Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1910-02-04
WASHINGTON LETTER.

on the Democratic side of the Senat
when he submitted official tables c
statistics showing that the increase il
prices is world wide and prevails il
free trade countries as we'll as in tn
highly protected countries. The Massa
chusetts Senator pointed out that tn
increased production of gold, which i
the measure Of value, is an importan
factor in higher prices. He showed
that cotton, which has been on the fire.,
list for half a century, has shown
steady advance in price. Hides wer
placed on the free list and the DUTY OF
boots and shoes reduced from Is to II
per cent. by the Payne law, Mr.. Lodg,
said, and yet, since the enactment O
that law, the price of both hides ane
shoes has increased. When Mr.. Bacon
inserted that the high price of beef was
due to the tariff, the Massachusetts,
Senator replied that this could not bt
SO lnasmuch as this country is one Of
the greatest exporters of cattle and beef
in the world. He informed Mr.. Bacon
that, under absolute free trade, not a
pound of beef would be imported into
the United States. Mr.. Bacon, in his
effort to hold the tariff responsible for
higher prices, became somewhat con-
founded when Mr.. Lodge wanted to
know about lumber. Most of the
Democratic Senators including Mr..
Bacon, were opposed to the placing of
lumber on the free list when the PAYNE
bill was before Congress. Replying,
Mr.. Bacon said he had voted for duty
OF $1.25 thousand feet of lumber, not
to protect the American lumbermen,
but because he regarded this duty as a
revenue tariff. There was general
laughter when Mr.. Lodge replied that
he was amused at the flexibihty of a
revenue tariff and how the revenue
limit increased as it approached home
industry.
Postal savings banks are to be op-
posed in the Senate by the leading con-
stitutional lawyers on the Democratic
side On the ground that this legislation
can not be enacted under authority of
the Constitution. Senators Bailey and
Rayner will lead the fight against pos
tai savings repositories. Mr.. Bailey
has announced that he was partly re-
spensible for the defeat of this legisla-
ton 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 field
which should be left to private enter
prise and that ultimately the establish
ment of postal banks will be followed
by other legislation for regulating pri-
vate business and centralizing govern
ment in Washington. Senator Carter,
in charge of the bill, is one of the most
skilful parlimentarians in Congress
and under his leadership there is little
doubt that the Republicans will be
practically united in carrying out the
platform pledge of the Chicago conven-
ton.
The political situation, if it may be
called situation, is extremely inter-
esting at present. 1t is less situation
han moving picture. 1t is both dis
and formative and the in
crest is mainly in anticipating ulti-
nate possibilities The insurgents have
ost nothing of their confidence and ag-
The standpatters have,
apparently, lost nothing of their OBJ
tinacy. President Taft is walking the
ope and balancing gracefully between
he two factions. The situation sur
asses in interest anything on the stage
in fiction. Last night there was a |
inner given by the Publishers Asso-
iation at Wizards Hotel The Presi-
ent, Speaker Cannon and distinguish l
senators were present. Senator Dol
yer of Iowa, talking straight to the
peaker of the House and to Mr.. Taft l
OF fifteen feet distant, said that San t
public will no longer allow v
riff laws written in the offices of the s
g interests. GAS I understand it., he 1
'ntinued, ian insurgent is merely il
an who wants to have a bill read be- V
re it is adopted and who demands il
otectlon against hand-me-down leg b
alton" The cheers and display of a
thusiasm which greeted this state p
emit were very suggestive. The ova- Fl
m lasted for five minutes and settled Sc
en- frantically shouted and waved tt
cir napkins. The appearance of Mr.. oil
nchot who came in late was the sig nj
for another burst of applause. These "
,idents are significant and your read n;
will understand them.
The State Department has not aban-
ned its plan of attempting to make n
laya pay the penalty of his crimes. ds
presentations will be made to the tn
of Nicaragua, when COM IL
,ent one is established, demanding q
1t steps be taken to this end. 1t Is W.
umed that any country will accede su
a demand for Zelaya's extradition Jul
the ground that he is social pirate "
/ a menace to civilization. If this pe
granted the Legislature of Nicaragua an
/ turn him over to the ordinary "a
Irts for trial as criminal. en-
having made charges of reckless ex- In
against the immigration ye'
nmission, Representative Macon, of Uni
KANSAS, has introduced resolution tht
viding for an investigation to find lar
if the charges are true. Pc
Drank No Water in Is Years.
huntington, w. Va, Jan. 26-John
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