Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-04-26
CAPITAL CHAT.
Tariff Talk Is Heard
On All Sides.
Census Bill the Only Other
Measure considered.
Maine Members Are Busy In Behalf
or Maine Interests.

w aoIllnStOll, -. u, April Z5-(SDec-
iaD.-If Representative Nelson Ding
ley. of Maine, could return to earth
and larry around Washington a little,
he would have opportunity to appre-
cidte the good things that men, who
guide the Nations affairs, say about
the greatest legislative work. Of his
life. Probably no tariff law was ever
more criticized than the law that bears
the Maine mans name But that is
or the principle that President Cleve-
land enunciated about the most clubs
being under the best apple trees. The
wise men around the Capitol and in the
Departments are emphasizing today.
as they never emphasized before, that
the Dingley law was one of the best
ever written upon the federal statute
books.
A goodly portion of the 100 law MAX
ers now in Washington are convinced
that if the Dingley law could have been
left undisturbed, it would have pro-
duced sufficient revenue for the needs
OF the Government, as soon as times
re viva, ard also that it's operation for
tie next few years would probably
work less injustice than any other
extra session. OF course the state Of
Maine Republicans have always been
we'll satisfied with the Dingley law.
But the Republicans from many
other states, including Republicans
from some states where there has been
clanlcr for revision. are now realiZ-
ing that the Dngley law would be sat-
isfactory and that it was unwise to
Join in the chorus of disapproval that
has brought on the present revision.
The Dingley law was one OF the
best, probably the best revenue pro-
ducer, ever written. The trouble has
| been not with the law but with the
enormous increases in the expenses of
the Government But that trouble
would not have been accentuated in
al! probability but for the panic and
the business depression. For this and
other reasons the new tariff law will
be Just as much like the Dingley law
a, it is possible. The Senate is steer
| ing that way and is seeking to make
| most of the schedules she same as
thew have been The Senate leaders
think that wiser than to launch out
or some untried expedients.
Tariff talk dominates everything just
now in Washington. The Senate is in
| full swing with its tariff debate and
| tho New England Senators are domin-
ating the debate. Not that they are
talking much 1t is not their way.
Eat they are shaping up the course
of the consideration OF the bill, per-
suatling their colleagues of the futility
of long discussion when the country
| il, waiting for the enactment and the
signature of the President and seek
ing to adjust different schedules, so
rs to give the utmost satisfaction to
the divers industries that are looking
to the Government for adequate pro-
lection. . .,
senator Hale is one of the foremost
of TIE New Englanders who are busy
i'm such role. He and Senator Aid
rich are the twin major domos Of the
Senate situation. The Maine Senator
is much upon the floor. where he is. the
recognized leader and keeps an eye
upon the development of the. debate.
Senator Aldrich. chairman Of the FL
nance Committee, is in charge of the
bill The Senate is meeting earlier
t.an usual ard sitting later than US
ual. Between sessions these two New
England leaders are taking all the
time to he had in further meetings of
the Finance Committee. That Com
nttee is brooding over further tariff
amendments of great Importance. SUCH
as, for instance, the restoration OF the
duty upon pulp and print paper iii
which Maine is so keenly Interested.
Senator Hale has beer devQting much
of his energies to that item. Me hopes
that tho restoration of the pulp and
paper duties are certain. but the fight
is aggressive in ita divers phases. 1t
will still be three or four weeks before
Senator Hale gets "out of the woods"
with that item Lately the free hides
lnoplc of Maine-those Interested in
shoe factories and tanneries-have been
coming down upon the senior Maine
Senator and he has been taking UP
tn. ir cause in conjunction with the
| Massachusetts SenatOrS-LOdge ana
Crane. That is another subject which
the Finance Committee is considering
and which is making a big right be-
tween Republicans of the East and Re-
nublicans of the West
Representative Burleigh has been
touching elbows with Senators I.aFOl-
lettp and Hale during the last few days
in an effort to adjust the final differ
ences between the Senate and the
House on the Census Bill. The Third
District Congressman is one. Of the
| House Conferences on that bill, tho
only one apparently other tMp the
tariff bill. which is to be allowed to
| mass and become law during the extra
session. Senator LaFollette is chair
man Of the Senate Committee on the
| Census and Senator Hale Is the rank
ling member. Representative Crum-
packer of Indiana is Chairman of tn"
House Committee and Representative
Burleigh Of Maine is the ranking MEM
| ber
| 1t has become one of the famous
bills of Congress now and the general
desire is to get it out of the way. The
makeup bill. providing for the selec-
ton OF Census Office and census field
employees bv competitive examinations
I is in the form that Representative
Burleigh recommended from the start.
Z ~s-.e.- T1~nx.ry