Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-06-03

interest and concern.
DisCOURAGING OUTLOOK FOR TAR
ITF VOTE.
While the dcsirabllty of settling the
tariff question right is manifest, It Is
also evident that one OF the two chief
demands Of the people of the United
states is that the revision of the tariff
be disposed of as speedily as possible
| in order that business and Industrial
activity may he resumed throughout
the country and prosperity resume it's
wontcd sway.
The most formidable obstacle in the
path of prompt settlement of the
tariff problem is to he found in the
ted states Senate. We are told FOR
example. that the so-called progress
sive western senators have injected A
new element of disturbance into the
tariff situation in the Senate. which
| bids fair to prolong the tariff debate
| in the upper branch of Congress In
definitely. Taking their tip from the
promise of senator Clay of Georgia to
reopen the fight on the sugar schedule
| Senate from the committee OF :he
whole, now celebrating upon the bill,
| the westcrners are now threatening to
| apply the same process to the other
schedules Of the BIZ. against which
they have been fighting.
1t is evident that, pursued to its
loCica' conclusion. such plan would
| indefinitely block the passage of the
| bill, by the Senate. Estimating that
tion- on the bill COMMITTEES of the
whole by June 90. which date Is be-
| lieved by many to be too conservative,
| it would take until Septembe: /. or
| Whereabouts. to go over again al. the
| schedules to which the westerners OBJ
iect. The conservatives senators look
upon the threaL of thu WesternerS as
simon purr "hluff" to force conces-
\ sion-. hut they also realizs that I'M
der the rules of the Senate. the bluff
can t. made go d and the new tariff
| bill. delayed until some concessioa is
made in the way of reduced duties.
! At tho present time the Senate has
completed tho consideration of moro
than one half of the cusoms import
provisions Of the pending bill. and the
| cotton and wooden schedules. upon
which hot fight is promised. are yet
to be considered There will he sep
arate fight over the proposal to include
an income tax. which It Is conserva-
| lively estimated will take about 4
week and contest. probably of mucn
longer duration. over the administra-
tive features. including the maximum
and min mum plan, and the substitu-
tion Of an American Wholesale valu-
alton for foreign import valuations,
awbac:'. the tariff commission plan.
and tho proposed court OF tariff APP
peals. Each of these items has OPP
position in the Senate in one quarter
or anothe-. Moreover, senator Piles OF
Washington expects soon to introduce
an amendment to the tariff bill in the
shape of a proviso that any moneys
which may he derived as revenue from
an income tax, If one is levied. sha Ii
be expended on river and harbor i'm ,
provements.
1t goes without saying that any In
dication of a disposition on the part
of the radicals to 'hold up" the tariff
| bill. will raise a storm of protest
throughout the business circles of the
whole country. Business men of all
classes are clamoring for a chance to
do something again under normal con-
dtions. AS one of the leading finan-
ciers of New York. who comes to Yer
mont said the other day, it makes
little difference Just where duty Is
!
1t is done with and business interests
are able to fix a new basis of value
accordingly.
Unless we are greatly in error. It
| will soon be discovered that all this
talk about an income tax and other
recourses is simply an excuse for de-
lay on the part OF the characteristics
| What is needed in the Senate is Car
Reed rule-makcr who will read lit
tie practical sense into the rules Of
that body and enable our national
lawmakers to do their work and 90
| home.
SMALLER LEGISLATURE FAVORED
| The growth of sentiment in favor OF
| o. cl at iG u T.