VOL. X. NO 38. —7 This Is the Place C To Buy Your Jewelry \ r \ Nothing in Town to Compare With S ( the Quality that We are Giving J 112 You for the Low Price Asked. S ■t Quality and moderate prices makes a force that\ ") irresistibly draws into our store the best Cof this section. Many years here in business, always 1 Swith a full line of above suspicion; chosen C ( with a care and judgment o-imm-nsurate with its ! \ desirability and adaptability to refine taste, makes \ 112 our store a sa:e place to invest C S* Repair work done on short notice and by skilled workmen. Your orders appreciated. 17*1 Y *T r ) i vCj i i CIM3U £v I t 112 DUSHOKE, l'A. The Jeweler $ 'COL. CL S'-'N/v HARDWARE/^ No Place Like this Place For Reliable STOVES and RANGES, COAL OH, WOO D. HEATERS; ONE OF WINTER'S GREAT DELIGHTS. House Furnishing Goods, Tools of Every Description, Guns and Ammunition. Bargains that bring the buyer back. Come and test the truth of our talk. A lot of second hand stoves and ranges for sale cheap. We can sell you in stoves anything from a fine Jewel Base Burner to a low priced but satisfactory cook stove. Hot Air, Steam and Hot Water Heating and General Repairing. Roofing and Spouting. !.•. -oie the Shopbell Dry Good Co., 313 Pine Street, WILLIAMS PORT, PA. a\qsiin ervrare Qnd (I)I)itc Goods 3ale. Wednesday mrrni'% January 3rd. we the greatest sate of White Goods and Muslin Ui derwear in thisStore's hstory. Hundreds of pieces of new fresh Uridt! muslins will be < ft'en ci at prices that must commend them to the most careful buyers You'll t e prompted to replenish your Muslin outfits lo r months to come. Garments for 10 cents- Muslin Wear for 15c. Ladies' Cambric lull front corset covers Ladies' drawers. cambric hemstitched < 'hildren's Drawers with cluster tucks. rullle. t hi'ilrens' \Vai-is and Skirl-. Ladies' cnmbrick corset covers, hem- Infants' slips with lace edge. switched or lace trimming Children.*' drawer- with lieiustitclied Garments for s<>C, children*' waists, extra good—strapped Ladle*' Cambric Drawers, wi.h wide «''d '«pe hutt nis. Infants slip,, etc. flounce of lace and insertion or embroid- Q arment * for 25c. cry. the best value* you ever had for the ...... l.;i'ln> 111 ree Mvle**, sijiunv I alien' Cambric (town#, square or V neck, hemstitched ruttle or V neck with neck' Yokes made of embroidery or lace laoe or embroidery—these are worth 60c ertion rullle at n-ck itnl" sleeve-. "idy .ne will be suid.to a customer. Several styles to cln and under price. Udies Oauibrtc Drawers-some have iii tuci.s and hemstitched, other lace inscr l.adie- L-mjr Skirt-, with d.. T lace in- t urtinn M nd cilit—Oilier stvles hemstitch■ , . .J " ' .. . ... • . . - , 1.:..1n* lon/ skirts wuh hemstitched I d. I ki'llU ev. uh l.u '' .'•i-r. rullle. Chc'tni** and short skirts with Ladies < an.bric •■•-. ! < ~ver- -tl hemstitched rullle. "l ial value, they are !«and«..mel.> uajw . G|4mbrfc ~ov. ov^n (|1 „ trwnmed wuli lacsaml (v or .t«—there's quite a variety -.1 styles— lion and edge. MI ihv 'in u r 1 noniu are trimmed with lace," other with Ircal. einiirn dery or tucks ami ribbons. Mi- .11 • -kin- various si vies. Subscribe for the News Item LAPORTE, SULLIVAN COUNTY PA. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1906. XOT ATJitIST IIEMKDY FUTILITY OF FREE TRADF. CLEARLY DEMONSTRATED. Hemovji! ol Slu(>- on IVid«-s Would I'liiy Into tke Hands of I lie Lexither Monopoly mid Injure Independent >I.'I II nl'aet N re CM. What about this subject of free tildes that was projected into the arena of national politics by the visit of the rep resentative hoot and shoe men, mostly r'rom Massachusetts, to Washington re .en t !y'! 'f'he manufacturers came: they saw President Uoosevelt; they aired their grievances: they obtained no encour agement. But they did accomplish by their discussion one of the most inter esting things in connection with ilie whole tariff agitation namely: They deuioustrated that the clamor for free hides is based upon selfishness in a i a rife degree or a mistaken idea of what benefits would llow to the boot and shoe business if hides were admit ted free of duty. More than that, the discussion of the subject brought out a fact that will not lie lost upon the people of the country during any fu ture discussion of the tariff question. With such results it cannot be said that the meeting between the presi dent and the advocates of free hides was without beneficial uses. Let us look at llie most important fact brought out by the discussion in Washington of the free hide proposi tion—namely. whether