The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1913-08-21
WASHINGTON LETTER.

Washington. d. c., August 49,
Special Correspondence. The tariff
debate is progressing in the senate
with a certainty of an early vote, in
spite of the obstructive tactics en-
ployed by the republicans 'oul guard
leaders. AS an evidence of this there
was the action of Senator Gallinger,
the standpat leader, in refusing to
agree that date be set for vote on
the tariff bill unless the democrats
would promise to postpone currency
legislation. This was Illuminating
as showing the tactics by which leg
islation has been defeated in the
past, even when it has been backed
by such strong public opinion as now
is demanding tariff revision.
The prospects continue, bright for
both tariff and currency legislation
at the special session. The old stock
again, but somehow they have fallen
! flat. References to the "pauper"
labor of Europe by standpat senators
brought forth a reminder that the
Lawrence strike investigation show
ed that there was pauper labor, or
labor employed at pauperizing wages
and that, too, in some Of the highly
protected industries, showing that
the tariff benefits rarely got beyond
the cash drawer and into the pay en-
velopes. When Senator Penrose at
tempted to get specific and state
that already a Pennsylvania manu-
facturer had closed his plant and
moved all his machinery to Europe,
1ntt road from tho OwnarS
of the manufacturing plant in ques-
ton denying such move, and news
paper interviews with members of
the firm were read showing that the
firm PenrOse had closed up were
never enjoying a better business.
The visit of the western and
southern bankers went far toward
popularizing the administration
currency bill. 1T was almost the
unanimous opinion of the visiting
bankers that the currency legislation
planned will go far toward removing
the money stringency. AS a compan-
ion to the currency bill President
Wilson also issued a statement de-
claring that the administration plan
ned to introduce bill providing a
system of rural credits at the regular
session of congress. There has
been too little federal legislation
framed to serve the farmer directly |
and with deliberate adjustment to
his real needs" the president said. |
"Ono of the chief and most serious of |
these disadvantages has been that
he has been unable to secure the ex-
tended bank accommodations he ev-
cry year stands in need of without |
paying most burdensome rates OF in
terest' The president said that |
rural credit systems had been work
ed out abroad and that "our farmers
must have a similar means afforded |
them of handling their financial
needs easily and inexpensively."
and they will be-" the president |
added. "This is our next great task
and duty. The congress and execu-
tive working together will certainly |
afford the needed machinery of re-
lief and prosperity to the people of |
the countrysides, and that very |
soon."
A sufficient explanation of the
democratic party's opposition to the |
Taft tariff commission plan was CIV
en- by the lobbyist Mulhall when he |
told how the Manufacturers AssC-
citation had vigorously pushed the |
bill and practically dictated it's terms.
Confederation of this was given in
the testimony of Henry R. Towne,
president of the big lcck concern,
who said that former Congressman
Watson of Indiana, Taft floor leader
at the Chicago convention, was paid
$3.50 week to lobby for the bill, be-
cause che had influence with the
members of congress and the admin
istration."
Towne seemed to consider this |
perfectly proper transaction. An il
lustration of his viewpoint, however,
is afforded by letter introduced |
where he argued that all employees |
of railroads, telegraph and telephone
companies should be placed under a |
uasi-military service requiring en-
listment and punishment for deser-
ton as in the army and navy. This |
is the view held by several gentle |
men of the Towne stripe, who believe |
they have a solemn duty in helping !
congress to make it's laws. Loud |
criticism of the administration is |
heard from these gentlemen because
President Wilson and the majority |
in congress do not recognize this di-
vine right and insist on considering |
the peOple'S wishes in framing legiS-