Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1909-04-09
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From Our Regular corr.spond.nt.I

IRON Our Regular SofresPonoont-l
Washington, d. G., April 3.-Th
resolution Of Senator Bacon, proyidint
that the minority members of the Fl
nance Committee DO permitted to si
with the majority Of that committee to
assist in the cross-ey animation of wit
nesses, precipitated 3 warm outbursl
from Senator Aldrich, chairman of thu
finance committee and recognized as
the Republican leader of the Senate
As soon a. the Bacon resolution wa.
laid before the Senate and before any
OF the Democratic senators could get
the floor, Mr.. Aldrich Was recognized
and declared that s'The Republican
majority of the Senate will probably
be held responsible by the country fol
the character of the tariff legislation to
DO enacted at this session, and also for
prompt action. The business of the
whole country is suffering from the
uncertainty rs to what will be done.
Two great bodies are divided by \ de-
finite limo OF thought on this subject,
with few exceptions, on both sides Of
the chamber. The Republican party
cannot svade the responsibility, and
there is no disposition on its part to do
So" Mr.. Aldrich said he had partici-
patsd in the consideration of eight tariff
measures since he came to Congress,
Eye Of which were Republican and three
Democratic, and that in every ease the
framing Of the legislation was left to
the party in power. In the case Of the
Wilson German bill, for example, Mr..
Aldrich pointed out that the Demo-
cratic majority on the finance commit
tee declined to let the Republican mem
bers have anything to do with the
of the measure, that this was
right and had been the practice for
moro than fifty years.
Were it the purpose Of the Payne bill
to cheaper the necessaries Of life, it is
only far to presume that some atten-
ton would be given to the sugar sched
ules' That tariff on sugar, theoretical
~, il intended a. protection to the cane
Of Louisiana and the beets of the north
west; actually, however, as everybody
knows, it's most important effect is to
protect the Sugar trust, whose business
Is chiefly the refining rather than the
original production of sugar. This is
by making the duty on
refined sugar so much higher than thu
Iuby OA low tA&b tilo iSAhlhk
business is given q monopoly in this
Az . matter Of fact, some at
ention has been given the sugar sched-
lie, 2S-1OO Of one per cent il added to
he tariff tax on the most universally
Of all the necsssaries Of life.
The statement of the federal treasury
or March, just out, is considered the
most encouraging which 1t has issued
ince the fiscal year began. The tide
# business depression seems to have
urned suddenly. According to this
tatemsnt the treasury receipts have
materially increased and the steady en-
argemsnt Of the deficit account has
zen checked. There was q gain in
[arch Of 81, 500, 900 in custom revenues
yer the revenues Of March, 1908, and
he gain in receipts from all sources
vas IS, 761 200.
A well informed representative Of the
ION and steel industry in Warrington
mis- week, stated that wage reduc-
ons throughout that industry during
10 next six months will bs the most
weeping and general that have been
nown to the industries OF the country
l twenty years. How much Of the
resent and threatened reductions in
ages in steel and other industries are
roporly attributable to tariff rsvision;
ow much to depressed business con-
itions following the financial disturb
nee which prevailed during the past
ear, and how much to unsettled con-
itions which must await readjustmsnt
the new schedules of duties proposed
70 few of the EN- barrassing questions
the Republicans Of the
ew administration and both houses Of
ongress. The announcement from
ittsburg that the Jones and Laughlin
ompany will make . ten per cent re-
uction in wages is said to be only the
.ginning Of these troubles. BY many,
not the majority, this movement is
cognizsd rs the ever ancient, ever new
A1ns Of the Republican corporate inter
ito to reduce wages in order to fright
! Congress into caring for their indus
les. It places tho Republican ma
rIty in the House in q NEST enbar-
Issing position to have such a situa-
on precipitatsd by the iron and steel
AIDE 1t this junsture, when all their
Ians seemed to be shaping up right
II an agreement upon . rule under
hich the tariff bill is to be speedily
assed in the House.