The Topeka state journal., 1909-02-26
TARIFF REVISION
Is the Primary Requisite for
Relief of Business
Declares President-E Elect Taft,
in an Interview.
Is FOR QUICK WORK.
Hopes to See New Law Effective
by First of June.
After That He Will Be in Favor
OF a Commission.

New York, Feb. 26.-President-
elect William H. Taft declared in an
interview in this city today that
revision of tariff is a primary requi-
site for the relief of the present
business condition, and he expressed
the hope that the revision would be
accomplished by June 1.
Speaking of this revision, Mr.. Taft
said to a reporter:
."As this is the primary requisite for
the relief of the present condition,
want to have it disposed of at once.
I am hopeful that there will be i'm
portant revisions in the existing
schedules made by congress in an eX-
ira session and I look forward to
June L as the date when most of these
changes will become effective
Mr. Taft's opinion was given after
an interview with James w. Van
Cleave, president of the National
Manufacturers association, who call
ed to urge the creation of permanent
tariff commission. After Mr.. Van
Cleave's departure Mr.. Taft said that
he favored such a commission but did
not favor its immediate appointment.
He declared that he felt that the
present tariff schedules are onerous
to business, halting it with the force
of drag brake, but he added that the
revision was all important first, and
then perhaps a commission. Such a
commission if appointed now, he said,
might block the plan of revision as
now contemplated. After the revision
the commission would gather other
data, watch the new laws workings
and suggest amendments to it.
Letter to Payne.
Mr.. Taft also made public today a
letter which he sent to s. E. Payne,
chairman of the ways and means COM
mittee for the house at the tariff con-
ference held at Indianapolis on Febru-
airy 16, when Mr.. Taft wrote: "a tariff
afcC.i inn h. l, 81
full as its functions were described in
the bill
My own ideas have been that there
ought to be permanent commission
of the tariff experts to keep themselves
advised by all the means possible of
the cost of production of the articles
named in the schedules in foreign coun-
tries and in this country. I think that
what we lack is evidence and some such
means might as well be used for the
purpose of securing it. 1 should be the
last to advocate a commission with
any power to fix rates if that were
constitutional. as it would not be or
with any function other than that of
furnishing the evidence + to congress
upon which from time to time it might
act.'
Van Cleaye Calls.
Mr.. Van Cleave and H. E. Miles of
Racine, Wis, chairman of the tariff
committee Of National Manufactur-
erS' association called on Mr.. Taft to-
day as a part of the committee from
the recent national tariff committee
convention in indianapolis.
Mr.. Taft told Mr.. Van Cleave that
he desired to have further informa-
ton concerning commission of the
tariff experts and would give it every
consideration. The present lul1 in in
dustry Mr.. Taft said, was undoubtedly
due to impending tariff legisIations,
that he thought with that knowledge
in view congress would conclude it's
deliberations at an early date, pos
sib1y in June. Tariff changes always
halt business for a time, was the opin-
ion expressed by Mr.. Taft and the
sooner such legislation was drawn and
| adopted the better for the country.
Mr.. Van C1eave said after his con-
ference with Mr.. Taft that the presi-
dent-e1ect expressed his belief in a
tariff commission to consider changes
| in tariff schedules from wear to wear