The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-01-14
CURTIS HAS KEY.
His Plan to Prevent Tariff Dis
ordinations.
Maximum and Minimum Feat.
ures Of the Law.
AN IMPORTANT MOVE.
Have Effect of Bringing Foreign
Countries to Time.
fractional Fight Injected Into
Contest for Judgeship.


to the present session of congress.
President Taft called attention n tho
fact that there We're several cases in
| which foreign countries were found m
be discriminating against the United
states IN the importation of certain
products, and also determinations
against our expectations,
The new tariff law, in section Q re-
specting the maximum and mininrT,
tariH or the United States. imposed
upon the president the responsibility Of
determining prior to April 1, 1910. the
date of the enactment of the Pavne-
Alorlcn Dill, whether or not any undue
discrimination existed against the
United States and its products in any
country Of the world with which we
sustained commercial relations
Several instances of undue discrini-
nation against American commerce
were round to exist, some of them have
been removed by negotiations, while
others still exist, and are existing
through arbitrary action. In comment
Ing on this feature of the new tariff
law in his message, President TAFT
said:
I'm its general operation section OF
the tariff law has thus far proved
guaranty of continued commercial
peace, although there are unfortunate
ly instances where foreign governments
ests within their jurisdiction in a man
ner injurious and inequitable"
He referred to Germanys discrim.-
natory action in the importation to
this country of potash for use in COM
mercial fertilizers and for manufac-
| turing purposes, and also to the dis
elimination practiceo by that country
and other countries against American
| made tools and flour.
Senator Charles Curtis of Kansas was
the father Of the amendment to the
| Payne-Aldrich tariff bill which provid-
ed for the maximum and minimum
feature Of the law. To make the law
| more effective, Senator Curtis has pre-
scented in the senate recently an
amendment which provides that
whenever the president of the United
| States shall be satisfied that any foreign
| government, in violation of it's treaty
| obligations to this country, shall seek
| by repressive, discriminative, or con-
fiscatory measures to Jeopardize, i'm
pair or destroy the capital of citizens
of the United States legitimately invest
ed in such foreign country in accord
ance with treaty provisions, or that
whenever the president shall be salts
| fled that unjust Determinations are
made by or under the authority Of any
foreign country against the importa-
ton to or sale in such foreign country
| of any product of the United States, he
may direct that such products of such
foreign country be excluded from i'm
portation to the United States. Fur
thermore, in such cases he shall make
proclamation of his discretion In the
premises, and therein name the time
when such direction against importa-
tons shall take effect, and after that
date such articles named shall be I'M
lawful for importation.
| Senator Curtis amendment is gen.
orally held to be the key to the stu
alton if it is adopted by congress. II
would serve to settle all pending con-
troversies now pending which are SO i'm
portant to the American interests and
people at large.
The race for the judgeship of the
Eighth circuit to succeed the vacancy
caused by the appointment of Judge
Van Devanter to the United States
narrowed down to a contest between
an insurgent and a standpatter, both
members of the house.
Congressman Ed Madison, of Kansas
gave impetus to the boom for Con-
gresham George NJ. Norris of NebraS-
ka, insurgent leader, when he had a
heart talk with the president
recently and urged the nomination OF
Norris Congressman Walter l. Smith
of Iowa, a regular, is a leading candi-
date for the job.
While it is known the president will
not consider the question of progressive
versus regular in making the appoint
ment, friends of both men are anxiously
awaiting the outsone Of the race in
which party policy lines are so clearly
drawn. Rumors are afioat to the eff
feet that Judge Madison, as envoy OF
the insurgents, reminded Mr.. Taft OF
certain promises made not SO long age
regarding patronage.
Congressman Charles F. Scott has g
bill in the house authorizing the presi-
dent to invite the International Con
gress of Agricultural education to hold
the third International Congress o.
Agricultural education in the United
States in 1912.
The postofflce department has ordered
that the Stockton (Kan.) postoff1ce shall
have a new location on and after mex
April Ia The new site Is to be or