The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1909-05-25

maximum rate of duty. 1t is simple
justice to you to have this fact
known"
And this from Hon. Jos. H.
Gaines:
II know very we'll that you first
brought the Importance Of these
items to my attention and that your
work was effective with the entire
Ways and Means Committee. In
my opinion your representation of
the Importance of placing these pro-
ducts in the free list, resulted in that
action. Certainly no well informed
person here, whether he be your
political friend or not, would dis
pute this"
All of this list of letters are from
3-LEVER
members of the Ways and Means
Committee who had to deal with this
matter. l did not write any other
members of the Committee because
I had made my efforts through these
gentlemen, whose letters have
quoted and who therefore are famil-
lar with the situation. l am sure
that these letters convince any rea-
sorable fair minded man that the Re-
publican members of the Ways and
Means Committee regarded me as
having instituted the fight which
was most largely responsible for
the result, but l wish it distinctly
understood that l have said repeat
edly, that every member of the South
Carolina delegation and every South
ern member whose attention was
called to the matter, gave active
and efficient aid. These letters ought
to settle the question raised by your
correspondent that it was Mr.. Bow
ers and others who first called at.
tention to the fact that these fertiliZ-
er ingredients were made dutiable,
but for fear that they have not done
so | wish you to print the follow
ing, and send you copy, letter OF
Hon. Z. j. Bowers himself, which
can leave no further doubt in the
minds of any that your correspondent
is absolutely mistaken in his state
ment both as to Mr.. Bowers being
the first to "call attention to it, :"
and that later Mr.. Lever became
active" You will see that Mr..
Lever was the first man to become
active and that Mr.. Bowers follow
ed his lead and Mr.. Bowers says so:
Bay st. Louis, Miss, April 29.
Hon. A. f. Lever, Washington, D.
G.
My Dear Mr.. Lever: have your
letter of the 26th inst, calling my
attention to the publication in your
State of certain articles with refer
ence to the movement to put potash
salts and basic Stag on the free list;
and especially to the statement that
first called attention to the fact
that by the Payne bill as first re-
ported they were subjected to the
maximum and minimum provisions
of said bill and it affords me pleasure
to give. you statement of the whole
matter, insofar as my knowledge of
and connection with 1t extends.
my attention was first called to
the provision in question by you.
AS l recall the matter, you came to
my Office one morning during the
consideration of the tariff bill and
after stating the facts and comment
ing upon the loss and expense that
would be entailed upon the agricul-
tural States by the provisions of the
Payne bill on these items, suggest
ed that l join you in movement
to have them stricken from the meas
ure. We examined the bill togeth-
er, and finding that you were COR
rect l at once replied that l would
do all in my power and we immediate
ly left the office building to work
to have the matter corrected. My
recollection is that you had perhaps
already spoken to some members of
the Ways and Means Committee on
the subject and when we separated
it was with the understanding that
each should see as many as possible,
and do everything possible to remove
what we considered an injustice and
burden upon our constituents.
Il did see several members and
received favorable assurances from
them, and you did the same as l
ascertained not only in the course
of my own efforts, but from confer
ences which we had later the same
day and on the following days. |
recall one conference in particular,
had in the cloak room after we were
assured that the matter would be
righted, to which you called me an3
at which another gentleman was
present, in which we discussed, and
determined upon the proper verbiage
and provisions to correct the bill.
or course We both did all in our
power in the premises, but there can
be no sort of doubt that you first
called attention to the matter, and
that l joined after you had discov-
cred the situation. | want to make
that statement as strong as possible.
In all our efforts | always regarded
You as having initiated the fight, and
you certainly led in the movement, If
for no other reason, because OF that
fact and because you first discovered
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