Watertown leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1909-1911, 1909-07-30
URGES NECESSITY OF ESTABLISH
ING COMMISSION OF EXPERTS
TO GET AT FACTS.
CONGRESS NOT COMPETENT.
Declares Plan VIII Be Fulfilled After
Those Who Control Affairs Are
Dead or Defeated.
TAFT FAVORS BADGERS PLAN.

WASHINGTON, d. c., July 2S.-
Senator La Toilette talked with the
President today regarding the necessity
Of establishing a commission Of experts
to get at the facts of the tariff and to
inform Congress. The President, it was
said, is strongly in favor Of commits
sion and had hoped that the present tar
if bill would carry one. AS matters now
stand the bill will authorize the Presi-
dent to appoint Il commission 10 assist
him solely IN administering the maximum
and minimum provisions Of the bill. No
appropriation, however, is carried even
for this purpose, 50 that the prospect OF
q commission is remote.
Senator La Toilette predicted, how
ever that a commission would come and
that President Taft would WELD his
growing influence for it.
I'm order to get the commission" said
Senator La Toilette, it may be neces-
sary to wait, however, until some Of the
men who control affairs in the House
and Senate have passed away or been
defeated"
This whole tariff discussion" con
linued the senator, shows the folly of
trying to 20 ahead and do something
without first having an expert investiga-
lion. Congress is no more competent to
frame a tariff bill than it is to fix spe-
rifc railroad rates II does not know
the subject with which it is dealing,
and there ought to be some way OF get
ting impartially at the facts
Wrestle with Lumber.
10
Despite the fact that a practical agree
ment has been reached on most of the
big issues in the tariff situation, the con-
ferees who met this morning with the
evident desire to wind up their labors,
were confronted with another issue
the lumber schedule.
Tuesday it was the understanding
that the House cOnferees had surren-
lered to those of the Senate in the
matter of the lumber rate in view of
certain concessions on other issues, but
Tuesday nights conference. called at
the instance of President Taft, when
two Of the House conferees and many
other influential representatives were
present, seemed to place an entirely diff
fcrent aspect on the situation.
The conference was devoted solely to
discussion of the lumber schedule and
the question was thrcShed out in detail.
At its close after midnight many of the
representatives. asserted that the confer
ence report could not pass the House
unless the lumber schedule provides for
the House rate on lumber, 81 a thousand
feet. There were a few others, how
ever. who believed that compromise,
making the rate $1.25. would be the
probable outcome of the tangte.
The majority of the representatives
at the conference told the President that
they would fight the adoption of the
report unless the Senate agreed to a
lower rate 1t was that unless there
was speedy adjustment of the lumber
schedule, the conferees' report might be
held up longer than was anticipated
previous to the white house conference.
That hides have been traded for lum-
her in the preparation of the report on
the tariff bill was reiterated about the
capitol today in connection with the
report that the tariff conferees had
agreed to the retention of the Senate
rate of $3.50 per thousand on rough
lumber.
When the conferees met they took up
the glove schedule, but the action was
largely perfunctory, as it practically was
agreed Tuesday that the House in
Creases should prevail. In both houses,
around the conference room and even in
the minds of the conferees. the lumber
question was much more pertinent than
the glove question.