Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-05-10
Should Consumer Blame
for High Prices He Pays,
Asher Kinds Again UncoVers
Data That Is Opening Eyes.
Maine Democrats In Congress Max
Ing Faint Impression on Right Side.

at the teuefal c6pltal is IN the cana
| dian reciprocity agreement, which the
Republicans of the Pine Tree State
want defeated, and in the new post
office for Bangor. For everybody here
| from Maine is taking hold to help
Representative Guernsey in getting his
100000 bill through at the extra ses
sion of Congress. His efficiency as a
| legislator has been demonstrated by
the success with which he has taken
care of the prelminaries relating to
that bill. He has had the data, neces
sary to committee deliberations upon
such measure, all prepared in adj
vance. He has also hustled around
among the leading Democrats of the
House. acquainting them with the con-
ditions and urging favorable action
The pinch, however, will come over the
amount. 1t will cause little surprise
| if the committee on public buildings
and grounds tries to pare down the
total and, in this connection, there
may be danger of so small an approp-
ration that the work can not be done
properly.
A veteran here calls attention to
Democratic gratitude. These Demo-
u dNos VI lHt pan llldL was hCIpttl III
to power by the farmer vote of Maine
last year. are the main reliance of the
advocates of the Canadian reciprocity,
designed to rob the farmer of his
rights. Without them the bill would
have no chance in the world of be-
coming law. Protests from the farm
ers of Maine and from others along
the border continue to pour in upon
the Senate but if is realized that these
are of practically no avail. They are
presented as a matter of courtesy and
referred to the proper committee but
the Senate Democrats are going ahead
and will vote for opening our markets
to Canadian competitors.
OF course the Democrats expect to
claim the credit for the enactment in
the larger cities where the lowering of
duties on products from Canada it is
hoped will reduce the cost of living,
but the Democrats are willing to let
the Republicans bear the blame among
the farming communities. They rea
son that in this regard they will play
a very shrewd political game and fool
a lot of rural people.
Representative Kinds of Maine has
dug out of the annual report of the
secretary of agriculture for last year
some data bearing upon the reciproc-
ity question. to which folks at the
Capitol are paying considerable atten-
ton. He is citing this report to show
that there is nothing in the claim
that substantial relief for the con-
sumner is to be expected by proceeding
against the farmer"
A
prices. Secretary Wilson said: From
the details that have been presented
with regard to the increase of the
prices of farm products between farm
er and consumer. the conclusion is in
evitable that the consumer has no we'll
grounded complaint against the farm
er for the prices that he pays
Guessing on the length of the extra
session comes close to being the live
Hest topic of Washington interest for
the present. In other words Washing
ton is dull very dull, 1t is the spring
season, when the city is at its prettiest.
There are social gaieties galore. But
the law-making plant has ceased to
interest. The Democrats of the House
are too harmonious. They insist upon
doing everything with practical una
nimity. OF course they have many diff
ferences but they reconcile these in
some remarkable fashion. The Dem
ocratic grumblers are certainly abroad.
They take one off into a corner and
express their disapproval of this and
of that, which their leaders are doing
! 1t is the old Democratic habit of kick
ing and dissenting.
IIA- ttoxr INN
the advantage politically to be had
from q harmonious session The White
House is in their minds eye. They
think the country can be cajoled into
electing Democratic President il only
| they can keep from making fools of
| themselves for about IL months. And
therefore they are trying to be good for
| a while.
The length of the extra session no
| longer depends upon the Democratic
House. The controlling political party
| in that legislative branch could be
ready to adjourn in a month. Their
comprehensive program of investiga-
tions into the executive departments
and the trusts can be carried on Just
as we'll after Congress has adjourned
and possibly better. 1t will be much
duler. if that be possible, in Washing
| ton then than it is now and the pro-
ceed:rgs of the investigators can set
| more of a show in the newspapers.
| But the Senate has tarried, is tarry-
ing. apparently win tarry. The statisI
ticians on extra session days are ut
terly unable to estimate the length of
time the Senate will want to deliber-
ate. A vote was carried by which here
| after the Senate will meet at O'Clock
in the afternoon, instead of at noon
and that means on the whole that II
will take more days to do whatever the
4 Senate decides to do.
! With great diversity of opinion about
/ adjournment. one hears prophesies
i from eminent authorities that the flna
| day may be anywhere from July l t.
| Oct. ]. In spite of all this uncertainty
| the guessing contest RACES from day II
/ Continued on Page Seven.)