The Republican journal., 1909-05-20
Washington Whisperings.

WASHINGTON, D. c., May 18th. The
tariff bill seems to keep pace with the
thermometer. Just at present the
weather in Washington is most delight
full, and Senators are in no haste to get
away, especially the new members, who
wish to deliver their first great speech in
favor of what they have been preaching
in magazines and elsewhere before COM
ing to Congress. A considerable portion,
therefore, of the present month will be
given up to the so-called set speeches,
but as soon as the thermometer gets up
to eighty or ninety degrees then the
real progress on the bill will commence.
Various predictions are made as to the
date of adjournment-runni from June
that the bill will be in the Presidents
hands before the end of the fiscal year.
Although at the close of the debate it
may be passed speedily in the Senate,
there is yet the Conference Committee to
consider, and it is feared that many days,
if not weeks, will be consumed here. This
Committee will probably consist of either
fourteen or sixteen members-seven or
eight each Of the Committee of Finance
of the Senate and of the Ways and
Means Committee of the House.
While much attention is being given to
the income tax, it is not likely that such
feature will be put in the bill at the
present session. The maximum and
minimum features will also be assailed,
but it is thought that this phase of tariff
making will find a place in the so-called
Payne bill.
Formal notice of the intention of the
American Government to terminate the
commercial agreements with number of
other countries, made in conformity with
section of the Dingley tariff act, has
been given by the State department.
This action is based upon the mere intent
and wish of Congress as shown by the
pending legislation. Formal commercial
agreements under the Dingley act exist
with Great Britain, Germany, France,
Italy, Spain, Portugal and the Neither
lands, while informal understandings, the
bases of which are presidential proclama
tions, have been entered into with Swift
zerland and Bulgaria
The importations from abroad continue
to Increase large amounts of manufac-
turers materials coming in-the March
value being siXty-eight million dollars.
AS there has been a considerable decline
in the prices of such articles, the amount
imported during March, 1909, represents
nearly or quite twice as great quantity
as the forty million dollars worth i'm
ported in March, 1908. This, of course,
means increased activity in manufacture
ing circles, and there is still the most
optimistic feeling in all business centers
that a pronounced improvement will be
seen as soon as the tariff bill becomes
law. This feeling is further accentuated
bv the aggregate value of building per-
nlits delivered by the municipal authori-
ties during the month of March, 1909, in
ninetv-tive cities in the United States,
which show a total of over $50, 900, 900,
representing 46 per cent increase over
the February total and an 80 per cent in
crease over the March figures of year
ago.
The President is gradually making
changes in various offices, both at home
and abroad, and his appointments still
meet with the utmost satisfaction. While
resentatives Mr.. Taft at the same time
retains the right to make appointments
which seem to him to be the best man
in every case While the President
shows in every appointment, and every
act, that he proposes to be the President
of the whole people, without regard to
party and without regard to section, still
he has made it emphatic that he is
Republican and proposes to build up the
Republican party in every legitimate
way possible This is indicated by the
interest he has taken in the coming Cub
ernatorial election in Virginia and the
elections in other States, where he pro-
poses to have members of his Cabinet go
and preach sound Republcanism-
so much in the hope of overturning the
present Democratic majorities, as for the
purpose of building up a strong Republi-
can party and making the best showing
possible.
While there is a considerable differ
ence Of opinion among the leaders of the
party in both Senate and House as to
certain schedules and features of the new
tariff bill, still there is feeling that
there will be no serious breaks in the
party, as has been the case in the
Democratic party, and those Democrats
who are predicting victory next year
in the Congressional election are simply
making empty guesses and electing their
majority, as they usually do, a year before
the election, while the election itself will
show a very different result. Republ-
cans on the inside, who know what they
are talking about, do not hesitate to pre-
ulct thdt tne Repupllcan majority IN une
next House of Representatives will be
much larger than in the present House.
OF course it is conceded that the state
of business and industry during the next
year will have large bearing upon the
result, but it is believed that the new
tariff law will be most generally accept
ed as satisfactory and that most en-
phatic revival of business will follow its
enactment There is no fear that the
Republicans will lose ground, but on the
contrary they will increase their party
membership in all sections of the coun-
try.
Children crN