New Iberia enterprise and independent observer., 1913-02-08
WASHINGTON LETTER.

Washington, ID. C., Jan. 30
70 meet opposition Of the Demo
Gratis to the confirmation of Pres
ldant Taft s appointments, Re
publican Senators have held "A
caucus, and decided to do all
they can TO keep the Senate in
executive session for conSidera-
ton of nominations, thus forcing
the Democrats to keep up~a fill
I buster until the end of the seS-
sion on March 4.
According to the plan of hear
ings on proposed tariff legislation
the present tariff law is being
considered schedule by schedule.
| Nearly all the witnesses who hay Q
| testified admit the necessity Of
tariff revision; but claim that any
reduction of duty on their par
ticular articles would result in
reductions in wages and the clos
ing of some shops,
Representatives of steel indus
tries say there should be no re
ductlon on metals, although it
may be well to reduce cotton and
wool schedules.
Representatives of wool and
cotton industries claim that no
reduction on these fabrics should
be made, but that metals, or other
things, should be lowered,
President and Mrs. Taft enter
tanned a party at one Of the lead
ing theatres Monday night, when
the Sunshine Girl" had its first
presentation in this country, the
proceeds being for the benefit Of
charity.
The presence of the President
of the United States at a theatre
is always an important event, and
for several years it has been his
custom to select Monday nights.
After the theatre Mr.. Taft was
the guest of honor and principal
speaker at the Southern CONNER
cial Congress. He declared that
America s greatest need is I'M
proved farming methods, and that
we are fast approaching a point
where we shall have to import our
foodstuffs, and he dependent
upon other countries for what We
eat, unless we do improve our
agricultural methods.
The mystery of the disappear
ance of WiIfred Y. Webb, the
messenger from Arizona, bearing
the electoral votes of that state,
has been cleared up. Mr. Webb
thought the votes should first be
shown to the President-elect, and
did not knew there was time
limit for delivering them to Con
gress. Mr.. Webb was ahe only
one of the forty-eight messengers
bearing electoral votes OF the
states who did not arrive on
time. "a 4Sa
He is subject to a fine Of 81 600
for each day of tardiness, but 1T
will probably not be imposed.
In previous inauguratlons the
President has stood in the cold
for hours, constantly 'bOwing and
taking off his hat to the enthus-
lasts who saluted him as they
passed in the parade. This year
it is planned to inclose portion
of the stand erected in front OF
the White House, for the Presi-
dent and his family, with glass,
and heat it by electricity.
Although March fourth has
usually been stormy and cold, and
though many prominent men have
been made i'll, and not few have
died as the result of exposure at
inaUguratiOns later in the spring
when the weather is usually mild
and balmy.
Abandonment of the inaugural
ball and reception has caused no
end Of trouble; and now another
complication arises in the un-
willingness of some of the state
legislatures to grant the necessary
authority and appropriations for
sending their state militia. Many
civilian soldiers want to come to
the first installation of a demo-
cratic President and Congress for
twenty years and some ar taking
steps to raise the needed funds by
subscription in their own com
munities.
The rock Of conservation, upon
which the Republican party split,
is now looming as a big danger
in the path of Democrats. Many
Of them think the extension OF
federal power in conserving our
natural resources is an invasion
of States rights and unconstitu-
tional; that the States are comp
etent 0 protect the natural re-
sources Of the country. and
should be permitted to do so.
0~~~cs~~I D. Il