The Ontario Argus. (Ontario, Or.) 1???-1947, 1913-04-24
NEWS FROM OUR
NATIONAL CAPITAL
Caucus Finishes Tariff Bill and
Conditions Seem to Favor
an Early Passage


Chairman Underwood predicted that
the bill would be passed In the house
by May Is. Two months, the admin
istration leaders believe, Is a gener-
GUS time to allot to the senate for its
consideration and passage, and unless
II is decided to bring In a currency bill
thereafter, congress should be ready
to adjourn about July 15.
The bill. as approved by President
Wilson, came through the caucus un.
scathed. Democratic opponents to free
sugar In three years and to free raw
wool made the most vigorous fights
on the presidents suggestions adopted
by the ways and means committee. but
they we're hopelessly outvoted.
| Free List Increased
The caucus agreed to an amendment
to transfer buckwheat and rye to the
free list and to add savings banks mot
conducted for profit" to the list of
exemptions from the operation OF the
income tax. There was no change In
the item Of wheat, on which the mill
ers have been making a great fight,
because OF the putting Of flour on the
free list. The principal changes were:
Shoe machinery. buckwheat. rye.
rabbit fur and phosphoric acid. trans
ferred from dutiable to the free list;
onyx reduced from 65 cents to 80 cents
a cubic foot to put II on the same ba.
els rs marbles diamonds. uncut. are
unchanged. but cut diamonds are In
creased from 15 to 20 per cent: castor
oil 10 reduced from Is to ~ per cent;
cod. seal and herring oil, reduced from
TO per cent; sperm oil reduced
from 8 TO 3 per cent; vanilla beans re.
duced from 80 TO 30 certs a pound:
salts and other compounds and mix
lures OF which blsmuth. gold, platin.
um. rhodium. silver. tin and uranium
constitute the chief value. cut from I5
to 10 per cent.
California Urged TO Act Cautiously
Following the precedent OF previous
administrations Secretary Bryan In n
telegram TO Governor Johnson ex
pressed the view OF President Wilson
that the California assembly measure
might be construed as n violation OF
treaty obligations with japan. while
the senate's measure as drawn would
not be Objectionable. II alien land leg.
isiation 10 to be enacted at all.
In this the federal government rec
ognizes the sovereign right OF Califor.
MIA to legislate according TO Its own
judgment. but the message counselled
caution.
Assembly Bill Objectionable
The telegram and other Information
from official circles indicated clearly
that the provisions In the assembly
bill by which aliens ineligible 10 cit
izenship" would be prohibited from
owning land were regarded as "A dis
tinct discrimination against the Japan
ese. who at present have not the right
OF naturalization. The language OF
the senate bill restricting Ownership
OF lands to citizens OF the United
States or aliens who have declared
their intention OF becoming citizens"
is approved by the president. as he
has discovered that this is the Phrase
ology OF the statutes already In force
In New York. Delaware. Kansas. Min
nesota. Kentucky. Washington. Mis-
souri, and the District OF Columbia.
Incidentally. all these laws make II
impossible for Japanese TO own lands
until they are able TO declare their In
tentlon OF becoming citizens. privi-
lege which the lower courts thus far
have not given them on the ground
that they are not OF white OF African
descent"
Dollar Diplomacy TO Be Given ouletus
President Wilson and Secretary OF
State Bryan are planning TO reorganize
the South and Central American di-
plomatic service. eliminating the last
vestige OF dollar diplomacy"
II is reported that Bryan believes
that his subordinates have been giving
out Nv
come from the department chief. and
a shake-up In the state department is
predicted.
National Capital erevities
Secretary Daniels has warned every
mldshipman at Annapolis that hereaf'
ter no leniency will be shown TO haE-
ers.
In line with the attempt now being
made 10 bust" the money trust. Re
preventative Neeley OF Kansas intro
duced In the house a bill regulating
stock exchanges.
Postmaster General Burleson an
Aounosd that II Is the administration
policy TO continue all republican post
masters now In office 10 the end OF
their terms. provided no charges are
sustained against their efficiency.