The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1910-02-04
WASHINGTON.
Legislative and Cen
eraI Topics from
the Capital.
January 20, 1910.

January 20, 1910.
Senator Lodge caused a veritable
sensation on the Democratic side of the
Senate when he submitted official tables
of statistics showing that the increase in
prices is world wide and prevails in free
trade countries as well as in the highly
protected countries The Massachusetts,
Senator pointed out that the increased
production of gold which is the measure
of value. is an important factor in higher
prices. He showed that cotton, which
has been on the free list for half a CEN
fury, has shown steady advance in
price. Hides were placed on the free
list and the duty on boots and shoes
were reduced from IS to 10 per cent. bv
the Payne Law, Mr.. Dodge said, and
yet, since the enactment of that law,
the price of both hides and shoes have
advanced. When Mr.. Bacon asserted
that the high price of beef was due to
the tariff, the Massachusetts Senator
replied that this could not be, inasmuch
as this country is one of the greatest
exporters of cattle and beef in the world.
He informed Mr. Bacon that, under abso-
lutte tree trade, not a pound of beef
would be imported into the United
States. Mr.. Bacon, in his efforts to hold
the tariff responsible for higher prices,
became somewhat COMPOUNDED when Mr.
Lodge wanted to know about lnmber
Most of the Democratic Senators, in
Guiding MIR. Bacon were opposed to the
placing of lumber on the free list, when
the Payne Bill was before Congress.
Replying, Mr.. Bacon said that he had
voted for duty of SI25 thousand feet
OF lumber, not to protect the American
lumbermen, but because he regarded
this dnty as a revenue tariff There
was general laughter when Mr. Lodge
replied that he was amused at the hex-
Utility of a revenue tariff and how the
revenue limit increased as it approached
home industry.
Postal Savings Banks are to be OPP
posed in the Senate by the leading con
stitutona LAWYERS on the Democratic
side, on the ground that this legislation
can not be exacted under the authority
of the Constitution. Senators Bailey and
Rayner will lead the fight against the
postal savings repositories. Mr. Bailey
has announced that he was partly re-
sponsible for the defeat of this legislation
in the last Congress, and that he will be
glad if he can take like credit at the close
of this Congress- He fears that the
government is invading a field which
he thinks should be left to private enter
prises, and that ultimately the establish
ment of postal banks will be followed by
other legislation for regulating private
business and centralizing the govern
ment in Washington. Senator Carter,
who is in charge of the bill, is one of the
most skillful patliamentarians in Con-
gress, and under his leadership. there is
little doubt but that the Republicans will
be practically united in carrying out the
platform pledges of the Chicago
Convention.
The political situation, if it may be
called a situation, is extremely interest
ing at present. 1t is less situation than
a moving picture 1t is both disinte-
grating and formative and the interest
is mainly in anticipating ultimate posi-
bilities. The insurgents have lost moth
ing oftheir confidence and aggressiveness. !
The standpatters have, apparently, lost
nothing of their obstinacy. President
Taft is walking the rope and balancing
himself gracefully between the two par
ties The situation surpaSses in interest
anything on the stage or in fiction. Last
night there was a dinner given by the
Publishers Association at the Willard
Hotel The President, Speaker Cannon
and distinguished Senators were pres
ent Senator Dolliver, of Iowa, talking
straight to the Speaker of the House and
to Mr.. Taft, not fifteen feet distant said
that an awakened public will no longer
allow tariff to be written in the Offices
of the big interests ''As | understand
it, he continued IAN insurgent is
merely a man who wants to have a bill
read before it is adopted and who de
mands protection against hand medown
legislation The cheers and display of
enthusiasm which greeted this statement
was very suggestive. The ovation lasted
for five minutes and settled men franli-
callv shouted and waved their napkins.
The appearance of Mr. Pinchot who
came in late, was the signal for another
burst of applause. These incidents are
significant and your readers will under
stand them.
The State Department has not aban-
doned its plan of attempting to make
Zelaya pay the penalty of his crimes.
Representatives will be made to the
government of Nicaragua, when once a
competent one is established, demand
ing thst steps be taken to this end.
1t is assumed that any country will ac-
cede to demand for Zelaya's extrad
ton on the ground that he is a social
pirate and a menace to civilization. If
this is granted the Legislature of Mic
aragua can turn him over to the ordinary
courts for trial as a criminal.
Having made charges of reckless ex-
travaga &c against the immigration Com
mission, Representative Macon, Of Ar
kansas. has introduced a resolution
providing for an investigation to find
out if the charges are true.