The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-02-27
TRADE DEPRESSIONS
CAUSED BY TARIFF
Penrose Says That War Has
Not Caused Bad Bust
ness Conditions.

WASHINGTON, D. c., Feb. 27.-Tha,
the Democrats are endcayorIng to
take advantage of the agony of Eu,
rope" in their efforts to explain the
disastrous effects of the Underwood
tariff law and that they propose to
utilize the foreign war In the next
Presidential campaign, was charged
by Senator Bots Penrose in debate
in the Senate. The Senator, In Sc.
we're attack on the Wilson Admins.
tration, further declared that the bus.
mess and industrial depression
throughout the country prevailed for
months before the war began and that
whatever benefit might come from
shipments Of ammunitions and sup.
plies abroad would only be temporary
and that the prosperity for the coun.
try would not be restored until tho
Republican party was again In power.
Senator Penrose severely critisizei
the Postoffice Department for It's pol.
Icy OF economy in reducing the salar.
les OF postal employees, curtailmcnt
OF the forces at postofiices, which,
he said. had seriously impaired tho
the efficiency OF the service. His re.
marks regarding the European strug.
gle were IN reply to Senator Shafroth
who read newspaper reports showing
an increase In industrial activity In
many sections OF the country.
Refers to the War.
Il shall not comment on the condi.
ton OF mind which would boast oil
prosperity based upon the agony of
Europe" said Senator Penrose. 1.-THE
orders to which the Senator from
Colorado has referred to are for mu.
nttions of war and for clothing for
millions OF men engaged in destroying
each other among the civilized nation
OF Europe. A large body of our citi.
zenship would urge legislation abso.
lutely to prohibit the expectation of
OF such munitions and articles Of de.
struction. murder and slaughter,
which are going over to the other
side. Yet the Senator stands here
and boasts that his party Is bringing
prosperity In the American Republic
by sending to Europe the means OF
destruction or clothing for men ex.
posed to the wintry blasts In ths
trenches In Germany, Russia and In
France. What kind Of prosperity is
It, Mr.. President? A temporary,
meretricious condition which does no.
body any good may be slight improve.
ment over the soup house or the
bread line, but Of no permanent value.
1t is based on a condition Of war
which may end tomorrow, and when
1t is over, II the present fiscal policy
shall be continued we will face black
ruin in the United States SO far as
American industry Is concerned.
Raps Tariff Law.
u do not intend to delay the discus.
sion OF the appropriation bills by n
tarih argument, but we have heard
for months that the bensficient oper.
ations OF the Underwood tariff law
were suspended by reason of war in
Europe and that elections are to be
carried in the future by the party
now In power on account of the war
In Europe. The Postmaster General
comes along and says that the post.
Office clerks and letter carriers and
railway postal clerks are to be taken
from the high standard and the com.
Portable condition OF living and Ell.
cheney to which. they had been put by
years Of mature thought on the part
OF men familiar with the situation in
the House Representatives and the
Senate on account of the war in
Europe.
"Mr. President. In my opinion the
deficit in revenues Is due to the. pros.
tration Of business in the United
States. That is a condition which we
must face. but It furnishes no argu.
ment for visiting the unfortunate re.
suits OF this condition upon the help.
less postal employees who are com.
PEELED to go ahead and discharge their
responsible duties upon the which the
business life, he social intercourse
and the very circulation OF life blood
Of the community depends
r. z. o., Men Win.
The postoffice appropriation bill,
as It passed the Senate includes
great victory for the $4,000 rural let.
ter carriers Of the country, who not
only retain their position, but who
receive increased compensation. The
policy of the Postoffice Department
OF OF abandoning many rural routes
and substituting the old Star Route
system OF earring the mails Under
contract was defeated. Senator Pen.