Daily Kennebec journal., 1908-12-11
That There Will Be Hon
est and Thorough Revision
Of Tariff at Extra Session Of
Congress Next Spring.
Pleased at Result Of Several Con-
ferences With Leaders.

Washington, Dec 10.-William H.
Taft. the President -elect, said tonight
it was his belief that the House OF KEEP
resentatives would make an "honest
and thorough revision of the tariff at
the extra session which he Will call Tor
that purpose upon his inauguration as
President.
This belief he bases on a conference
he had Yesterday with Speaker Joseph
G.. Cannon, and at a meeting today
with the Republican members Of the
ways and means committee of the
House of Representatives.
Mr.. Taft said he had not as yet
consulted with members of the Senate
on the subject, indicating at the same
time that the great pressure upon ms
time since he has been in Washington
is the reason. When the suggestion WAS
made that the Senate would undoubt-
edly have something to do with the
tariff bill after the House had passed
it. he replied, with no uncertainty IN
his demeanor, that there was some one
else who also would have something 10
do with the bill This, interpreted pv
previous utterances, indicates clearly
that Mr.. Taft is determined, II neces-
sary. even to exercise the veto power
to prosecute the pledges of the party.
Judge Taft dictated a statement
which covers his interview today with
all the Republican members OF the
committee except Representatives. NC
Call Of Massachusetts and Crumpacker
of Indiana; With the latter MEMBER
he had a recent satisfactory interview
at Hot Springs.
After he had finished his statement
he was asked the substance of the IN
tervieW he had yesterday with the
Speaker. His reply was that Mr- can
non said that he was in favor OF an
honest and thorough revision OF the
tariff. in accordance with the party
promises. The question of the Speaker
shin of the next Congress, Mr.. TAFT
said. was not discussed, but many 9TH
er matters of legislation We're, of which
he preferred not to give details at pres
ent, He added that he had been some
nat misled regarding his interpreta-
ton of the attitude of the Speaker by
the press reports of Mr. Cannon's
speech in November before the Cleve-
| land Chamber of Commerce. The OIL
fetal report Of that speech. he SAID,
had given him an entirely different I'M
preston.
Mr.. Taft's statements, covering both
his interview yesterday with Mr. can
non and that today with the Repup-
| licans on the ways and means commit
| tee follows:
II had an interview with Mr.. Can
non yesterday, and with his concur
| renee and, at the suggestion OF a mem
| Der of the ways and means committees
with the Republican members OF that
committee this afternoon, and from my
conversation with them and the dis
cussion which followed as to the eX-
animation which they are now con-
ducting and expect to conduct, nave
| every reason to be confident that they
are keenly alive to the obligation when
| is on them as representatives elected
to represent the Republican party, to
| nrenare an honest and thorough re-
| vision of the present tariff; that tneS
have taken three times as much evil
dence as has ever been taken In the
preparation of other tariffs, and tha'
| they are going to make addltlonal Ell
fort and independent effort to get al
the evidence themselves by the use OF
subpoena and under OATH with view
to reaching the defects in the cost OF
production of the various articles
brought within the tariff here ana
| abroad.
| IT found them quite anxious for as
much harmony as possibly in which l
sympathized with them and prepared
! for consultation on points OF difncultS
| that might arise at any time IN the
future. The plan is to prepare DIN
on such evidence as they have ana VIII
have in the course of the hearings, ana
| then to call additional evidence as 10
the items whenever it should seem
necessary. go,
| "Not only from conversations with
the members together. but with the
| members individually. ! am quite con-
| vinced that they are in good faith go
| ing to prepare a bill which Will pc q
thorough revision on the platform OF
the Republican party.
"The discussion covered other thinss
like the Philippines tariff. and an
very hopeful that there will be no dif-
f,cu,tv in reaching an agreement be-
tween the various people Interested In
them-Those representing the Philip
nine islands and those representing the
supar and the tobacco interests, so thai
there will be no dispute, and that the
matter may be incorporated in the
nay, tariff bill without an issue"
The evening festivities at the Board
man residence. where Judge and Mrs
,raft are guests. included dinner to
tho "philippine Dinner Table" and or
oaniy,t;or formed of members of the
marty which accompanied Mr.. and MRS.
| In
nor general reception was held for
oil who were connected with this eX-
pedition.