River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1913-08-28
WASHINGTON LETTER
FROM JAMES A. FREAR, MEMBER OF
CONGRESS-, 10th DISTRICT

WASHINGTON, D. c., August 26, Is
Scores of roll calls on the tariff
bill in the Senate have disclosed the
attitude of the different Senators on
the bill. An Illustration of this
fact occurred when Senator Gronna,
a progressive Republican, asked
Senator LaFollette to give the Sen
ate the difference in the cost of pro-
duction of wheat here and abroad.
The Wisconsin Senator's reply,
based on his exhaustive investiga-
tons. was in effect that the average
cost of production in this country is
so cents bushel, in Canada it is
81 cents and in Argentina it is So
cents.
Senator Gronna then urged an
amendment to the proposed COM
mittee free schedule placing six
cent tariff on wheat. He received
support for his amendment by ex-
| tended speeches from Senators Bor-
ali, Bristo and Norris, all recognized
to be among the advanced guard of
progressive Republicans. On the
roll call, every progressive Repub-
| lican Senator voted for the amend
ment and every Democratic Senator
voted az ainst it. The free listing
of wheat was then decided by a
strict party vote.
Senator LaFollette has prepared
independent tariff schedules based
on the difference in cost of produc-
ton here and abroad. These de-
auctions are admitted by Senators
generally, to be as accurate as can
be furnished without the aid of a
tariff commission, but on the theory
that protection is wrong in princi
pie, all the Democratic Senators
vote invariably for the caucus meas
uTe and have sustained the caucus
| aCIlOu III every instance.
On the other side of the Chamber
the Republican Senators have re-
peatedly divided. LaFollette leads
contingent composed of Cummins,
Clapp, Borah, Bristow and about
dozen progressive Republicans,
sometimes voting with the Demo
Gratis and sometimes against them,
depending upon the results of their
tariff Investigations. The remain
ing Republicans almost invariably
vote against the Democrats. That
is the present situation with weeks
of tariff discussion yet to be had be-
fore the Senate passes the bill.
Nothing sensational has occurred
in the debates although Senator
Williams, of Mississippi, the most
brilliant debator on the Democratic
side, with other leaders of that
party, candidly state that the cost
of high living or the high cost of
living may not be affected by any
reduction of the tariff on agricultur-
al products, or in other words that
the tariff will be lost in the shut
he" before it reaches the consumer.
Another phase of the debate is
offered in repeated protests made
against Executive control of legis-
lation, coming from Republicans of
all kinds and from an occasions al
Democrat. Senator Cummins de-
clared the influence that has been
exerted by the President upon Mem
bers of Congress, an influence so
determined and persistent that it
becomes coercive, is known to every
intelligent citizen of the United
States. l am opposed to the Ex-
ecutive interference of which he is
guilty" he continued, and I intend
now and upon every appropriate &C.
casion in the future, to record my
protest against it."
In offering a reas on why this at
titude toward Congress was viewed
with complacency by the country he
said. 1t is perhaps natural for the
people to enjoy it Executive inter-
ference) because they have gradu-
ally come to believe that Congress
looks upon itself as inferior, and it
is very human to deride body of
men who, lacking the courage to as
sert themselve, are whipped by a
master into subsection.