The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1911-04-20
Washington Whisperings.
THE DEMOCRATIC PROGRAM.

| Win tue WOODEN anu COTTON ScleOuleS L(
| follow. The caucus indorsed the Under
wood reciprocity bill, 128 ayes, 20 noes
and six voting present. This is the
same as the Mccall bill. The caucus
added Q provision to the Underwood reel
procity bill, calling on the President t.
continue negotiations with Canada with
view to establishing further reciprocal
trade relations. Mr.. Fitzgerald of New
York fought this proposition, but was
voted down.
On the free list will be included those
things which the farmer needs most,
namely, agricultural implements, dressed
meat and meat products, flour, rough
lumber, boots, shoes and saddles, wire
fencing, baling wire, cotton bagging,
cotton ties, bagging ties, burlap and salt.
On many of these products the present
tariff is practically. prohibitive, and there
are few importations. Another caucus
is to be held to debate the revision of the
wool and cotton schedules, which will be
taken up in the House, following the
passage of the reciprocity and free list
bills.
THE NEW ENGLAND DELEGATIONS AND
RECIPROCITY.
The Washington correspondent of the
Boston Herald says that probably all the
Massachusetts delegation in the House,
saving Representative Gardner. will
favor it. AT the last session of Congress
the four Republicans from Maine, the
two from New Hampshire and the two
from Vermont went on record in opposi-
ton. The last two States have the same
representatives in the House now, but
Maine has new delegation. This new
delegation is having fearful time work
ing out the reciprocity problem.
1t is quite generally conceded that
Maine would suffer more from Canadian
reciprocity than any other farming COM
munity. Representative Guernsey of
the easternmost Maine district, compris-
ing the potato growing county of Aroos-
took, was against reciprocity in the last
Congress, and will be against it in this,
in spite of the fact that it is Republi-
can Presidents measure. Representa-
tive Asher Kinds of the Portland district
is very much in doubt what to do and has
not announced how he will vote. He
seems to be as fearful of voting against
it as Representative Sam w. Gould, his
Democratic colleague of Skowhegan, is
of voting for it. Mr. Gould has not an
nounced yet how he will vote. His dis
trict is largely agricultural. Represen-
tative McGillicuddy, the other Maine
Democrat, has stated his intention to
vote for reciprocity. He thinks it good
legislation. His district comprises sew
eral manufacturing cities.
On the other hand, Mr.. McGillicuddy
is tolerably thoughtful about the revision
of the wool and wooden schedules. That
is distinctly Democratic proposition,
h,,t ~,
Mr.. McGillicuddy's district. He may
duties on wool and woolens, but it is
known that the I'd Maine district Demo-
crat thinks right we'll of the argument
which has been going the rounds that
Congress could afford to wait a few
months longer, say till early December,
and get the report of the tariff board on
the wool and wooden schedule.
1t is generally expected that Senator
Frye of Maine will vote against Cana
dian reciprocity, and that Senator John
son will vote for it, Senator Dillingham;
of Vermont will probably oppose the
legislation, but his colleague, Senator
Carroll S. Page, is in a stew. He has
withheld his decision on the reciprocity
bill and some weeks ago appealed to
his constituents to write him and to the
newspapers of the State to print articles
that would enlighten him. The result
was an avalanche of letters and of news
paper articles, and Senator Page is more
in quandary than ever. The longer
he defers decision, the worse his plight
appears to be. The Vermonters, how
ever, seem ready to vote gleefully for a
reduction in the duties on wooden goods.
Most of the Massachusetts Republicans.
if not all of them, will probably vote
against reducing the duties on woolens,
and also on cottons. Some of them,
however, will be made uncomfortable for
their action. They will be reproached
from many quarters for zeal in getting
certain duties off and trying to keep GER
tain duties on.
COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS.
In the Republican committee list Con-
gresham Asher c. Kinds is given a
place on merchant marine and fisheries,
and the ranking Republican place on ex-
penditures in the war department. He
could have had an assignment on the
rules committee because of his intimate
knowledge of parliamentary law, but, ii
is said, did not want it. Congressman
Guernsey keeps places on banking anc
/ currently dIu Uul gave up d
seat at the District Of Columbia table
McGillicuddy is on the judiciary commit
tee and Gould on interstate commerce
A CHILDREN's BUREAU.
Representative Peters has introduced
a bill to establish children's bureau il
the department of commerce and labor.
The purpose is to collect there informa
ton about child life in the United States
| which may be accessible to all interested
in the subject in charitable way, or az
a matter of education.
1t is Mr.. Peters idea that the bureau
should gather very comprehensive infor
nation covering such topics as infan
mortality, child labor and infant delin
quency.
THE DEMOCRATIC TRIO.
The three Maine Democrats, Senator
johnson and Representatives McGilli
cuddy and Gould, called to pay theil
respects to Preside,t Taft April 18th
Representative McGillicuddy has intro
duced bill appropriating 500, 900 for ;
public building at Rumford, Maine. Al
appropriation of $40. 600 for site is al
ready available
DIRECT ELECTION OF U. S. SENATORS.
The House of Representatives., Apri
18th, by vote of 296 to Is, adopted tn,
Rucker resolution proposing a constitu
tional amendment for the direct election
of United States senators. This is tn,