free hides should lie accompanied by free leather and a reduction in the duties on boots and shoes. Considering that question as it was brought out here and applying it to the general field of tariff changes cannot but have a valuable influence, because the boot aud shoe men were candid, frank and fair in their discus sion of the subject, and they sought to cover up nothing that would tie better disclosed if the disclosure would make for the success of their "free raw ma terial" propaganda. Well, it is fair to say that the boot and shoe manufac turers are willing, most of them, to concede that if hides were admitted free of duty leather really ought to be placed on the free list or substantially so and that material reductions should be made in the rates of duty on im ported boots and shoes. But they are not prepared to admit that this course with respect to leather and boots and shoes should lie followed. They admit the soundness of it. but their reply is this in terms if not in precisely this language: "No, we are not prepared to advocate free trade in. leather and for this rea son : A considerable part of the leather product in this country is now con trolled by a combination in the nature of a trust, and free trade in leather would lie disastrous to the independent leather manufacturers, who are now putting up a goad fight against the trust and are helping us to secure leather at lower prices than we would be able to obtain it if the independents were crowded out of business or re duced in number by sharper competi tion. The trust is better able to stand the competition of free leather than are the independent manufacturers, so we must stand by the independents." There has not been given a better il lustration of the practical workings of free trade or tariff reductions below a sure protective line than this one sup plied by the boot and shoe men. Wheth er consciously or unconsciously, they have list the nail precisely on the head with respect to the whole protection proposition so far as it is related to so called trusts. Those who have railed against the steel trust and who have demanded reductions in duties in order to get a bj JW at the steel trust may veil take notice of the timely and sig nificant suggestion made by the boot and shoe manufacturers. Reductions in duties would harm the small Inde pendent iron and steel plants or the in dependent leather manufacturers vast ly more than it would harm the great combinations or so called trusts. It is all the independents can do to contest in the markets against the combined wealth and cheaper production of the great plains. They could not stand such competition as free trade would force ui)')u them. Thus was presented a practical business truth from prac tical business men who while attempt ing tn better their own interests were quick to see what the effect would be if i logical application of the true rules which accompany free hides were to be made. Now let us consider for a moment the real facts about the boot and slio(> industry and its relation to free hides. It is probably true that if liidea and leather, or either, were admitted duty free or with marked reduction in the duties on leather the boot and shoe manufacturers would tie willing to con sent to a reduction in the duties on boots and shoes. It is assumed from the record as it stands thai they could (ford tu do this. The cheaper cost of production in the industry that is the result of Improved machinery puts the American boot and shoe Industry well to the front in the world's production. No boots and shies ore Imported, even in tin- face of the comparatively low dntits. on the other hand, from sto.- linn.nnn to .S".'J.UOO.IiOn worth of boots and slioes are annually exported by Au.er.-.in manufacturers. Unl.v ilie I coarse J:. ! - '.; of catare dutiable, ana j more than :!'J'>,cuti.<)Uo worth of such I materials arc imparted, That the leaili j or manufacturers still require a pro | tent'.vc duty i; shown by the fact that import* of leather amount to probably | .*a;,uno.(,: n worth annually. There you Lave the silur.tion. The sum of the claim of the boat ani | shoe men is that the duty on hides is I not .lus'l'ie.. Isy th» principle* of pro ! t<-"t:;ai rud t!:at so lie:' cent of the hi.ie | output i:i this country is controlled 1 I the pa-'kers rather than by the farmers | «.