Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-11-08
High Tariff Men Suggest Lower In
ternal Taxes.
FIGHT over REVISING TIE TARIFF
Arguments Presented to the Presi-
dent.
HE HEARS BOTH SIDE S

| ut pleSeICe III w NdSnilIStpu "IllIil ohs
or two Of Mr.. c. NJ. Schwab, president of
the steel trust; of Senator Hanna and of
Representatives Payne Steel and Russell of
| the ways and means committee, advocates
of the high protective tariff, all of whom
| have talked with President Roosevelt, has
| aroused renewed interest in the subject of
| the possible action of Congress upon the
| tariff at the coming session.
| When the late President Mckinley made
| his famous Buffalo speech, in which he
| fairly launched the reciprocity question as
| a subject for the republican party to con-
slider, he explained to his close friends and
advisers his views. Mr.. Mckinley believed
! that tariff revision was inevitable: that the
! country west Of the Ohio river would de-
| mand it, and that the demand would grow
stronger each year.
1t was Mr.. McFinley's idea that the re-
publican party should meet the popular
wish, anG he thought that this could be
| done through a system of reciprocity
| whereby this country could obtain equiv
alent for concessions. He thought that
while conforming to the demand for re-
duction of some of the higher rates, we
could expand our foreign trade in way
that in the long run the American working
man. for whom the tariff was devised
would not suffer.
Both Sides Heard.
The high protected interests Immediately
| raised clamor against the proposition to
touch the tariff, claiming sanctuary for
| that protege of the republican party. They
have conducted n campaign of aggression
| through their newspaper organs in the east
and since President Roosevelt has been in
office have constantly ding-donged their
claims in his ears.
The President, however, has heard the
other side of the question. Western con-
gressmen without number have appriSed
him of the feeling in their sections favor
| able to revision. Some of the latter class
who have talked with him represent the
President as not being oblivious to that
sentiment in the west.
1t is considered that the recommended
tions of the President upon this subject in
| his annual message will have an important
effect upon the legislation. Both sides are
trying to enlist him as their advocate
To Shift the Issue.
| The high tariff men are now trying to
| shift the issue from the customs tariff to
the internal revenue. They say that if
taxation is too great, that If the receipts
| Of the government from taxes threaten to
create surplus that may be a menace
why not reduce the war taxes still fur
ther But, they plead, do not tinker with
the tariff
The great industrial trusts claim that
they are not SO much interested in the
tariff, after all; that the tariff operates to
| the advantage of the small manufa turer
who will be hurt by its reduction. This
| is the plea, it is believed. that has swung
many republicans into line for the main
| tenance of the existing high rates all along
| the line.
Division in the Committee.
Mr.. Steele of Indiana, on the ways and
means committee, is of the strongest
| supporters of the high tariff His COL
| league, Mr.. Overstreet, from the IndianaDo-
| lis district, manufacturing center, is in
| favor of REVISION. 1t is said by those who
know that the sentiment Of Indiana is
overwhelming for practical and wise re-
vision. Mr.. Payne Mr.. Dalzell and Mr.
Russell, representing eastern districts, are
of course absolutely iron-clad in their de-
votion to the extreme rates of duty. Mr.
Babcock and Mr.. Tawney are the only re-
publican members of the committee who
oppose them but they have consider able
| following in the republican delegations in
! the House.
Wool and Beet Sugar interests.
The high protectiontsts are drawing into
the fight, on their SIDE the wool growers
and the beet sugar raisers of the west
| against possible reciprocity treaties that
| may admit sugar and wool to the detriment
OF their products strong community Of
| interests is being thus built up between the
| eastern manufacturers and few western
| producers to counteract the rising tide of
popular opinion in favor of revision
The game is at a very interesting stage
this week. If the high protectionists can
sway the President to their side to the ex-
| tent of inducing him to deliver a ringing
message against tariff revision 1t is real
| lied by the western advocates of revision
that their cause is seriously damaged II
is considered doubtful If effort would be
mace this session for revision in the face
OF declaration Of policy from the White
House adverse to reduction of d,ltjeS