The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1913-01-04

I
vised in such a way that business
would not be disturbed. The Demo
Gratis in congress differ to some ex
tent as to the amount of cutting which
can be done in the schedules and yet
avoid soaring business" The Demo
Gratis here understand that the presi.
dent-elect will make q close study of
the bills which were put through the
house at the last session under the SUI
pervision OF Mr. Underwood and that
| changes in these bills will depend Up
| on the results of conferences between
the incoming president and the con
gressional leaders of his party.
May Not Resemble Former Bills.
Few Republicans and few Progress
sive Republicans in Washington be-
lieve apparently that the next Demo
cratic tariff bills will bear any close
resemblance to those formulated by
the ways and means committee at the
last session. Some of the Democrats
this matter, although they content
themselves with saying that the wis
dom of the ways and means commit
tee can be trusted.
At the last session the Democratic
tariff bills which passed the house
after their form had been changed.
The compromise in the senate was ef-
fected by a combination Of the Demo
Gratis and some of the Progressive Re-
publicans who are known as moderate
protectionists. II the Republican aid
had not been forthcoming the bills
which Mr.. Underwood's committee
framed and which the house passed
never would have reached the passage
stage in the senate.
President Taft interposed his veto
of the atic-Progressive Repub-
there are some critics of the con
gressional action who say that the
bills would not have been passed IN
less 1t was known that the president
was certain to intervene with a veto
At the extra session which Mr.. Will
ing the tariff. the customs bills which
are passed are almost certain to be
signed and therefore the men who
are responsible for their passage must
be prepared to take the full RESPONSE
bility for the laws when they go into
effect
Lever Bill In Senate.
At the last session the house
of representatives passed bill
framed by Representative Asbury
F. Lever of South Caroline which has
for its object what may be called in
a sense a subsidy by the government
in behalf of the agricultural interests
Of the United States. In congress ag-
riculture has been spoken of as the
greatest profession and the idea
Of the bill is to combine a government
appropriation with an equal appropri-
alton from each state which will grant
1t for the purpose of paying agricul-
tural demonstrators who will go to
the different farms in their allotted
territory to give to the farmer the
benefit Of experience and advice in
the matter Of intensive agriculture
The Lever bill is now before the
senate. and II 1t passes and is signed
by the president, as It probably will
be. 1t will virtually at once become a
law. II, however, the senate fails to
pass 1t at this session the measure
will fail and work on it must be be-
gun all over again II 1t is the inten.
ton Of the promoters to continue their
labor In its behalf All bills die when |
q congress dies. and this congress
dies on March 4 next
Farmers Should Study Bill.
The Lever bill has been mentioned
In these dispatches prior to this.
There has been a good deal of inter |
est in the measure. but 1t Is suggested |
to the agriculturists of the country |
that they get copies of the bill. study |
II and find cut II 1t meets with their |
approval in all its details. Congress
Is apt to pass bill which Is backed |
by letters Of approval from the men |
and the communities supposed to be
benefited by 1t. and 1t Is likely to
kill bill II the letters concerning It |
show marked disapproval or II ap-
proval and disapproval are abou.
evenly divided
The Lever bill calls for a federal
Of 100000 to be AZ.
tended over period of ten years,
with the states of the Union subscrib-
ing an equal amount. The author of
the bill says that Belgium and other
European countries through the intro.
iuction of intensive farming methods
are producing from two and ne-half
10 three times as much per acre as
America Mr.. Lever says that were
his country to approach the European
scale It would be equivalent to the
discovery of a colony equal in size to
The present territory of this country.
The support for the Lever bill
comes from both parties in congress.
1 fact which Is true also of the oppo-
,ition to it. It Is proposed to pay
arm demonstrators salaries, one-half
% be paid by the state and one-half
% be paid by the National govern
nent. The appointment of the demon.
,trators and the control OF their work
Is to be entirely in charge of the au-
.horities of the agricultural colleges
Of the states in which the demonstra.
.ors work.