The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1911-12-22
CONGRESS AND ITS WORK
Tariff Schedules to be Consid-
cred Soon.
RUSSIAN TREATY ADVOCATED
Some Things Regarding a Parcels
Post Service.

As usual it is not expected that
Congress will transact any import
ant business until we'll into the
New Year, and what action will be
taken concerning tie presidents
message is problematical. Presi-
dent Taft's message to the new
congress was one Of the shortest
on record and deals chiefly with
methods looking to the control of
the trusts and to break up illegal
combinations in restraint of trade
without unnecessarily causing
alarm and injuring the legitimate
business interests of the country.
The president believes the Sher-
man antitrust law should not be
repealed but should be strength
ened with suitable. amendments.
Messages on other subjects are to
be submitted to congress later.
1t is freely predicted that an
effort will again be made to reduce
some of the tariff schedules,
particularly the one on wool which
democratic leader Underwood OF
the house declares costs the peo-
pie of the country $Io4, 900, 900
too much every year. President
Taft comedies that the wool sche-
dule is "indefensible." He vetoed
the tariff reduction bills passed by
the last congress because the
whole subject was being investi-
gated scientifically by the tariff
board, whose report he wished tc
see before approving any revision
measures. This report. SO long
delayed, is expected to be sent &c
Congress soon, and then, it is
argued, there will be no further
excuse for not passing revisions oi
the wool, cotton and other tariffs
The treaty OF 1882 with Russia has
been abrogated by congress. 1t was
up for renewal or abrogation. Jews
OF this country, who are excluded
from Russia were demanding that The
treaty be annulled or that Russia bt
compelled to open the door to Aneri-
can Jews, Russia replying that since
the United States excludes polyga-
nous MOhammedan Russian immi
grants Russia has the right To ex-
clude American Jews. Presiden
Taft has notified the Russian govern
ment in friendly message that tn
treaty will terminate Jan. !, 1913.
Secretary OF the Treasury Mac,
Veaeh, in his report to Congress
estimates that 1t will take STAG, 900,
900 to run the government the mex
fiscal year.
The establishment OF a parcels pos
is one OF the matters brought up 70
| consideration by congress upoI
recommendation OF the postmaste
general. 1t is said almost all tn
other countries have had the parcel
post for many years. aud the United
| States government is accused Of dis
eliminating against its own citizen
by maintaining a parcels post be
tween this and other countries witt
a rate Of IL cents pound for pack
ages up to IL pounds, whereas any
one sending a package In this countr
must pay 16 cents ponnd and
limited to four pounds. In Grea
Britain an II pound package can b
sent for only % cents. In Mexic
the rate is 6 cents pound.
Senator Bourne OF Oregon. pre-
gressive republican. argues that III
parcels post would enable rural cor
sumers to secure by mail article
A which the local dealers 90 not carr
and also to deliver their own prl
ducts at low cost auc without was'
ing time to ga to town. He think
+ the argument that it would help th
| big mail OF der houses and hurt I'll
country U erchants is groundless, .bt