Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-07-21

was hoisted above the chickering's of
congressional conferees today and
transferred bodily from the Capitol to
the White House. Deadocked because
of the attitude of Representative
Payne, who apparently has become OBJ
sessed with the growing conviction that
he is in the minority, the conferees
abandoned the usual session. Senator
Aldrich and Speaker Cannon repaired
to the White House to consult with
President Taft, literally taking the
tariff bill with them. Most of the con-
ferees passed the afternoon going over
the troublesome details of the confer
ence with the leaders
Reports of serious conflicts of opin-
ions over various schedules were
banded about and grew to extravagant
proportions with the telling. The long
absence of Senator Aldrich and Speak
err Cannon did not tend to ease the
tense situation. What happened at the
White House between the President
and the Senate and House leaders is
a sealed book. When Messrs. Aldrich
and Cannon returned to the Capitol
they minimized the differences that had
aroused bitterness in the conference
room and insisted that nothing unusu-
al had occurred. Senator Aldrich said
that tomorrow would find the confer
ence committee again at work and he
expected that by night, when all of
the conferees are to be entertained by
the President at dinner, most of the
problems apart from those receiving
the personal attention of the President
would have been solved.
Nevertheless. there has been trouble
behind those closed and guarded doors
that shut the public from the room,
where the real tariff bill is being con-
structed, Some say that the differences
between Senator Aldrich and Repre-
sentative Payne have taken such form
that progress is impossible unless the
President has influence enough to COM
pei action This story is denied by
both of the principals 1t is not denied
however that there was clash yes
terday between Representative Payne
and Representative Fordny of Michi-
gan.
From q credtable source it was
learned that crisis was reached when
an effort was made late yesterday to
vote on lumber Mr.. Payne protested
and argued that such a move would be
unfair to the President. as this was one
of the subjects practically submitted to
HIM for adjustment providing he could
get votes enough in the two houses to
adopt a compromise rate.
eff we cannot agree. let's settle the
question by voting on the question"
Mr.. Fordney is reported to have sug
gested. 1t is reported also that Mr.. Aid
rich acquiesced in that proposal That
Mr.. Payne had little part in select
ing the conferees to represent the
House in the conference is well known
Mr.. Payne made recommendations thai
were ignored and the Speaker made his
own selections. Mr.. Payne is said te
have complained to some of his friends
at the time that the conference com
mittee had been packed with higf
protectionists and that Senator Aid
rich had been able to WELD more in
Huence with the Speaker than had he
as chairman of the committee which
prepared the House bill.
When MIR. Fordney, who had beer
placed on the conference committee
regardless of the fact that he is the
junior Republican. said: Lets vote
Mr.. Payne protested with vehemenc'
that startled his associates. Someone
said that the majority should rule
That remark it is declared came, from
one of the Senate members of the con-
ference and it incensed Mr. Payne still
more.
Mr.. Payne told Mr.. Aldrich that HI
,I1Tr Of ft,f
conference if he chose, but that h
could not vote the House members Sc
easily Full of wrath he told his Hous'
colleagues that it was their duty tt
stand up for the House bill and t.
yield only after every possible effori
had beer made to win. He intimatet
that some of the House conferees hao
been too ready to agree to increases
made by the Senate. Unless the House
members intend to stand by the HOUSE
bill there is no use in trying to vote
on these matters, he said.
As a parting shot, Mr. Payne is re.
ported to have said that he would no
sign conference report merely because
majority of the House Republican
conferees had agreed to it. With his
coat tails furled about him, Mr.. Payne
stalked angrily from the room.
After he had departed the other con.
ferees predicted that ruft1ed feelings
would be ironed out over night ST
it appeared when today's session open
ed No reference was made to the dis.
turbance, but nevertheless none of thu
subjects likly to provoke a re-openins
of hostilities were preached.
Although a number of minor amend
ments, which had been passed over II
former considerations of the bill, were
taken up and settled amicably, it is rel
ported that all of the conferees acted
as if they feared a volcanic eruption
TAT noon someone suggested that al