The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-07-21
CLEAR FIELD ID
 TACKLE TARIFF Necessity for Revision is Seen
 By Republicans FINAL SAY WITH PEOPLE The Question as to Whether Demand Is National or Local Must Be Set tied Before Action Is Taken
 on Presidential Matters.
FINAL SAY WITH PEOPLE

Washington. D. c. July 2O.-(specal)- The tariff is to be reversed by It's friends, but not until after the presidential elec- ton of 190S This decision was reached at conference at Oyster Bay at which tariff revision was discussed by Presi- dent Roosevelt Senator Hopkins of Illi- nois and H. E. Miles, representing the Wisconsin Tariff Revision league.
 Ut would be suicidal to the republican party" said Senator Hopkins, on leaving Oyster Bay, Ito undertake the revision of the tariff during the next congress. After the presidential election I believe It will be the duty of the republican party to revise the tariff, and it will be done.'
 There never was the slightest intention to revise the tariff before the next presi- edntial election. The subjct Is one that recurs constantly, but underneath and be- hind all the discussions there Is always the fact that until the presidential cleo ton is safely out of the way tariff re- vision, like all legislation of similar far reaching nature would have to walt until business was on a firm basis
 Foreign Relations Demand Revision.
 The negotiations with Germany have made evident the fact that in few years the tariff will have to be dealt with to ln- sure satisfactory relations with foreign nations. This will probably take the form of a maximum and minimum system Senator Allison of Iowa, who has assist ed in framing every tariff bill since the war, is certain that In the next campaign and thereafter the tariff will be an impor- tant Issue. There Is first to be decided the question as to whether the demand TOT tariff revision Is serious and national' rather than confined to localities where definite advantages are hoped for; hut when once that point is settled and the strength of the movement throughout the country is fairly estimated it will, In the opnion of Senator Allison, be time to act.
 This will settle definitely the constantly recurring difficulties with foreign nations. Concerning this, Senator Allison recently said to the writer:
 'The danger of attempting to fix tariH | rates by means of individual treaties negotiated by the President and approved by the Senate lies in the fact uhat u involves the raising of revenue without the consent of the House of Representa- lives. whereas the House is speclhcaiy given hv the constitution the exclusive right to originate all revenue measures
 Danger of Treaty System.
 "It is A bad thing to split up the two houses of Congress and set them a' odds, with the President necessarily aiding with one of them. That IS lh- evitable when treaty is negotiateu which seeks to change the duties nXeo | by both houses of Congress. It giVes to the President legislative functlohs he was not intended to exercise anu ignores the one branch or congress which the constitution intended to have all power of initiative over the rev enues,"
 In the event of tariff revision Con gress wiuld fix all the tariff rates. both high and low, as 1t It's duty under the constitution.
 Satifactory reciprocity with foreign nations would thus be had by congress sional action and this probably would | take the form of maximum and mini mum system, adopting to some extent the idea which Germany is now en- forcing against us that Is to say, | minimum duty rates would be a req sonable protective tariff, affording full | protection to American workmen and l American manufacturers without inn | posing any hardships on the consumer |
 The maximum rate of duty then would | become purely punitive, and applied only | to punish nations which do not give us | the benefit of their lowest rate of duty. | There would be no continuing disturbance l hn or minimum rates would be an executive | act The president would have to decide | when any foreign nation did not give us | the benefit of it's lowest rates of duty.
 He would not, however, be called upon to fix rates or to employ experts to take testimony on the cost of production. but | would act in a ministerial capacity, and | this double tariff would operate on all | nations alike.
 There is every reason why there should | be a reduction of tariff rates. Up 10 to- night the available cash balance or the | treasury amounted to S246,6 ,7e3. This | means that receipts for single day, ex- | elusive of the postal deficiency, amount | to S2 10000 more than expenditures. Dur ing the coming fiscal year the treasury | will receive not less than No,ooo.ooo more than current expenditures. The tarll | could be cut down to that extent without | iniuring the treasury balance in the l
 
 According to the current statement | of the treasury there is now outstand- ing s6S7,392,S69 fin gold certificates, | s475139,000 in silver certificates, and | $5, 950, 900 in treasury notes. This makes | total of S1,16S,4S1 ,S69, which is coV- cred, of course, by gold coin and silver | dollars in the treasury.
 Up to date there has been deposited | in national banks to the credit of the | treasurer of the United States and of | the differeent disbursing officers the | sum total of $152,759,6l3. This repre- sents the total of the deposits of the | United States in national banks. Add 1 ing up the total of funds to the credit | of tho United States both i'll the Phil- | ippine Islands and elsewhere 1t Is | shown that there Is in the treasury now | $36S, l02,791.
 That enormous sum would have to | be exhausted before a reduction of tar If would affect the treasury of the | United States.
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