Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-07
Republican Leaders Discuss
ing Ways and Means.
SHY ABOUT TALKING
SECRETARY SHAW VOICES OPPO
sITIoN TO TARIFF REVISION.
Various Suggestions Advanced for
Raising More Observation-Disclosures
Said to Be Organizing.

Republican senators and representatives
who drop into Washington for the transac-
ton of departmental business and then get
away again are rather shy about discussing
the best method of meeting the heavy
deficit that is promised in the business OF
the government this fiscal year and the
next. Representative Lowering OF Massa-
chusetts feels like other republicans on TINS
subject, believing that 1t might not be best
to express opinions now. But we will take
care of the matter in the right way. SAID
Mr. Lowering. We will try to arrange Ii
during the coming session of Congress SO
that there will not be much of deficit IN
the next fiscal year" which is threatened
with discrepancy of not less than $25,0O0,-
600 between receipts and expenditures
Mr. Lowering intmated, however. that
tariff revision ought to play an important
part in whatever is done: but 1t is really
difficult to understand how Congress will be
able to wipe out the deficit that the treas
ury faces before the fiscal year, which be-
gins July 1. 1908. For the fiscal year be-
ginning July 1, 1905. the appropriations
have been made and they far exceed the
estimates as to income. 1t will be impos-
sible for the next session of Congress 10
change appropriations already made and
that are in process Of expenditure. The
best it can do is to provide for the ensuing
fiscal year, which will be task of impor-
lance and delicacy.
The tariff suggestion could not accomplish
much in the way of relief for the next fiscal
year. as any notifications of the tariff look
ing to an increase of customs duties could
not go into effect until near the close of the
year. Furthermore. 1t is extremely doubt
full. judging from confidential expressions
dropped by republican leaders. whether
majority Of the party can be brought to
the point Of providing more revenue by
lowering the tariff on many articles.
Secretary Shaw's Attitude.
Secretary Shaw is a stand-pat Illustration.
He has privately argued against tarir
changes, declaring that 1t would not meet
with public approval to have the revenues
of the government increased a few dollars
II 1t Is to be at the expense Of American
industries and American workingmen.
Take pottery, for instance" said Sec
rotary Shaw to newspaper friend recently.
THE duties on this could be lowered so as
largely, but what would be the effect? To
gain few dollars the pottery industry in
the country would be badly crippled, hun
dreds of concerns might shut down business
and 1t would be impossible to tell how many
workmen would be thrown out of business"
This brief argument is the one that is
heard among all stand-pat republicans and
some OF the others. who hate to enter upon
tariff revision. especially If that revision is
to take the form of lowering schedules to
Increase revenues.
Suggestions Advanced.
The friends Of the tariff turn to other
things. "Cut down expenses" say some.
Put an additional tax on beer" say others.
why can't tobacco bear a small additional
taxi" asks another. We can reimpose
some OF the taxes removed after the Span
ish war" suggest others. and the ideas are
lar apart. There will probably not be any
thing like harmony until the President and
the leaders get together. go over the situa-
ton carefully and decide upon a course
which will commit the party and bring
mo rhn~a x,,t1I l..
discussion after the Presidents return from
the west next week, but it will be desultory
and unimportant unless the President
should have come to the conclusion that he
VIII give the stand-pat people of his party
another scare by considering the calling of
congress In extra session for tariff revision
Ihose best acquainted with the Presidents
MIND mlnd oe1ore he went away from here be-
neVe that the tariff has been put aside for
some time to come-for at least a year.
anyhow. The conferences at the White
House, therefore, will be along other lines
the necessity for increasing revenues and
keeping down expenditures.
There will be little need of formal or seri-
GUS consideration Of the subject however
before next winter, unless the President will
can an extra session in October for railroad
repates and other matters nothing can
be done until the regular session.
Interests Are Organizing.
The beer and tobacco people understand
the tendency to look toward their business
as furnishing the additional revenue that Is
wanted and they are said to be organizing
Tor a campaign. They see no reason why
beer and tobacco should have to meet en-
larged expenditures of the government any
more than stocks. bonds. deeds and other
papers; any more than coffee: any more
than hundred other things. The ease with
which 80 cents or 81 barrel could be added
to beer would be quite tempting to con-
gressmen seeking the easiest way out OF
trouble. This. together with an additional
taxation on smoking and chewing tobacco.
would come mighty near paying the differ
ence between revenues and expenses for a
rev years to come. This will not be done
though. without a hard fight on the part
OF these interests. which declare that they
are paying now far out of their fair propor-