The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1912-12-19
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL

(From Our Washington Correspondent.)
Although a full session of congress
Is to intervene before the national
legislature elected this month come
into Office the interests that expect to
benefit from the democratic plan of
legislation already are getting into
action and are making plans to en-
force their demands upon the party
leaders. The chief interest centers of
course, in tariff legislation. While it
is understood that some reduction of
duties Is inevitable, the question as to
just how far the protection that has
long been accorded to American farm
ers, w~ageearners and manufacturers
is to be sacrificed affords plenty of
room for discussion and controversy.
Those who are in a position to profit
by the reduction or removal of duties
are planning to force this movement
as far as possible, regardless of the
effect upon the business of the coun-
try. In the van of these interests are
Iht ouSul Il WIN luluh lLdL LlC
opportunity is at least presented to
them of carrying through their plan
for the enactment OF a free sugar bill
which will put an end to the rapidly
expanding business of growing sugar
beets and manufacturing beet sugar.
The refiners, the most influential be-
ing the so-called sugar trust, have
been growing more and more uneasy
owe the rapid increase in the output
Of beet sugar under the protective
tariff that has been in force. Within
the past few years this competition
has cut into their market to an alarm
ing extent, has tended to keep down
retail prices and threatened to put the
r~efiners out of business entirely, in
the course of time, rs the department
of agriculture has shown that the
United States has ample land adapted
TO beet growing to produce all the
sugar required by the American peo-
pie. AS the trust and it's refiners
have practically unlimited
at their command a big fight will be
made to secure absolute free trade in
this commodity, but it is doubtful if it
can succeed because it can be carried
through only by the votes of senators
representing states in which the beet
sugar industry already has attained
great importance and it Is doubtful If
these men will vote to destroy home
industries on which the welfare Of
thousands of their own constituents
depend. The wool and lumber sche-
dulles are others over which it Is ex-
pected that strenuous fights will be
wage1.
When President Wilson goes into
office he will find a tremendous pres
sure for him to revoke the order OF
his predecessor placing fourth class
postmasters in the classified service.
The democrats in Washington are
talking loudly Of patronage, and de-
clare that the civil service has been
greatly overdone. While they will
doubtless continue to recognize the
principle, it is quite sure they will
break loose all the government posi-
tons they find to be consistently avail
able for members of their own party.
Clerks Of the house ways and means
committee are already at work upon
the tariff revision bills for the extra
session of congress, to be convened
next April. The policy of this com
mittee all along has been to ignore all
other bodies, such as the defunct tar
if board, and the early action in Mr..
Underwoodis offices is perhaps intend
ed as a notice to congress and the
new administration that the commit
tee will prepare the tariff bills in its
own way.
Suez rates have been applied to the
Panama canal. Merchant ships will
pay $1.20 per ton, and naval vessels
fifty cents. 1t is calculated the canal
will be self sustaining in twenty
years.
Like the little SNOWFALL that starts
at the top of the hill and gets larger
as it rolls on it's way, has become the
sentiment in favor Of legislation CIV
ing government aid to instruction in
agriculture, through the agricultural
colleges and by experts who may be
de allied to cover different portions of
the country. A number of men in
both branches of congress have been
contending that the government
should take the lead in this work, and