The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-11-28
Republicans Divided on the
Question of Revision.
MAY BE AN EXTRA SESSION
WHOLE MATTER RESTS WITH
ROOSEVELT.

desire on the part of many, and a fear
on the part OF others, that the Presi-
dent viii call an extra session of con-
gress Immediately after the 4th of
March, for the purpose of cutting down
certain tariff schedules. II there is to
lie tariff revision il must be by the new
congress.
Republicans are divided on the tariff
question. as they have been for sew
eral years past. One element, including
men from the middle west. some from
New England and others from the far
west, are clamoring for revision, and
with one exception. they wand the rates
cut Representative McCleaTy of Min
nesota, Republican. is fn favor of
tariff revision. but he, out Of the entire
membership of congress, alone advo-
Gates an Increase IN the tariff rates.
View of Stand Patters.>
The balance of the Republicans, in
Guiding many of the most influential
men in both bodies, are opposed to any
interference with the tariff. and state
very plainly that one of the things that
contributed TO the great Republican
victory on the Sth of this month was
the assurance given by the party lead
ers that they intended to stand pat"
These Republicans declare that the
stand pat policy applied particularly
to the tariff, and argue that it would
be breach of faith, after having Sc
cured the confidence of the people, TO
violate a pledge implied, at leasD by
cutting down tariff rates
Considerab bic speculation is being in
obliged in as to what stand the presi-
dent intends to take. No one seems to
know his attitude, and there has been
no authorized statement showing
how the president views the
situation. Well-informed men, how
ever, seem solidly of the opin-
ion that in his Forthcoming
message to congress the president will
touch very lightly on the tariff ques-
ton and make no recommendation as
TO change of schedules. But as to
what the president intends to do after
the 9Th OF March there is far more
doubt. In one ear he receives advice
from prominent Republicans 10 the ef-
feet that he must leave the tariff alone.
In the other ear he hears from equally
prominent Republicans that the time
has come when the tariff must be re-
Vised. Each side feels confident that
the president is with them, yet neither
has any definite assurance.
Want Revision at Once.
Advocates of tariff revision believe
that this is the time for reducing rates
on those goods which no longer need
projection or which would not suffer by
n reduction IN the tariff. The revision
lists are willing TO wait until after the
4th of March. and consider the question
in extra session, but they are decidedly
opposed TO letting the matter go over
until the long session a year from now.
Ihey fear that TO revise the tariff inn
mediately before. the congressional cleo
ton of 1906 would mean the wiping out
or the immense Republican majority i'm
the house of representatives. II has
generally proven true that whenever
the tariff has beeen revised Just before
an election, the party in power has suf-
Tered at the polls, often because the
new schedules have not had a fair trial.
The tariff tinkerers are therefore anx-
ious for an extra session, first. because
II VIII put the revised tariff into opera
tion that much sooner, and secondly.
because revision in the extra session
VIII not be so apt to cost the Republic
cans the house. as would revision a
year and half from now. Then. too.
they recognize that if congress is called
IN extra session by President Roosevelt
Immediately after his Inauguration.
there VIII be general disposition TO
take up and dispose OF the matter i'm
hand and get away. whereas if tariff
reform IS put off until the regular ses-
sion II viii mean endless and useless
DEBATE an the Senate. and will carry the
session well into the summer.
Against Extra Session.
II. on the other hand. stand-pat argu-
Inehts prevail there will be no extra ses-
sion; and there VIII be no tariff tinkeriny
IN tne 1lrst regular session of the FIFTY
niEth congress at all The princiDaI ar
gument Of the stand-patters is that the
country Is Just now enjoying phenomenal
business is flourishin9 times
are GOOD. work IS plentiful. They insist
IhaJ any interference with the tariff no
ma tier how slight IL may be. will disturb
business, and IL the end there will he
no material gain by the general public.
= .nty acc 70 this the argument that
stdnd-pdt means to let the tariff alone
u II meas anything and inasmuch as
stand-pat was the party slogan i'm the
ate campaign. which resulted in an I'M
WOULD be highly Improper 20 abandon the
rates
Another argument of the stand-patters
IS this. The country. under its present
arlt. has warded off the ten-year panic
which was Due in l9O3 VI this disaster
could be averted under the hioh tariff
rates Gow prevailing. and if business
.ouid continue alon% most prosperous
mes then why DO anything 10 interfere
with such splendid conditions. they ask
Reciprocity Question.
Intermlngled with talk OF tariff re-
rision Is discussion of the prospects OF
reciprocity with Canada II is the un-
biased opinion Of impartial men who have
observed the course of public events that
canadian reciprocity is as far from con-
'ummatlon az u was ten years ago. There
5 loud ciamOr for Canadian reciprocity
rom New England. and from few other
PORTIONS Of the country. but il seems i'm
probable that Canada would accept reel
)rOcity on such terms this country
would offer. and il is equally certain that
he United states would not be willing 10
lcceDt terms offered By the Dominion
government. The interests OF the United
states and Canada are too much alike TO
'ermit Of the negotiation Of a reciprocity
reaty acceptable to both governments
I is not generally believed that anything
viii be accomplished in this direction
Roosevelt's Position Unknown.
Until President Roosevelt defines his at
itude on the question Of tariff revision
othng definite viii be known a to what
Ongress viii 10. II the president con
ludeS that the tariff should be revised
nd. OF course. revised by its friends
here Is not the slightest doubt but what
oUgreSS will follow out any recommends
ions the president may make On the 4
If the president Is not convinced /
( The necessity for revision. and fails to 1
all an extra session of congress, there is Il
title likelihood that there will be any
arff revision BY the Fifty-ninth con- /
ress. II an attempt is made without the :
"a Of the president, TO put through a
evision bill. u will not be openly op- /