• cattle raisers. The record shows I that the hide duty was asked for by I the farmers' organizations when the | Dingley tariff was framed. It is not so much a question of the relative impor tance of hides as a raw material pro duced on the farms compared with wool or like materials. The question is the principle involved and the disposi j tion manifested of seeking cheaper ] raw materials at the expense of die producers of the materials and in defl | snco of the principle that protection | -should cover all industries alike where j.he domestic producers are capable of I supplying substantially all the ueces- I *ary domestic .supply. Iu view of what the boot and shoe | men said here regarding the retention ! of duties o:i leather, even if hides were ; admitted free, such policy being in the I interests of developing the domestic j leather industry, and in view of the ! points made showing how the protec five system works to their advantage rather than to their detriment, it is not | surprising that the delegation headed j by Governor Douglas, a Massachusetts I Democrat who probably would vote to j abolish all protection, obtained compar- I atively little comfort or encouragement | at Washington. AHTIIt'K .1. HODGE. Mr. Editor, I have been n ading your remarks about the inter -st Mr. Ford has taken in the welfare of our Bor i, and file suggestions you make in regard to a "special session" to be called of the town council to act upon reforms to be made—the first to pro vide for a place for the town cattie to pustur.e other than upon the street)- of the village. As a body they have no power to engage pastuie fir cattle of the residents of the Boro. In June 10OM, a petition was handed the council which was signed by fifteen of the most prominent and largest tax payers in the Itoro re questing that an ordinance be passee by the council prohibiting the run ning at large of cattle, horses and hogs on our streets. When laid be fore the Board, two members of the second ward voted in favor of having the ordinance passed and the re maining four members voted aguin.-t it. Last summer the stock increased to the number of something over thirty and we may have a further increase this season. I would here add that the owners of these cattle are the parties who seem to have the side walks built (to a great extent at the expense of the Boro, particu larly for our upon ntreels; the rods seeming to be a secondary considera tion. But as i take it our road ta.v - are intended for repairs and im provements on roads, and not for underground sewers from private houses, and plank road cio--itigs on macadamized roads. Our town is well located and much of the surroundings is appreciated by city visitors. Facilities by rail road are convenient and pure air ami fresh water abundant, and good ae commodations could be provided no doubt on reasonable terms for tin summer season. But to make im provements I would suggest that owners of cuttle procure pasture lor them; pull down their old fence surrounding their yard- ami einiiel ish their grounds with shrubs. Hov ers and a nice v< getable garden. Fill up the old cellars of the burned down buildings, and keep your streets trimmed up -imilar to what they do in other well regulatiM vil lages. The Court House and yard is a credit to the county, take a pattern from it for tin* Boro. A citizen. Superintendent 1 nidi- of tin Philadelphia mint is quoted as say ing that he does not believe the l uit' d .•state.- government will ever coin any more silver tlollors, that the coin is bulky and cumin r-on. and that all the gov* mucin's silver having now l»e-i coin. «l, and there being no law under which more can be purchased, h" < on-ider* the dollar ii our da'tdie- t'.ooim I. Lditor News J icm, We thank you for pasl favors ami I would consider it a favor for space in your paper in reply to the one i signed by John L. Farrcll. If we 'lid not use the ax handle with force I enough to hurt any one why >s it I that a certain party (and his name is not John) is running around Mii , dred and Sugar Ilill claiming that this letter writing is hurling: him. We admit having given that advice to Mr. Jhingieberg hut we did not t- li him to putin a hid for janitor and say "you are as qualified as old Tom niv''and then knif- him in the back. if there is any one wearing ajaun ! Tv costume it is the one wiio is using John's name. What I havp done is ! to -tate the facts which you have not S denied, but you have tried in every ! shape and form to dodge the ques tion. I will assert and prove by your own words that Mr. Lowry was not the lowest bidder at ?'lO. Mr. Dongleberg's hid was $14.00 fir : janitor and Mr. Schell's bid was #4 fur truant officer, makinga total of I Sis,oo, and according to your own i words a man could putin a