The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1910-03-25
WASHINGTON LETTER.

mentous proceedings in the lower House
of Congress in Washington. To explain
the political situation and the parliament
tary 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
linsurgent Republicans thai have long
been antagonistic TO the rule of Speaker
Cannon and the regulars, as his Repnb-
lican supporters are called, have success
fully combined to from majority in the
House Of Representatives This msjority
has demanded through Congressman
Norris Of, Nebraska new committee of
rules consisting of fifteen members with
"Hamlet" left out. In other words,
Speaker Cannon, the autocrat, the car,
the whole thing, the Hamlet in the
play of Congressional, procedure, is to
all appearances overthrown. At this
writing the contest IS still on in the
House, and before this letter is in print
much more will be known than your
correspondent can now tell, but TO all
appearances the insurgents and Demo
Gratis have the majority and are deter
mined to reap all there is in this advan-
ltage. 1t is difficult TO foretell the impor-
tant political bearings of this crisis in the
House. The PresilentSit is said, is more
than ever anxious with reference to his
policies, or the Roosevelt policies, as they
are still called. Early in his administers
tion he aligned himself with the regulars
and instead ofopposing Speaker Cannon,
as did his predecessor, he announced, and
has since emphasized his preference for
what is still called the regular organ
izatian. In other words, he has stood by
Cannon, Payne, Dalzeil, Tawney and
others in the House, and by Aldrich,
Hale, Lodge and the eastern clique Of
Senators. His attituded has more or less
estranged the Cummins, Dolliver, La
Toilette, Beveridge and other not less
distinguished and militant group Of Sen
ators from the west and northwest. The
President has not the universal and wide
spread popularity of his predecessor.
There are millions of Republicans 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 attention 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 investigation has been
temporarily adjourned.
*x*
It seems from an announcement in the
Presidents speech at Rochester, New
York, that 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 rs per cent reduction OF rates
provided in the tariff law of the extra
session. 1t is stated also that notwith-
standing the fact that the situation ap-
pears to be hopeless, there,is still some
prospect of an understanding with the
Canadian authorities by which a tariff
war may be averted.
~.
Much anxiety is felt in cabinet anl
political circles in Washington, also in
financial quarters, especially in the east
ern and northern part of the country,
with reference to the Canadian tariff sit
uation. 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 theprovisions of the Payne Aldrich
tariff law, an increase of rs per cent in
the 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 restrict
by further measures our exports. Our
trade with our northern neighbor has
been and is of great importance. tt
amounts to about 23o millions of dollars
year. The chief acticles 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 inn
plements. bread stu6s, carts and carriages,
patent medicines. cotton, fruits, electrical
appliances, iron, steel. machinery, boots
and shoes, writing paper, tin. tobacco,