The Washington herald., 1909-07-18
.TAFT'S INSISTENCE
MAY BRING VICTORY
Stand for Revision Down
ward Creates New Hope.
Low TARIFF MEN JUBILANT
Confident Feeling Exists I'm Admin
istratiOn Circles that Bill When
Enacted Into Law VIII Provide
for Free Admission of Coal, OIL,
Hides, and Iron Ore.

President Tafts insistenee on down
ward tarir revision has produced a stu
ation which his friencs hope may bring
victory to the Presidents cause.
In administration circles and among
Congressman who are keeping in touch
with the White House and the tarif con-
ference committee. there is a confident
feeling that in spite Of an expected tenn
pOrary setback. more apparent than real,
the tariff bill when enacted into law will
provide for the free admission Of bitumin-
Gus COAL crude Oil. hides, and iron ore.
The President IS represented as being
optimistic. Yet the same feeling pervades
the htgh-protectionists' camp.
Inclined to BE JubiIant.
Since Fridays developments the tariff
atmosphere has cleared. The low-tariI
Republicans are inclined 10 be Iubllant.
Mr.. Taft had many callers yesterday,
most Of whom congratulated him on his
refusal to make concessions TO the twen-
| ty-three protection members Of the House
who bombarded him with tales OF woe.
The curious thing about 1t all is that
nobody is making unkind personal re-
marks about the President. Even those
who think they have cause for ofense are
( showing a disposition 20 avoid criticism.
/ Mr.. Taft appears 10 have the faculty Of
/ keeping everybody good-natured.
At this stage OF the conference pro-
| ceedlng there is a strong prospect that
the conferees will make a report to their
/ respective Houses embodying a partial
! agreement in the tariff items IN contro-
versy
The understanding is that this partial
| report will contain an agreement Of
/ the conferees with reference TO iron ore.
coal hides. and petroleum. and that It
will not provide for placing all Of these
products on the free list without restric-
( ton
The best information obtainable is that
this course Of the conferees IS intended
mainly as a means OF testing sentiment
| in the Senate and the House before the
/ conference committees final report is
! delivered.
Bound by Pledge.
/ Mr. Aldrich and the Senate conferees.
/ il is said. are so bound by the pledges
made 20 certain Senators in order 70
/ get support Of these Senators for the
Senate tariff bill. that they feel that they
cannot in justice TO themselves and these
! Senators concede the demands Of the
House conferees for the admission Of the
/ products named without the assessment
/ of duty.
/ There is a confident expectation that
the House viii reject the partial report OF
the conferees with respect 10 raw ma
/ terials. and will instruct its own repre-
sentatives on the conference to insist
I that these materials be admitted free.
In the meantime. President Tart VIII
/ urge Republican Senators opposed 20 the
| admission Of raw materials free OF duty
10 abandon their attitude. The eIpecta-
/ ton among some Of those who are aware
/ of what is on foot in this connection Is
that with the House refusing to consent
10 duty on the raw materials named.
and the President backing up the stand
! Of the House on the ground that the Re
! publican party is pledged 20 the down
ward revision contemplated. enough Re
publican Senator's. viii be persuaded 10
vote TO reject the partial conference re-
port and TO instruct the Senate conferees
TO make concessions 10 the House
What the result viii be cannot be pre-
dicted with any certainty but II IS sig
nlficant that members OF the adrainistra-
| ton are inclined TO believe that the Presi-
dent and the House Will be sustained by
/ the Senate.
/ It is probable that the tariff bill when
/ enacted into law will not contain pro-
/ visions for increasing the present duties
| on certain classes of gloves and hosiery
| The House tariff bin provided for such
! increases. but the Senate declined to fol-
! low the House in this connection and
cut these duties in its own bin TO the
present, or Dingley. rates. The prospect
Is that the conference committee will
/ agree to the Senate provisions.
One-haIf Present Duty.
It is not likely. however. that the House
duty Of 81 per !, 900 feet on sawed lumber,
which is just one-half the present duty
will be recommended by the conference
/ committee The Senate amended the
House provision so as 10 make the duty
$50 per 1000 feet. or 80 cents less than
the present duty.
President Taft was strongly N favor
/ o. the House reduction. but certain rep
reservations made 10 the President and
the cOnferees by Southern Congressman
have brought about a change Of attitude
on the part Of those in favor Of the one
/ half reduction
] These representations were 10 the effect
| that Southern lumbermen would be in
! jured materially by any reduction IN the
/ duty on lumber at this time. Many OF
| them, II was declared, have outstanding
promissory notes which they will be un-
able 10 pay If the rate Of duty is cut 70
| 81 per 1,CO0 feet
These representations have impressed
! those leaders IN favor of the lower rate