The National tribune., 1909-03-11
THE TARIFF BILL.
Continued next week.)

Events of very recent days here are
proclaimed as having important fnffu-
ence upon the great legislative work
just ahead. That Is, the framing OF q
tariff bill. 1t is said that after the par
Ieys Of few days ago President-elect
Taft is more disposed to leave the
Speaker and the coterie Of Senatorial
mandarins latitude in making the re-
vision as they wish. 1t is said he Is less
disposed than formerly to interpose
veto if the bill does not come Up to his
expectations. Then, the squelching OF
Republican insurrection in Senate and
House is no minor matter in connection
with tariff revision.
Mr. Taft has been informed that
the first draft Of the Payne res
vision bill has been completed. The
rates of duty have been agreed
upon with a very few exceptions. Many
reductions have been made. Hides and
lumber have been placed on the FREQ
list. Now the Republicans, while still
busily employed in getting specific in
formation about the cost of producing
certain goods at home and the cost Of
producing the same goods abroad. have
turned their bill over to experts. These
men have been asked to figure the es-
timated revenue to be derived from the
new law during the next fiscal year.
Perhaps, when these figures have been
made, some of the schedules will be
changed again. Anyhow, it will then
be in order for the Republicans OF the
committee to make provision for extra
revenue. They have not discussed the
matter much thus far, being still un-
certain whether it will be necessary to
impose stamp taxes.
The Speaker is contemplating revision
on the floor Of the House. It means
that he thinks Of having the tariff bill
considered without any special rule and
without any restrictions as to amends
ments. Washington doubts whether Mr..
Cannon will go that far. It would as
sure long debate, probably quite as
long debate as the Senate usually has
on tariff bills. Many schedules, agreed
upon by the committee, would be torn
to pieces. Democrats and Republicans
would form combinations. az soma
Southern Democrats and some Northern
Republicans are now doing to keep the
duty upon lumber. In short, It would
mean a long, hard fight in the HOUSE
and many weary days of debating be-
fore the last page Of the, bill could ba
reached and a final vote taken.
The accepted practice of considering
such bills in the House is to work un-
der special rule, reported by the Com-
mittee on Rules, fixing a limit upon
general debate and also designating a
time for vote. The Dingley bill was
passed that way. after few days Of
consideration. As matter of fact, the
bill was hardly given "consideration'
in the House. The reading never pro.
ceeded farther than the end of the frs:
section, covering the chemical sched-
ules. Thereupon after the few days Of
general debating. which covered even
ing sessions. the House simply voted to
ratify the work the Ways and Means
Committee had done.
Speaker Cannon has two reasons for
having the tariff revised on the floor
of the House. II the revision should
be unpopular, the blame would fall
upon the entire Republican majority.
not upon the Ways and Means Commit
tee and the House leadership, all Of
which, from the public standpoint. nar-
rows down to the Speaker himself Sec
ondly, if the Speaker and his lieutenants
should attempt to jam a revision bill
thru the House. there is no telling what
the "kickers" about the rules might be
able to do.
There are 20 of them, Of whom six
were not reelected. Some Republicans
who take the places of these six may
have similar ideas about reforming the
rules. At any rate. the Republican ma
jority in the next House will be but At,
and 1t Is quite within the probabilities
that there will be more than "a Repub-
licans who would join with the Demo-
cratic minority to vote down special
rule for the revision bill. That bill will
have some provisions which
will be disapproved by various Repub-
licans. And while the spirit of the in
in the House has been,
broken and Speaker Cannon will likely
be able to have the old rules readopted,
the situation Is too ticklish for him to
champion any gag rule" for ta5if re-
vision.