Saint Mary's beacon., 1911-06-01
WASHINGTON LETTER.

Washington, ID. c., June /. 1911.
By CLYDE Fl. TAvENNER.
After having worked eighteen
years for the admissipnofA fArizona and
New Mexico as separate states OF the
union the Democratic majority OF
the House found it genuine labor
OF love 10 pass the statehood resolu-
tiOn.
In voting for the admission Of the
territories as states, the House
neither indorsed or condemned the
recall OF judges. What the House
actually did was 70 indorse local
self government and the rightof the
state to control it's own affairs.
For 60 years New Mexico has
been at the doors OF Congress for
admission. Arizona has also long
contended it's right to statehood.
The 1903 democratic platform pied
ged the Immediate admission OF
these territories as separate states. "
This pledge was carried out before
the Democrats had been in control
OF the House three months, which
action was in striking contrast TO
the jugglery the statehood measures
have been receiving year after year
at the hands OF the now minority OF
the House.
The debate in the statehood res o.
luton indicated plainly what would
have been the result bad the repub
licans still been in the majority.
ReRayr tHHqS dhna aSs Would bnes made
the recall OF judges q pretext for
keeping Arizona indefinitely out OF
the union. This is plainly seen by
the speeches and votes Of the re-
publicans in favor OF immediate ad :
mission OF New Mexico and against
buO AEILOu&.
The real motive for this was in
the promise that New Mexico would
elect two senator's to reinforce the
declining Republican majority in
the Senate, and in the certainty
that Arizona will elect two demo
Gratis.
Bio REvIsIsION DOWNWARD.
Indications are that the Democra-
tic House will reduce the tariff on
raw wool by one-half. This would
be carrying out the promise con-
tanned 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 tariff TO q
revenue basis.
The consideration OF the revenue
needs of the government was what
caused the bulk OF the democratic
majority to decide upon cutting the
raw wool duty in two. The tax on
raw wool last year brought $2l ,OOO.-
600 into the treasury and the gov
ernment cannot afford to give up
that sum while there is no income
tax.
The Democrats will pnrge Sche-
dule X. Of every one of the iniquit-
Gus iokefs and no duties on manu-
factures of wool will be above so
per cent ad valorem. This. means
q sweeping reduction OF the tax on
woolen clothing, blankets and all |
articles composed in whole or in
any part Of wool.
The duty collected on manufactur-
ed wool last year amounted to $2e,-
300 900. The average rate under
the Payne Aldrich law amounts to
The equivalent of 80 per cent. ad
Valorem, and in the proposed Demo
,ratic bill this rate will be decreas-
ID one half. This reduction OF duty
should have the effect OF both in.
,ressing the revenues and reduc.
ng the cost OF woolens to the con.
Iumers.
RECIPROCITY THREATENED
That the reciprocity measure is
n q precarious position in the SEN
,te. is admitted even at the White
Iouse. Practically the same in.
erests and methods that became
amous through saying the seat OF
orimer, are factors in the fight
gainst reciprocity. The lumber
interests. for instance, are anxious
D have reciprocity defeated, and the