1T
stood stripped of all legislative favor
and on a level with all its competi-
tors. Ringing cheers, in which both
democrats and republicans joined,
greeted the passage of the amend
ment When the final stage of the
debate had arrived and Speaker Can
non was about to put the bill on final
passage, Champ Clark, leader of the
democrats. made a demand that a sep
arate vote be had on oil. The regu-
lars resisted. Cannon hesitated, but
finally permitted the roll call which
put on record every member OF the
house on the question of free oil.
The final vote on the bill itself was
217 to 161, practically strict party
vote. On the final passage four demo-
Gratis, Brussard, Estopinal, Pujo and
Wickliffe, all of Louisiana, voted with
the republicans. Austin of Tennes-
see was the only republican who cast
his vote against it.
Washington, April 10.-The bill to
provide for the taking of the next
census was passed by the senate in a
form which, it is understood, will
meet the views Of the president re-
garding appointments for the census
work under regulations by the civil
service commission.
Washington, D. c., April 12.-When
the senate committee on finance met
Senator Aldrich presented the report
ON the Payne tariff bill agreed ON by
the majority of the committee. The
report is a victory for the many
women who opposed the Payne tax on
hosiery and gloves. The senate COM