Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1906-12-01
TARIFF REVISION
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT CALLS 1T
TARIFF READJUsTmENT."
Sure to Come Before Congress at tn
Session Which is About to
Convene.
Convene.
special Correspondence.

Special Correspondence.
Washington. d. c., Nov. 24.--TarifI
revislon-or as President Roosevelt
=, prefers to term it, tariff readjusl
/ ment"-will be proposed formally to
| Congress, probably within few
months. There is authority, for the
/ statement chat the President, himself.
will initiate the movem mt for a read
! iustment of the tariff IN a special mes
! sage to the Congress. It lis regarded
| as likely, however, that this message
viii be sent to the incoming Congress.
rather than to the present body, and
that the message will be delivered at
an extraordinary session of the con
gress to be convened next spring.
1t is urged by tariff revisionists that
failure on the part Of the republi
cans to take up definitely the tariff
question in the next eighteen months
will jeopardize the success of the par
ty in the elections of 1903. The Presi
dent has had the subject in mind
for a long time. Two years ago, I
was his purpose to discuss the tariff
question in a special message and it is
well known that, as prepared at first
his annual message contained the
statement that he would announce his
views on the tariff in subsequent
message. Prior to the publication of
the message that statement was elm
mated, because of the pressure exerted
by the "stand-patters. Last November
the President again had the tariff ques-
ton in mind. He conferred with the
leaders in both the senate and the
house. He was advised that it was
an inopportune time to project that ia.
sue on congress, particularly as it
was evident then that the proposed
railroad rate legislation would arouse
much antagonism and consume great
deal of time. Speaker Cannon, one
the staunchest 'stani-patters," was
the determining factor in the equa
tion. He bluntly told he President
that if he wanted to get his railroad
rate measure through the house, ne
would have to abandon, for the time
at least, his ideas regarding read
iustment of the tariff schedules. In
other words, the speaker demanded
this concession as the price of his
support of the rate measure. 1t was
important that the rate biIl should be
passed and without the speakers sup
port it is doubtful if it could have beeL
gotten through congress.
Just now, the question of tariff read
iustment is the most important that
is being. considered by the congress.
men who already are appearing in
town. They frankly say that Presi-
dent Roosevelt was the dominant is
sue in the late campaign and that,
without him, the republican party
would have been whipped out of its
boots. They are inclined, therefore,
to let the President blaze the way and
follow him without outward sign OF
disapproval They are much concern
ed, however as to the acton the Pres
ident may take and it is pretty well as
sured that even if Mr.. Roosevelt
should advocate tariff readjustment, he
will meet with strong opposition In
both branches of congress.
Speaker Cannon is expected ia
Washington at least a week before
Congress convenes and will confer
with the President as to the program
for the forthcoming sea son. It is not
expected that the tariff question will
be precipitated seriously at the APP
preaching session, as, in the circum-
stances, the appropriation bills and
routine business will occupy practical
~ all of the available time. 1t is quite
certain, however, that President
Roosevelt will indicate. either directly
or indirectly. in a short time, what his
intentions are regarding tariff revis-
ion.