The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-03-16
President Sends Short Mes
sage Urging Revision
at Once.
TOMORROW TO SEE
MEASURE IN HOUSE
No Tax on Tea or Coffee, II Is
Reported, Viii Be
Imposed.

Although the President sent his mes
s1ge urging revision to Congress today
/ the tariff bill was not reported to the
House this afternoon Chairman Payne.
Of the Ways and Means Committee, or
the House, announced that it would not
De brought in until tomorrow
The exact reasons for the change of
program have not Deen made public.
There was !, report, however, that some
difficulty was being experienced by
Speaker Cannon in filing the vacancies
on the Ways and Means Committee. and
It was said this might be the reason
for the determination Of the House 90
hold back the bill until tomorrow.
The three vacancies on the Ways and
Means Committee are caused by the
retirement Of Granger OF Rhode Island
| and Cochran, OF New York, Democrat,
| and Bonynge. OF Colorado, Republican
It was in one Of the briefest mes
| sages to Congress on record that the
President today explained to the extra
/ session. which convened yesterday his
reasons for calling the session
He suggests that as little time as pos
sible be given 10 other legislation than
the tariff, and that the tariff be revised
| as speedily "as possible consistent with
its due and thorough consideration
He points out that by July 1 next ''the
excess Of expenses over receipts for the
current fiscal year viii equal S10e 0O9,-
co..
Although he makes no mention or the
/ advisability Of the session enacting an
I inheritance tax, he reminds the Con-
gress that even now gne reve.le fren
/ the tariff Is not sufficient 10 pay the ex-
/ penses of the Government
] President Tart was officially notified
! during the morning that Co=aress was
in session, and was awaiting his pleas
/ ure. The Notifications Commttee, con-
| posed Of Senators Aldrich AID None.
and Representatives Clark, O1msted and
Mckinley called at the White House
| at 1880.
Taft's Message
| The message. which covers less than
a page and a half o. typewriting. is as
| follows:
To the Senate and House of Repre-
I have convened the congress in this
| extra session in order TO enable il 10
/ give immediate consideration to the re-
vision OF the Ifngley tariff act ConGi-
1 tiOns affecting production, manGfae-
/ ture and business generally have 50
| changed in the last twelve years a.
/
| sion of the import duties imposed BY
1 that act. More than this, the present
tariff act. with the other forces OF
/ Government revenue, does not furnish
! il.come enough to pay the authorized
| expenditures. BY July l, next, the ex-
| cess of expenses over receipts for the
| current fiscal year viii equal S0e,-
sdThe successful party in the last
| election is pledged 10 a revision Of the
tariff The country. and the business
/ f-F
7 prospect Of a change in the rates OF
/ import duties always causes Suspen-
sion or halt in business because Of the
| uncertainty as 10 the changes to be
! made and their effect
Of Vital Importance.
It is therefore Of the highest impor-
I tance that the new bill should be
agreed upon and passed with as much
speed as possible, consistent with its due
and thorough consideration. For these
! reasons. I have deemed the present 70
/ be an extraordinary occasion. within
/ the meaning of the Constitution iusti-
| Tying and requiring the calling Of an
/ extra session
In my inaugural address, I stated in
/ a summary way the principles upon
which, ia my judgment. the revision OF
the tariff should proceed, and indicated
/ at least one new source of revenue that
/ might be properly reSorted 10 In order
/ TO avoid a future deficit. 1t is not nee
essary for me TO repeat what I then
/ said
/ I venture TO suggest that the vital
/ business interests Of the country re-
QuiTe that the attention Of the Congress
/ in this session be chiefly devoted TO the
| consideration OF the new tariff bill and
/ that the less time given 10 other sub
Jects Of legislation IN this session, the
WILLIAM II TAFT.
/ The White House. March Is. 1903.
Democratic nv -
/ solved that the Democrats should not
/ accept committee appointments al the
! hands Of pSeaker Cannon without con-
/ sulting Champ Clark, the Democratic
! leader The Speake. Is determined 10
make all assignments himself. and this
conclusion Of the Democratic caucus
/ opened the possibility OF a most inter
/ esting deadlock
A few things concerning the tariff bin
( are accepted as beyond serious quetsion
/ It is understood to provide for free cOf-
( fee free tea, the removal OF the duty
on petroleum. for the reduction OF the
I duty on rought lumber from s. 10 81. and
for the retention OF the present sugar
duties without change. Beyond this al
most nothing has leaked out about ths
details or the bill.
Everything today points TO the posi-
bility Of a good deal OF Democratic hli-
/ clustering against the measure. II the
developments indicate that the regular
Republicans made tariff concessions 10
certain Democrats, as the price or their
support in the rules fight yesterday. a
determined and bitter fight against the
measure seems certain