The Washington times., 1909-07-16
TAFT WILL PROBE
COTTON SCHEDULE
Secretary MacVeagh Direct
ed to Conduct a Thor
ough Investigation.
By J. c. WELLIvER.

President Taft is getting deeply in
terested in the cotton schedule Of the
tariff bill. He has learned already
enough about il To- cause him 10 enter
tain misgivings about the entire frank
ness of Senators AIdrich and Smoot, in
their declarations that no rates have
been raised in the cotton schedule.
The President, in fact, has directed
Secretary of the Treasury MacVeagh to
conduct an investigation of his own,
hearing whatever testimony from
whatever quarters, may be necessary,
in order 10 determine whether the Al
dTich-Smoot contention is correct
More than this. the President is to
receive a delegation OF the business man
who have been making the night against
the cotton schedule.
Finally, it develops that there is war
in the camp OF the textile interests. The
great Goddard interests in Rhode Island
are opposed TO the Aldrich project Of
making the textile schedules as unpop-
ular as possible, because they realize
that there is danger Of undue publicity
about the textile Industries, which they
fear may arouse public ire and. IN the
end kill the goose that has laid the
golden eggs.
Step Is Significant
The fact that President Taft has gone
so far as he has. in making independent
Investigations, is regarded as the most
significant step that he has taken since
the tariff bill went into conference. The
representatives of the New York Whole
sale Dry Goods Association who are
camped in Washington to night the cot
ton schedule. are today more encourage
ed over their prospects than ever be
fore. A few weeks ago they could
claim they had convinced a few pro-
gressive Republican Senator's, led by
Dolliver and La Toilette. Today they
are getting their case. in all its details,
before the President and the Secretary
OF the Treasury, and with excellent
prospects OF convincing them as COM
pletely as they formerly Won the Sen
stors who listened TO their story.
The details concerning the investiga-
ton which Secretary MacVeagh will
make are not yet known. The President
has directed the Secretary that he
wants 10 get at the bottom of the
charges and cOunter-charges concerning
the cottoE. schedules. Senator Aldrich
has waved all criticisms aside with the
insistence that there are no increases in
either cOttons or wOolens.
Cotton Storm Center.
CircumstantiaI evidence. in much de-
tail is cited TO prove that a great
combination Of the cotton manufac-
turers is in process. The United States
Finishing Company. Of Norwich. Conn.
is alleged 10 be the instrument through
which this combination is being effected.
That concern owns six Of the big finish
ing companies Of the country, and in
the last few weeks has been reaching
out for others. The experts in cotton
manufacture explain that the real mon
opoly is TO be secured through control
OF the finishing business, and this is
now IN progress
Whether President Tat can break
away from Aldrieh, and carry on an in
vesttgation which will Indicate that he
is no longer implicitly relying on the
Rhode islanders representations With
out prectpitationg war, is the subject
OF much wonderment at this time The
cotton peOple-jobbers, brokers and
wholesalers-are so pleased with this
move of the President that they are
becoming confident that they viii win
IN the end their fight against the Sen
ate cotton schedule.