New-York tribune., 1905-11-18
PRESIDENT AND TARIFF.
He PLEASES EVERYBODY.
Expected Utterance IN u MesSage Viii
Relegate Question to. Congress.
rFron The Tribune Bur..u.l ]

Washington Nov 1.-THE President appears
to have discussed the subject of the tariff with
extreme felicity in his forthcoming annual mes
sage for members of Congress, both stand
patters" and '.readjusters," who say they have
read the section dealing with this important
subject express themselves as well pleased with
his utteranoe. It is asserted that the President
frankly states his own opinion that there are
certain schedules which call for some modifica-
ton, expresses his confidence in the ability of
Congress to deal adequately and efficiently with
the subject when the proper time for such re-
adjustment arrives, and adds that the subject IS
SO delicate a one that he deems it best TO leave
to the discretion of the legislative body the de-
termination of the time when such readjustment
shall become imperative and the extent to which
the notifications when undertaken shall go.
The and-patters' assert that this is all they
could ask; that they fully appreciate that there
are schedules which should be modified. copld
that be done without disturbance OF business
conditions of all proportion to the good TO
be attained; that when these needed mod1hca-
tions become sufficiently numerous to warrant
any overhaul.ng of the tariff law they Will be
the first to appreciate the fact, and that they
will not hesitate to undertake the task. however
difficult it may be
Those who favor readjustu1ent say that while
they would have welcomed more assistance
from the President they. fully appreciate the
logic of his position ard regard Congress
as the proper authority to determine when ana
to what extent the schedules should be modi-
fed and they are confident that in due ume
the Republican majority will appreciate the
necessity of taking the initiative in this regard
They assert moreover, that it will not be the
operation performed on the tariff law by Re
pubIican maiorities in both houses Of Congress
which will prove injurious to the patient, pul
the dread and anticipation of such an operation
and that if left to itself Congress will carefully
watch the growing necessity for such an opera
ton. and when the proper moment arrives VIII
perform it SO quietly and expedtiously that
comparatIvely little harm to the business OF the
country can ensue The 'readjusters' also ap-
preciate the wisdom which has LED the freSl-
dent to avoid complicating the issues beIore
Congress with a tariff discussion at a time when
he so earnestly desires prompt and erecuVe
railway rate legislation
The course of the President in discussing the
subject of the tariff In his message 10 congress
is In marked contrast to that Whlch ne pursueu
a wear ago when he finally struck from the
proofs of his message all reference to the SUD-
iect When the President first drafted his mes
sage of a year ago it contained the paragraph
"'On the tariff / shall communicate with you
LATER" but when ne showed the proofs to mem
hers o. Congress- they urged him to strike out
this announcement Speaker Cannon being es-
pecially urgent the subject Ihey repre-
sent.,1 that the sentence could operate only 10
unsettle business and that there was no occa-
massage of this character AS a result, the
President omitted the line, and when subsequent
conferences with the leaders of both houses had
demonstrated the futility of urging any read :
rom su pubic communication with Congress
an q SlhiPct-