The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1910-03-25
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER

Washington, ID. e., March ~, 1911.
Mr.. Editor:
For two days there have been NOM
entous proceedings in the lower House
of Congress in Washington. To explain
the political situation and the parlia-
mentary processes with all that led up
to them and with the results they have
foreshadowed would require more than
the space of this letter. Suffice it to
say that the combination of Democrats
and insurgent Republicans that have
long been antagonistic to the rule of
Speaker Cannon and the regulars, as
his Republican supporters are called,
have successfully combined to form
majority in the House Of Represent
atives. This majority has demanded
through Congressman Norris of
Nebraska a new committee of rules
consisting of fifteen members, with
Hamlet" left out. In other words,
Speaker Cannon, the autocrat, the car,
the "whole", the Hamlet in the play
of Congressional procedure, is to all
appearance overthrown. At this writ
ing the contest is still on the House,
and before this letter is in print much
more will be known than your cores
pondent can now tell, but to all ap-
pearances the insurgents and Democrats
have the majority and are determined to
reap all there is in this advantage. 1t
is difficult to foretell the important
political bearings of this crisis in the
House. The President, it is said, is
more than ever anxious with reference
to his policies, or the Roosevelt policies,
as they are still called. Early in his
administration he aligned himself with
predecessor, he announced, and has
since emphasized his preference for what
is still called the Irregular" organiza-
ton, In other words, he has stood by
Cannon, Payne, Dalzell, Tawney and
others in the House, and by Aldrlch,
Hale, Lodge and the eastern clique of
Senators. His attitude has more or
less estranged the Cummins, Dolliver,
La Toilette, Beveridge and other not
less distinguished and militant group of
Senators from the west and northwest.
The President has not the universal
and widespread popularity of his pred
ecessor. There are millions of Re-
publicans in the United States who
would rally to the "Big Stick" of
Roosevelt, but upon whom the smile OF
Taft can have no influence.
So intense has been the interest IN
the House situation that little atten-
ton has been given to the Ballinger-
Pinchot inquiry. In fact, it has been
held up for lack of quorum. The
House members were all required on
the floor by the respective factions, and
therefore the Ballinger-Pinchot investi-
cation has been temporarily adjourned.
1t seems from an announcement in
the Presidents speech at Rochester,
New York, that a complete agreement
has been reached with France on all
tariff differences, and he is expected
to sign proclamation today at Albany
giving to France the IS per cent re-
duction of rates provided in the tariff
law of the extra session. 1t is stated
also tnat Notwithstanding the fact that
the situation appears to be hopeless,
there is still some prospect of an I'M
| Outstanding with the Canadian author
tiles by which a tariff war may be
averted.
| Much anxiety is felt in cabinet and
political circles in Washington, also in
financial quarters, especially in the
eastern and northern part of the coun-
try, with reference to the Canadian
tariff situation. Unless the President
shall be able to say by March 81 that
| there is no discrimination against
American goods through Canadian
tariffs, there must be, under the pro-
visions of the Payne Aldrich tariff laws,
an increase of Is per cent in duties on
all goods imported into this country
from Canada. Intelligence from the
Dominion of Canada indicates that
the Government is determined to add
Immediately to imports from the United
States sur-tax equal to one-third OF
| the duties now imposed and also to re-
strict by further measures our exports.
| Our trade with our northern neighbor
has been and is of great Importance.
It amounts to about 230 millions of
dollars year. The chief articles of
import are cattle, horses, coal asbestos,
chemicals, copper. fish, fur, hides,
nickel spirits, pulp, wood, timber and
wood pulp. The exports from the
United States to Canada are over $50
millions yearly, and the chief items are
agricultural implements, bread stuffs,
carts and carriages, patent medicines,
cotton, fruits, electrical appliances, iron.
steel, machinery, boots and shoes,
writing paper, tin, tobacco, etc. A
tariff war between the two countries
will be in every sense deplorable. No
body in either county will be benefited
| by it. 1t will enure only to the benefit
of Germany, England, France and
other European countries. Germany
and Great Britain especially are elated
at the prospect of the impending tariff
war, and German and British CONNER
cial travellers are already on their way
to Canada with impressive advertising
| circulars and samples.