Evening star., 1909-02-26

NEW YORK. February 26.-With his
entire cabinet selected and with nothing
more important to disturb him than a
brief speech tonight at the Cinner in
honor OF Senator-elect Elihu Root. Presi-
dent-elect Taft planned 10 continue to-
day his work on several magazine arti-
cIes which he had agreed to write. Mr..
Taft appeared greatly gratified at having
completed the makeup of his cabinet and
that he is through with his inaugural ad-
dress.
Mr.. Taft during the morning received
several visitors. the first of whom was
George w. Wickersham. who is to be the
Attorney General under the new admin
iStration. Mr.. Taft has made no engage
ments for the afternoon.
Hopes for Prompt Revision.
Mr.. Taft declared in an interview today
that a revision of the tariff is primary
requisite for the relief of the present busi-
ness condition. and he expressed the hope
that the revision would be accomplished
by June I. Speaking of this revision Mr..
Taft said TO a reporter:
As this is the primary requisite for the
relief of present conditions / want 20
nave il disposed of at once. ] am hope
full that there will be important revisions
in the existing schedules made by Con-
sress in an extra session, and look for
ward TO June l as the date when most OF
these changes will become effective.
The present hull in industry, MIR. Taft
said. was undoubtedly due to Impending
tariff legislation, but that he thought
that with that knowledge in view Con-
gress would conclude it's deliberations at
an early date possibly in June. Tariff
changes always halt business 70 ra time,
was the opinion expressed by MT. TAFT,
and the sooner such legislation was
..I~ tl1n hntf IN hC
Mr.. Taft's opinion was given after an
interview with James w. Van Cleave
president of the National Manufacturers
Association. who called to urge the crea-
tion of permanent tariff commission
Favors Commission Principle.
After Mr.. Van Cleave's departure Mr.
Taft said that he favored such COM
mission but did not favor its immediate
appointment He declared that he felt
that the present tariff schedules are oner-
Gus to business halting it with the force
of drag brake, but he added that re-
vision was all important first and ther
perhaps commission. Such a commits
sion of appointed now, he said, might
block the plan OF revision as now con
templated. After the revision the commits
sion could gather data, watch the work
ing of the new law and suggest amend
mentS To it,
Mr.. Taft also made public today a let
ter which he sent to S. h. Payne. chair
man of the tariff ways and means com
mittec of the House, at conference
held at indianapolis February IT, IL
which Mr. Taft wrote: "A tariff com
mission would be harmful or useful as
its functions were described in the bill
NV own ideas have been that there ougn,
To be permanent commission of tarif1
experts to keep themselves advised by al
tho means possible OF the cost of pro
siUCinC the articles named i'll the schedules
iu foreign countries and i'm this country
! think that what we lack is evidence
and some such means might very vel
b. used Tor the purpose of securing it
should he the last to advocate a com
mission with any power to fix rates Al
that were constitutional il would mo-
he, OF with any function other than tina,
Of furnishing the evidence To Congress.
upon which from time to time il NIGH
act.