Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1911-12-27

made from the hair of defunct Chin.
amen, will remain on the free list
by an order of the Assistant Treas.
urer. This decision probably averts
an increase in price of these articles
by overruling a decision of the ap-
praiser at New York that crude hui
man hair when partially cleaned and
worked before importation should be
dutiable at the rate of 20 per cent
| ad valorem.
}, Some person unknown, inspired by
70. ives unknown, recently slashed a
Ian ,cl/ iece out of the famous paint.
ing o. % Battle of Lake Erie, which
hangs iHc main stairway of the
senate ends he capitol Various
motives have oeen guessed at and
assigned for the act, but so far the
police have been unable to find a
clue to the miscreant. This painting
is probably the best known work OF
art in the country. 1t has hung in
the same place since 1873, when il
was purchased for $25, 900 from the
artist, William H. Powell. 1t de-
picts the victory of the American
fleet over that of Great Britain on
Lake Erie in 1913, in which Com
modore Perry, while under fire from
the enemy's guns transferred his flag
from his sinking ship, the Lawrence
to the sIiagara. 1t was following this
battle that Perry sent his famous
message: 1--WE have met the enemy
and they are ours"
Recommending a downward revi.
sion of Schedule X, in accord with
the protective principle, but without
making any specific recommendation
as to the amount of reduction, Presi-
dent Taft has transmitted to congress
report of the Tariff Board, accom-
panied by message approving its
findings. President Taft declares
that many of the present duties are
prohibitive. The report of the board
is really synopsis of it's investiga-
tions of the difference in cost of pro-
duction at home and abroad. II
shows that the man who buys a $25
ready-made worsted suit pays the
following costs: Cost of raising wool
Tin Ohio) $1.55; farmers profit,
6Sc; wool brokers' commission, &c;
making cloth, s2.13; wool manufac-
turer's profit, 23c; trimmings, lining.
etc., $2.77; cost of making suit,
1914; Office expenses and overhead
charges, $1.12; clothing manufacture
er's selling expense, $1.91; clothing
manufacturers profit, $2.1S; retail
er's expenses and profit, $3.50.
In a special message to congress.
President TAFT, on Thursday en-
dOrsed the Aldrich plan of monetary
reform, recommended the creation OF
a national reserve association, and
practically adopted the Monetary
Commissions plan as an administra-
tion policy.
The message dealt generally with
the affairs of the various depart
ments of the government, with the
exception of conservation, which
question will be covered later in a
special message on Alaska.
A military government for the
Panama Canal Zone is recommended
government monopoly of docking
and repairing facilities, and the es-
tablishment of system of tolls fol-
the canal are urged.
Other important recommendations
offered include an experimental par
cells post, council of national de.
tense, the abolition of a large par
of the present federal patronage, ant
a civil service retirement system
based on some contributary plan.
Senator Kenyon seems to have alb
solutely no conception of the ethic.
of his position. He has discovered
that the government pays out some
thing like $4,000 year to give
senators baths, shaves, haircuts an(
messages, and has introduced bill
to abolish these senatorial tonsoria
perquisites and compel the senator!
to pay for such services out of rnei
own funds. AS If this were no
enough, Senator Kenyon has also in
troduced a bill to reduce the mile
age allowance of members from q
cents to 10 cents a mile.
A bill similar to the latter has re
Gently been introduced in the hous,
by a member from Pennsylvania, ant
it would appear that the sent;men
in favor of a more reasonable miie
age allowance is gaining ground. Tn
20 cents mile rate was adopted IL
the old days of stage coach travel
when it probably no more than re
imbursed members. In these day
of modern transportation, however
20 cents leaves a wide margin
amounting in the case of far western
members to $4,000 term.
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