Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-06-01
LOCAL SELF GOVERN
MENT WINS IN PASSAGE
OF STATEHOOD BILL

Continued from Page One)
plainly seen by the speeches and votes
of the republicans in favor of immedi-
ate admission of New Mexico and
against the admission Of Arizona.
/ The real motive for this was in the
promise that New Mexico would elect
| two senators to reinforce the declin-
ing republican majority in the senate,
and in the certainty that Arizona viii!
elect two democrats.
REDUCTION IN WOOL TAX.
Indications are that the democratic
house will reduce the tariff on raw
! wool by one-half. This would be carry
| ing out the promise contained in the
national democratic platform of 1908,
which was that gradual reductions
should be made in such other schedules
as may be necessary to restore the tar
if to a revenue basis"
The consideration of the revenue
needs of the government was what
caused the bulk of the democratic ma
jority to decide upon cutting the raw
wool duty in two. The tax on raw
wool last year brought $21, 100000 into
the treasury and the government can
not afford to give up that sum while
there is no income tax.
The democrats will strike every one
of the Ubiquitous jokers from schedule
K and no duties on manufactures of
wool will be above so per cent ad va
loren. This means in effect a sweep
ing reduction of the tariff tax on wool
ems, blankets and all articles composed
in whole or in any part of wool.
The tax collected on manufa Ctured
wool last year amounted TO $20.000,000.
The average rate under the Payne-Ald
rich law amounts to the equivalent of
80 per cent ad valorem, and in the pro
posed democratic bill this rate will be
decreased one-half This reduction of
duty should have the effect of both in
creasing the revenues and reducing the
cost of woolens to the consumers.
RECIPROCITY IN REAL DANGER.
That President Taft's reciprocity bill
is in a precarious position in the senate
is obvious to all. Practically the same
interests and the same methods that
became famous through saving the
seat of Lorimer are factors in the fight
against reciprocity The lumber inter
ests, for instance, are anxious 10 have
reciprocity defeated, and the paper
trust is equally hostile 10 the measure.
1t was only within the last day or
two that President Taft realized how
serious is the position Of reciprocity.
Two weeks ago, and even as late as a
week ago, reciprocity appeared to have
a safe majority in the senate. The
fight against the measure was carried
on quietly, just as the fight TO save
Boss Lorimer was conducted Sudden
~ it developed that the powerful inter
ests which still control the senate had
apparently secured enough pledges to
defeat reciprocity.
The Lorimer tactics contemplate a
long delay, during which time the f.
nance committee will ostensibIy pro
coed with its investigation. Then,
when the opposition sees that it has
the votes to crush the treaty, they will
allow ii to come to a vote
Senators Stone Of Missouri and vii
liams of Mississippi, both democratic
members of the finance committee. are
working earnestly to save reciprocity.
But they are finding it uphill work in
the committee, which is dominated by
the reactionaries.
SENATOR NELSON CHANGEABLE.
Senator Knute Nelson of Minnesota
has snapped tariff ideas again. He
now attacks President Taft because of I
the reciprocity agreement and it's al 4
legged injury to the farmers. Yet when |
opposing the Payne-Aldrich bill in the /
last congress he asserted that there Is 4
no protection to the farmers in the tar
if. He argued then that the prices Of |
farm products are governed by the |
rates IN the competitive world market.
Further evidences that the Minnesota
senator has Travelled back like a crab |
from the progressives TO the standpat-
teTs are that he takes the side of Bal
iHger against Pinchot, and that he
voted against his own colleague. Sen
stor Moses Clapp, for president pro 1
en- OF the senate and supported Sena-
or Gallinger, high protectionist chief
ind ship subsidy sponsor
WHERE FIGHT CONES FROM.
From suite of Offices in Williams L
street, New York-which is just al the 4
edge of the Wall street district-an ex.