The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1913-09-18
WASHINGTON LETTER.

|
: Washington, -. G. Sept 15---Spec-
!; ial Correspondence -Within a week
the democratic tariff bill will be a
law. For four months of Wash
ington summer, after President Will
son had called congress in extra ses-
sion the legislators labored with the
tariff problem. The result is bill
which represents an average reduc-
ton of % per cent from the rates of
the existing Payne-Aldrich law. The
bill as it passed the senate carried
reductions Of more than 4 per cent
below the house bill. President Will
son has expressed heartiest approval
of the bill as it passed congress and
went to conference for final action.
He expressed his approval in the fol-
lowing statement:
"A long fight for the people and
for free business which has lasted a
long generation though has at least
been won, handsomely and complete
ly. A leadership and a steadfastness
in counsel has been shown in both
houses of which the democratic party
has reason to be very proud. There
has been no weakness or confusion
or drawing back, but statesman
like directness and command of cir
/ cumstances.. | am happy to have
been connected with the government
Of the nation at a time when such
/ things could happen and to have
worked in association with men who
could do them. There is every rea-
son to believe that currency legisla-
ton will be carried through with
equal energy, directness and loyalty
to the general interest. When that
is done this first session Of the Six
ty-third congress will have passed
into history with an unrivaled dis
tinction. want to express my spec
al admiration for the devoted, intel |
ligent and untiring work of Mr.. I'm
derwOod and Mr.. Simmons and the
committee associated with them.
Supplementary statements also
were issued by Senator LaFollette of
Wisconsin republican, and Senator |
Pondenxter of Washington (pro-
gressve) who supported the bill.
Il realize what l did was a politi-
cal sacrifice, but that within me |
compelled me to vote for the BILL
Senator Larollette said. THE tariff |
act of 1909 was but a little short of
crime" Senator PoindeXter eX-
planning his vote said: Il voted for
the senate tariff bill because it is, as
whole, a better bill than the Payne
Aldrich law, now in force. Further
more, it contains an income tax,
which we have been trying to get
for twenty years.
Senator Simmons of the senate
committee in charge of the bill eX-
pressed the belief that there will be
4 y, h,Ic-i |
and that in the end we will have
better times in this country.
Coincident with the passing of the
tariff bill was the reporting to the
house of the currency bill. and the
debate was begun on that bill to pro-
coed until it's passage. Leading
democratic senator's were prompt to
assure the president that the senate
would Immediately proceed with cur
rency legislation. Senator Owen,
chairman of the banking and cur
rency committee in charge of the
bill, declared that the measure
would be taken up as soon as 1t
could be reported by the committee.
Il believe that the bill will be pass
ed by November 1st," he said.
With the tariff and currency out
of the way at the special session an
aggressive program of general legis-
lation will be taken up at the regu-
lar session beginning in December
Antitrust legislation is expected to
be the chief item of consideration.
President Wilson and Attorney Cen
eral McReynolds will take up the
whole trust situation within the next
few weeks and later will confer with
senate and house leaders on the
forthcoming legislative program.
One of the important bills to be
considered at the regular session will
be one which has been introduced by
Congressman Pepper of Iowa, pro-
viding for pure WOOL and pure
shoes regulations similar to those
provided by the present pure food
law. His bill, which has attracted
widespread favorable comment, pro-
vides against adulteration of wool,
cotton, silk and leather. Any mix
ture of shoddy will not be permitted
to pass off as wool, but will have to
be labeled "adulter1ted.' Leather
in shoes will not be hlixed with paper
and treated with chemicals and then
be permitted to pass as leather
shoes. A tag on each pair of shoes
will show the form of adulteration.
This bill, which it is believed will re-
ceive favorable consideration, will
protect the consuming public from
frauds in the purchase of staple ar
ticles of wearing apparel
j. K. Dougherty.