Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-07-20

| WdSllHStOIl, July lS.-Al VI tie re
publican members of the tariff con
ference have been invited by President
Taft to take dinner with him Wednes
| day night at the White House. The in
vtations did not say whether there
was any purpose in the gathering 9th
er than sociability, but it is assumed
| that he expects to be ready to report
progress in getting votes for the abo-
lition or reduction of duties on raw ma
teials.
Senator Crane spent an hour with
the President today and later talked
with Senator Aldrich. He endorsed
the attitude of the President on the
question of reducing duties on raw ma
terials
Speaker Cannon visited the tariff
conference chamber Immediately after
the adjournment of today's session and
had a long talk with Senators Aldrich
and Crane. The Speaker had been al
the White House earlier in the day ir
company with Representative Dwight
OF New York, the Republican whip.
When Speaker Cannon left Senator
Aldrich's room tonight, he said that
the cOnferees must frame the programs
for passing the conference report
through the House and the Senate, and
that the representatives. of the two
branches would have to assume the
responsibility for their actions. This
remark was understood to signify that
a binding rule could not be looked
for to carry an unpopular report
through the House. When pressed for
1or, i'm, L. 1n 1ynY
merely smiled He left his listeners free
to put whatever construction they
pleased upon his remark.
There was no indication of lack OF
understanding between the leaders OF
the Senate and House. The Speaker ex.
Inhibited his usual good nature and talk
ed freely with the newspaper mel
about every subject except that which
they desired to hear him discuss. Sen
ator Aldrich left the office building witt
Senator Crane for the purpose of con
sidering the possibility of putting
through the Senate q conference report
providing for free iron ore and free OF
and reduced duties on coal, lumbe
and hides.
If the mutterings of dissatisfaction
heard about the Senate offices today
may be taken as criterion, the Sen
ate leaders are confronted with no easy
task. Strangely enough, many of thu
protests against the free raw materi-
al program are coming from the pro
eressive- Republican faction which
fought hardest for downward revision
Many Of the Progressives come from
states interested in cattle raising an(
are opposed to free hides, while other
insurgents, notably, Senators Bristow
and Cummins, who are not particular
ly interested in the question of free
hides, iron, oil or coal, expressed the
opinion that the President should
bring his influence to bear in a move
ment looking to reductions in the du-
ties on wool and wooden goods. cottor
goods, and other articles which enter
into wearing apparel.
Senator Borah stated today that il
the free raw material program, was
adopted some of the Western sena
tors would be afraid to go home aDt
could not expect to continue represent
| Ing their seats in Washington. He |.
thoroughly in sympathy with President
| Taft's attitude on downward revision
but declares that it should not be con
| fined to raw material The Idaht
senator is authority for a report tina
| there is in process of organization {
combination of senators who will b,
pledged to defeat the conference re
port if it should provide for free Goa
and free hides. These men are no
concerned over the proposition to place
oil and iron ore on the free list.
Circulating about the Capitol toda,
| was persistent rumor that the Presi
dent would not be satisfied with fre'
| iron ore and oil and reduced duties OF
coal, hides AMI lumber. Many senator:
appeared to believe. this report and ex
pressed the opinion that he would in
sist upon hides and coal being place.
on the free list. Senators who visited
the White House did not confirm thu
report upon their return to the Capitol
but at the same time they We're unabl
| to contradict it.
The more conservative senators pointe,
to President Taft's statement issued fol
lowing visit paid to him a few day
ago by % advocates of protective dutie
on raw material gave evidence that h
would not demand that all of these arti
ces should be made free. In this state
inent the President declared at the outse
that he was not committed to the polio
of free raw materials, but that he wa
for revision of the tariff downward
No one suggested the possibility of a veto
Among the older members of the Sen
ate and House who have had long expe
lrience in harmonizing differences betwee
1.-THE two branches of Congress or betwee
congress and the Executive, it vas pre-
Idicted that the President would Ndeman
levery concession possible to obtain with
tout endangering the adoption of the re
Fort These conservative members as