Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 38, Number 17, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 October 1905 — Political Comment [ARTICLE]

Political Comment

Dolivcr ou Guard. I eoplc who favor reasonable railway rate legislation need no longer fear tba t t beSena tewllL succeed in smothering the matter in committee. Senator Dolliver, of lowa, in an Interview published in the Des Moines Register and Leader, says that a bill meeting the President’s views on that subject will be Introduced in the Senate even If it Is necessary to make a minority report. This Insures a fair and full discussion of the proposition. As is well know n the President Is of the opinion that tome degree of government supervision Is necessary for the protection of the public. There are honest differences of opinion as to how this supervlsipn shall be exercised or to what extent, but there is a growing sentiment throughout the country against the arbitrary action of the railroads. The interstate commerce commission is doing good work, but the scope *«f Its powers is not thought to De broad enough to meet all emergencies. The President has given the subject a great deal of thoughtful study and is bent on securing legislation which will cure the existing evils connected with railway transportation rates. He has already approved the features of the Esch-Townsend bill; and it is understood, suggested some changes which will be Incorporated in a new draft of the bill.—Toledo Blade.

Absurd. One of the speakers at the fake reciprocity convention remarked: “The folly of maintaining a tariff schedu.e that will enable us to sell SI,OOO of manufactured merchandise In our own markets, but which will prevent tho sale of SIO,OOO of manufactured or agricultural products in foreign markets, is so striking that It can only be explained on the hypothesis that w-e have surrendered to a senseless fear of disturbing domestic tranquility.” In view of the fact that the United States Is making more progress in Introducing her products into foreign markets than Great Britain, although the latter keeps her trade door wide open, this is a remarkable declaration. But when the further fact is cited that tho Increase of the domestic consumption of manufactured goods Is greater than the increase of the export trade of manufactured goods by all the rivals of the United States, the utterances of the speaker are at once seen to be absurd.—San Francisco “Chronicle.”

The Government Deficit. There is no danger that Uncle Sam will become a bankrupt. A year ago the wiseacres of the Democratic party were predicting a deficit of $150,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1905. As usual, they were poor prophets, for tlie shortage reached but $24,000,000. The Democratic press has been certain that the government will lie short $50,000,000 for the year ending June 30, 1906. Up to date tho actual deficit is $17,000,000, and it will decrease. Instead of increase. For the first third of September tlie government’s revenues exceeded the expenditures by $1,200,000. For tho corresponding days of September last year the balance was on the wrong side of the ledger to the tune of $20,000. Government officials are not alarmed over the outlook and the situation is growing brighter. Your Uncle Sam may be safely credited with knowing his business. . We Could Stand It. 0 Of the articles we sell to Germany • —amounting in value in 1903Lt0 $222,414,000 —two-thirds are raw materials which Germany needs either for direct consumption or for manufacturing purposes. These it is against the empire's own Interest to exclude or to tax exorbitantly. We are, therefore. In a far better position to meet any tariff discrimination than Germany can possibly be. We do not desire a tariff war, but we need not fear it. We would gladly maintain the status quo under which German-American trade has expanded by leaps and bounds. Germany will have to take the aggressive, if any break comes. And it will force that break—if It does force it —in the face of earnest opposition from its own merchants, manufacturers and shippers, who see that any policy of exclusion will lead inevitably to stagnation and loss. —Rock Island “Union.”

Mostly Wages, Too. Six years ago American manufacturers made but 45 automobiles, valued nt SOO,OOO. Last year they built 20,001 machines, valued at $40,000,000, and in two years from now the value of the output will probably exceed $100,000,000. The export trade is Increasing rapidly and is already assuming large proportions. Here is another indication of prosperity made possible by our present tariff. A good tariff to leave alone. How About Great Britain? If we were to adopt the principle that our tariff must be trimmed down to correspond with tariff concession* granted by other countries, how, then, would we deal with Great Britain, which imposes no tariff nt all? Should we not. in all fairness and consistency, tie compelled to remove our tariff altogether on Imports from Great Britain? Protection Means Business. Bank clearances during the years when the Gorman-Wilson tariff was in operation averaged less than $50,000,000,000. They are now climbing rapidly toward $200,000,000,00U