The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1913-07-10
WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENCE

Washington D. c., June Letters
and kilograms which they have been
| receiving from their constituents in. all
parts of the country, making inquiry
as to the reason the Democ ratio party
has not yet reduced the cost of liv-
ing, in accordance with it's platform
and campaign promises, have aroused
President Wilson and the Democratic
leaders to explanations and more pro-
misses.
| Some of the letters which are reach
ing the leaders frankly state that in
stead of reducing the cost OF living,
which is as high if not higher
than ever, the party seems to be de-
termined to take employment away
from the working people by removing
the tariff protection that kept wages
in this country higher than in Europe.
The fact is being held up to the
Democratic party in Congress, that it
came into power on a promise to re-
duce prices. and that now the tariff
bill is being burdcned with non essen
tials over which time is being wasted
in wransling, while products in which
the masses are interested are being
neglected
Underwood Not Optimistic
| Majority Leader Underwood, whose
name the new bill bears, when asked
to answer the query of the critics as
to what progress has been made by
Congress towards lowering the cost
Of living, and when these reductions
would be made said:
''To point out in detail the reduc
tons in the tariff bill, which passed
the House, that will reduce the cost
of living, would take many hours. But
l will say that We have either placed
every foodstuff on the free list or halv
ed the present tariff upon 1t. Meat
and bread are placed on the free list
These are commodities in which the
masses are certainly interested.
The tariff on gu gar has been re
duced twenty-five per cent, and If the
bill is passed in the form in which it
, went to the Senate will be entirely eli
minated within three years. This
present reduction, Think, will probably
lower the price to the consumer one
half cent per pound
"As to when these reductions will
become effective no one can say. The
bill must first pass the senate, and l
do not think that there is any doubt
but that it will. 1t will then go to the
President for his signature and imme-
diately be law.
mo onecan say, however, what
benefits will result to the general pub
lie from these reductions The tariffs
will be lowered on all articles, but the
middlemen must be considered before
one can say what saving the consul
mer will enjoy. There is no doubt that
many products will be materially low.
cred in price, but the lowering of the
tariff may not in some instances effect
any change in the prices made to con
sumers."
Clark Fails to Explain
Speaker Clark replying to the same
query propounded to Mr.. Underwood
remarked:
'"The entire tariff bill that passed
the House would have to be analysed
to answer the questions. That measure
as it went to the Senate effects re-
duction in practically everything used
by the consumerI Whether tho Senate
will improve upon it, or even pass it.
yet remains to be seen.
) LAS to the length Of time that wiz
elapse before the benefits of the re
! auctions will be enjoyed, one cannot
make answer until it is determined
how long it will take the Senate to
pass the bill and then one must pause
still further to find out how long it
will take the measure after 1t Is made
law to become operative"
Representative John j. Fitzgerald,
Of New York, who is generally con-
sidered to be we'll qualified to discuss
the tariff, and what the Democratic
policy with regard to legislation on
this particular subject will result H.
when approached, replied
Il do not care to make any state
ment on the subject or enter into
any discussion Of it.
Smith Wants Positions for Idaho AeF
The enactment at the last session
of Congress of law providing FOL
the valuation OF the property of com
mon carriers makes necessary TN
employment of probably one Thousand
men Throughout the United States WHIT
are equipped by education and train
ing as structural engineers, civil an
gineers, inspectors Of car equipment
electrical engineers, inspectors OF mo
tor power, railway signal engineers
mechanical engineers, and archltects
at salaries ranging from $lOSO u
$4,000.
Congressman Smith, who has heel
urging the appointment of several Ida
no men, has been advised by the U
8. Civil Service Commission that ex
aminations will be held, July list an
23rd at Boise. Pocatello and Moscow
to establish eligible lists from whci
| mill ho made EXnpt]