Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-06-28
F0IIofIly on Outskirts Of
Tariff bIessedness.
Industries Must Carve Out Own
Solution Of difficulties.


Washington, d. c., June 27-(Spe-
cian.-There has been lot of to dc
about tariff changes by the Senate. But
now that the bill is out In the open and
the caucus has deliberated upon it. a
pertinent question comes How much
better off is Maine because Of any
changes which the Finance Committee
voted? After all it is about the same
old bill and the fact remains that it
strikes pretty stiff blow at industries
IN the old Pine Tree State.
Senator Johnson has done something
fer the potato industry, all he could do,
but nevertheless there is every prospect
That potatoes will go upon the free list
Indeed there is absolutely no other
prospect. They can be brought in from
Scotland free and in times gone by,
scotland has sent boatloads of potatoes
to our markets. There is no assurance
yet that the provision for IA counter
Vailing duty will become law. If it
does potatoes from Canada can not be
brought in free. The Senate probably
Will vote for that countervailiBg duty
bat then it remains for the conference
between the two houses to say and pre-
sumably, the House of Representatives,
will fight it. Apparently Senator john
ference and. il SO. can not fight in per-
son for the potato amendment.
OF course all the duty is taken off
lumber, which was to have been expect
ed and that will make. some difference
in Maine. The Woolen manufacturing
industry Is still hit as hard as ever
by the Underwood bill and wooten man
ntacturing is important to numerous
in Muip A tItar
lief has been extended to the cotton
manufacturing industry, and il may
be that the mills can live after a fash
ion. Whether 1t will be possible for
them to get along without cutting wage
is yet to be demonstrated. And it Il
not certain yet that these increases.
voted by the finance committee on the
higher grades OF eottons, will stay in
the bill as it becomes law.
The boot and shoe factories, Of which
there are many in Maine. get absolute
ly no help from the Senate. Democrats
there, like Democrats in tie House, are
absolutely for free boots ans, shoes ana
for free leather. Thus it stands and
thus the bill will become law. The SHOE
factories of Maine might as We'll face
the situation as it is for there can now
be no change in the rates of their pro-
ducts. And so it goes through the tar
if bill. Free paper stands, without
qualification, only the new law Will
provide for free print paper without
any qualification. The present status.
to be sure, is that, because it was ruled
in the courts that under existing law
print paper could come into this coun-
try free from any part of the world.
Maine Must Fight Her Way Out.
IT will be noted that in no very i'm
portant particular has the Senate made
things at all easier for Maine in the
tariff bill. The industries of the state
will be left to fight their way out as
best they can, to solve the problems of
wages and the preservation of values
if these possibly can he solved
Maine will have some small part in
the currency legislation, as Represen-
tatiyc Guernsey, of Dover, is MEMBER
Of the banking and currency committee
If the House Thus far, however, Re
publicans have not been permitted to
nlay much of hand. The President has
lust called in Republican members OF
the banking and currency committees
and talked things over with them,
along with their Democratic colleagues
Recently Republicans have not been in
much of a mood to accept the Demo-
cratic currency bill as 1t seemed to M
clude provisions TO which they couia
not accede. But whether there are TO
he compromiseseand adjustments which
will make the measure little more
acceptible to the Republicans IS yet 10
he determined. New England is Wen
represented on the banking anu cur
rency committees. Mr.. Guernsey, oil
course is a banker familiar with bank
ing questions. A New England Demo-
Graf on the House committee is KEEP
rcsentatiye Phelan, of Lynn, MASS.
who. however. is new to Congressional
life but very level-headed man. A
member of the Senate committee from
Now England is Senator John w.
weeks. of Massachusetts,, prominent
hanker formerly in Boston. and mem
Der of the monetary commission.
National Homes Affected.
The sundry civil bill has become law
and with it a provision that reduces
the members of the board of managers
for the National Home for Volunteer
soldiers. This reduction in member
shin will not take place immediately.
rrhe home at Togus will not be affected
at once and Gen. Joseph Smith, OF Ban
cor will serve out his term as mem
her of the board having SUPERVISION al
Togus. But ultimately all branches OIL
the home will be managed more ana
more from New York. Gen. James
Wadsworth of Geneseo County, \, l..
now president of the board, is to nave
his way and. If he continues to serve
apparently is to be more and more OF
n little king. Although he was long :
Republican member of the House, his
plan was championed by Democrats
there and it was due entirely to th'
stout persistence of the House that tn
proyision for reducing the number o
managers went through.
Gen. Smith fought it with all BIZ
ability and made 4 good impression be
fore the Senate. But for the need o
making the sundry civil bill law forth
with. as the appropriations it carrie