The San Francisco call., 1908-12-27
RADICAL TARIFF
REVISION FEARED
Impending Action of Congress
Exerts Depressing Effect on
Business in the East
Clash Between Roosevelt and
National Legislators Not
Viewed as Serious

WASHINGTON. Dec. 2e.-Fear OF
something closely approaching radical
revision of the tariff appears to have
settled upon the business inter-
ests of the easta While it is trne that
no plan of revision has been decided
upon by the ways and means commit
tee Of the house of representatives or
by the congress itself. still there re-
mains the fact that the tariff revision
interests of New England and of the
middle west are making a powerful
showing and are demanding a lowering
of duties upon tlle protective articles
affecting these communities.
1t appears at the present time to be
within reasonable probabilities that a
bill will be presented to congress re-
ducing the duties on steel products,
whether manufactured or unmanufac-
tured. There is a general understand
ing that the sugar interests will urge
very strongly further lowering of the
tariff on raw sugar, although of course
the duty on refined sugar will prob
ably remain where it is now. There
has been and will continue to be a
strong demand from New York i'm
porters and jobbers for reduction of
the duty on fruits and nuts, and there
the same sources for a lower duty on
imported wines There has never been
a tariff agitation when it was not pro-
posed to trade off the interests of Cali
fornia for some eastern interests. An
attempt to make this trade will un-
doubtedly be made in the extra session
of congress to be called soon after
March 4.
RETARDS BUSINESS IN EAST
While it is undoubtedly true that a
strong sentiment exists in some por-
tions of the east and middle west for
revision of the tariff downward, it is
fact that the impending tariff revision
bill is retarding the business revival
in this section. Immediately upon the
election of Taft there was squirt of
business throughout the east. Then
came the announcement that serious
revision of the tariff would be at
tempted. Upon that announcement the
uplift of business stopped. A great
many people in Washington who are in
close touch with large financial inter-
ests believe that the real boom will
not start until the tariff is out of the
way.
No very serious attention is being
paid to the breach that exists between
President Roosevelt and congress. Ever
since Roosevelt came into the White
House he has had a constant struggle
with the senate and house, and the
present breach is not much greater in
degree than any of its predecessors,
although il is more open. Had the
president said two years ago what he
said this year about the secret service
there would have been no open break,
because at that time the members of
congress did not know whether Roose-
velt would again be a candidate for
reelection.
SPEAKS FREELY
Now that Taft has been actually
elected, the members of congress feel
free to say openly about Roosevelt the
very things that they have been saying
privately for seven years. They know
that they can expect no favors at the
hands Of the president, and Roosevelt
knows that in this short session of
he will get very little If any
of the legislation that he desires. Under
these circumstances it is natural that
the seven years war should come out
into the open.
Most of the members of congress be-
lieve that when Taft gets into the
White House perfect peace will be re-
stored between the executive and con-
gress for four years at least. Nc
gress, although there was a time when
it looked as if an open break might
come at any moment. The eXpecta-
tions of senators and representative is
that Taft will consult as freely and
harmoniously with them did Nc
Kinley. He undoubtedly willard then
he will follow his own course.
TAFT Is FIRM
Taft is a man who gets what he
wants by any fair means at hand, and
if his desires and opinions clash with
those of congress, as they are sure to
do in some instances, it will be found
that Taft can no more be turned from
his purpose than can Roosevelt be
turned from his. While Roosevelt is
given to denunciation of those who op-
pose him, Taft is given to saying moth
ing at all, but going ahead just the
same, behind his ever present smile
that is rarely ruffled. The writer did
see it ruffied once, and the resultant
explosion left absolutely no doubt con-
cerning Tafts command of language
quite as vigorous as any that Roosevelt
has ever used in the written or spoken
word.
So it is not so certain that with Taft
in the white house the dove of peace
will always cooingly bask in the sun
shine. Mutual compromise is generally
the basis of good unders tanding be-
tween the president and congress- Taft
does not compromise after he has made
up his mind. In his campaign his man
ayers attempted to induce him to go
easy on the labor question, because
his record on that question had been
seriously attacked by certain organiza-
tions and individuals.
Taft listened to all that his political
managers had to say about the matter.
smiled as If. he agreed that they were
right and then the very first time that
he came before an audience composed
Of laboring men he went right at the
labor question, injunctions and labor
disputes and boycotts like a bulldog.
He never once attempted to explain
away his decisions as a judge. Instead
he defended those decisions with a
vigor that made old political managers
stand aghast
DISPUTES MAY OCCUR
SO it is quite probable that even un-
der the genial Taft there will be open
disputes with congress. Taft can not
be handled or managed by congress or
anybody else. That will be disclosed
in his first message to congress. when
he win urge the removal of duties
between the United States and the