Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-08-27
'PA11ERS' AFTER Taft
Tariff Revisionists and Their
Foes Line Up For Decisive
Battle in Congress
PAYNE SAYS NO CHANGE
Chairman Of House Ways and Means
Committee Gives Hint of Forthcom-
ing Struggle at Washington = Fight
Aimed at Taft-Losses on Both Sides
In Congress.

In Congress.
Washington. Aug. 27-That things
are shaping up for a fierce struggle
over the tariff features of the platform
of the next republican national con-
vention is becoming evident. One re-
cent sign that such a, struggle may De
expected is In an interview by Rep
resentative Payne, of New York, chair
man of the house ways and means
committee, and one of the foremost
high tariff men in congress. Mr.. Payne
is a believer in letting the Dingley
schedule alone, and is leader among
the element that had control of the
ways and means committee in the last
congress and will retain control in the
Sixtieth congress.
In discussing the tariff REVISION
question here, Mr.. Payne made 1t clear
he expected no revision before the
presidential election. He would not say
whether he favored revision after the
election and would go no further than
70 saw the question whether there was
to be revision after the election Wouiu
he settled by the next republican ma
tional convention.
Strong influences are alfeaoy az
work among the leaders OF high tarlll
thought in the country to prevent the
republicans from nominating Tor pres
;dent a man who favors revision OF the
tariff, even after the next admlnlstra-
ton begins. ALI the batteries OF the
American Protective Tariff league
have been opened on Secretary OF War
Taft and leading organs OF the league
have raised the question whether the
tariff would not suffer worse at the
hands of Taft as president than at the
hands of Bryan, If he were in the
White House.
But while the high tariff forces are
giving attention to the nomination OF
q man satisfactory to them, the reso-
lutions committee of the next conven-
ton will not be forgotten. II the
high tariff men control that commit
tee it may be taken for granted a
tariff plank will be adopted that VIII
not compel congress to undertake any
thing more than a nominal revision
of schedules. OF course, even If re-
vision plank that spelled revision clear
iy were adopted, there would still I'M
doubtedly be a bitter struggle in cons
gress when it came to the question OF
settling what schedules to readjust
Another matter that the high tarln
leaders will not lose sight OF is the
house ways and means committee
Some work was done at the beginning
of the Fifty-ninth congress in
strengthening the anti-reyisionists on
that committee. Representative Nc
Cleary, of Minnesota, for instance
was taken from appropriations and put
on ways and means. His district, how
ever, defeated him for reelection and
he will not be in the Sixtieth congress
Neither will Grosvenor of Ohio, an
ardent high tariff leader.
On the other hand, the revisionlsts
lost Babcock, of Wisconsin, Curtis, OF
Kansas, and Smith, of Michigan, both
of whom inclined to favor the standpa'
doctrine, have gone to the senate. The
committee will need a general over
hauling by Speaker Cannon and the
accession of several opponents Of re-
vision before it can be anything like as
satisfactory to the high tariff leaders
as it was last session. The composltlor
Of this committee as it will be in the
Sixtieth congress will be of good dea
Of Importance. This will be the case
particularly if Speaker Cannon or some
other anti-revisionist should be speak
Ter in the Sixty-first congress, since IN
that case men Who had been on the
committee in the Sixtieth congress
would probably be allowed to stay on ID
returned to the house by their districts
In the revision of schedules If attempt
ed in the spring of 1909, control of the
WAYS and means committee will be OF
utmost Importance.
Talk of revision in March, 1909, is be
coming common on the supposlllof
that such revision Is assured. But I'm
less the revisionists control the mex
national convention and it's platform
and get the house ways and means
committee into their hands, there vii
not be more than a mild readJustmen'
Of schedules. Even Taft as pres1den
would have hard work influencing a
WAYS and means committee so thor
oughly controlled by high tariff lnf1u-
ences as that of the Fifty ninth con-
gress and the one which Speaker can
non many be relied on to make up Ioi
the Sixtieth congress.