bid for ; either fine or for both. You have ! never stated what amount Mr. Low ry was receiving for truant ofllcer. | And about the qualifications for jan j itor: there never was a time during : Mr. Schell's term as janitor that lie j was absent five days in succession, ! and the teachers never had to be j told to say nothing about it or that j lie would be reprimanded. Xo.v 1 will take up that part of your letter about the school tax My tax receipt says for 1902 and 1903 #1,50 for school tax. Why should lor any one else goto the books or do you want one to believe that there is something wrong and if the books do not show what my tax receipt [calls for, it makes my argument all the stronger that you do not know i the true facts. If a man buys a suit of clothes for Sland gets a receipt tosh nv for it, j wliv should he goto the man from i - whom he purchased the clothes to see if there was not £:> deducted for ! shoes, thus bringing the suit down to si:.', and if such is the case where j are the shoes. My tax receipt says 51,65 for school fax, and now you want me t<: divide it and put £1 for poll tax. Now the question is up to you where d<>cs this poll tax go and why should my tax receipt say school tax when |it is not for a school tax. If a man's receipt can bo construed to suit tin party who gave it, then what is the I use of it. Before we close I wish to call at tention to a mistake in the publica tion of letter last week. It should have read 17 cents a month for each pupil instead of a day. John 1 will wail for you to answer and then if the editor will allow us | the space to do so we wiil come again. Charl"s 15. Watson. I- - - i Editor News Item, <)n the oth of January 1 received a communication lYom J. J. f'larkson, cashier of the William.-. Valley bank, making in quiry about Ltporte as a suitable place for a Summer Resort in which to erect a hotel for summer guests. The letter was prompted by an arti cle I had published in the Pennsyl vania Methodist, while pastor of Laporte M. K. church. 1 have re cently received several letters of inquiry. 1 have answered them all and t-ust that men of capital will Come and convert your healthful town into a famous Summer Ke.-ort. Now is the time for your town council ti. comply with l'rof. Ford's rcquesl am' advertise. Respectfully Yours, S. li. Ilidlack. | - __ While t » o men were digging stone for a cellar on the Daniel (Yeasy farm about a mile from Rloomsburg, along tiie river hill struck a vein of coal near the surface. Investigation proved the vein to lie a loi.t thick and running larger as they dug deeper The men took pieces of the con! to tb< ir homes and burned it in their -toves. It is pronounced a tir-t class ■lll tlify of coal. 75C PER YEAP BERNICE. William Mahaffey who was struck by a Lehigh Valley locomotive in the cut near the engine house, is get ting alonoo for his services at an extra sessson; lint members who went there pre pared to draw part of their money are up a tree, because Mutinies has an official opinion from Attorney General ('arson that he is not justi fied in making any payments until an appropriation bill had been pass ed. Mr. l'ow, Philadelphia, offered the necessary bill in the House Wed nesday and its passage will not be delayed. Realizing that some mem bers needed the money Speaker Walton and other influential men tried to get a bank to advance the money, with the understanding that reimbursement would be made as soon as the necessary bill was passed but their efforts were unsuccessful and none of the members will get any money until the session is clos ed unless Treasurer Mathues pays it out and runs the aceompying risk. At regular sessions part-payments are always made long before an ap propriation bill is heard of. Some are generally made upon the day of assembling. Frederick V. Bennett, son of County Commissioner Boyd I*. Ben nett, died at Harrisburg, last Thurs day of Hemorrhage of the brain. Mr. Bennett was a paymaster of the Philadelphia and Reading railroad, and had been in Harrisburg about three months, having gone there from TamaiKpia where hi* hail been in the employ of the same'company. He had been ill for about a week with the grip but was confine*! to his bed only two days when he was attacked l>.v a In morrhage and died very suddenly. He was aged twen tynine years. The funeral took place Sunday, the services being held at the home of his parents, after which the re mains were tak< nto Hughenville, where interment was made. A special train of two couches carried a large number of Tama<|ita friends to tin* funeral.