The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-02-19
Not to Press q Tariff Commission.

MI 10 EES54 q laFEl NGElWtSSfOu-
While the Indianapolis tariff convention
was demanding. with all the fervor Of
a paper resolution. that Congress should
Immediately create a permanent tariff
commission. the fa5e OF the commission
scheme was settled at a quiet conference
here in Washington Of the triumvirate
which viii rule the destinies Of the re-
public after Marcel next The eonferees
we're President-eiect Taft, Speaker Can
non. and Senator Aldrich. It was deter
mined that there should be no tariff COM
mission, and there viii be none. We are
indebted 20 the Washington correspond
encs OF the New York Tribune for the
significant details:
''Msssrs. Aldrieh and Cannon tod TIE President
elect thai there not the slightest N ursns
the tariff commission idea On Congress; that Con
E1cSs would have none Of Il. They sad they
confined that 4 commission would seue 10 god
purpose: that the Finance and Was and Means
committees Of Congress we're composed Of tarid eI-
perts. who we're amply competent 70 readjusS The
schedules, and that the members Of both Houses
would be most unwilling 70 delegate their Drerosl-
tiTes to . commission OF 70 accept It's recommen-
dati0us, were such commission crested
TIE Prssident-elect did not commit himself On
the subject. but sad that the use which being
made OF his letter was unwsuanted and indicated
that as the method by wkich Congress arrived a.
lis conclusions with regard to the Necessary changes
in the tariff schedules was legislative matter he
cid not purpose 70 interfere. de asked results. he
said inciuding q material mobilization Of the tzrd
rstes. and II Congress would siFe hin that he
would chesrfuIy refrain from Tvoposins the manner
n which such results were % be attained He *
pressed perfect faith n the sincerity 81 the party
leaders 10 conduct a genuine tariff revision. and
sad that he realized perfectly that the responsible
ties Of the Executive ended when he had sub
mitsed such facts as he possessed to Congress by
message. but be sently iutima;ed that, OF oourse.
any extreme advocates Of sJandpatiSn' with
whom The leaders might have 10 deal could be
truthfuIly reminded that the President would deem
l. his duty to veto a tariff bill which failed %
carr out the pledges made By The patty in its IA
;ionsl platform"
We assume the letter which the Presi-
dent-elect asserts 10 have been unwar-
rantably used Is the one sent from Au-
gusta. Ca, 20 Henry Rosenberg Of IN
dianapolis, under date Of January 5 last:
Ny Dear Sir. quite agree With you n he
advantage of having 4 permanent ts-,T oonHis-
sion. and il The present tariff bill shoEld make pro
VISION for some s1sh beds. It you'd ret nv views
exactly Sincerely yours. VA Il TAFT.
Subsequently Mr.. Taft took pains, in a
letter 10 Chairman Serene z Payne. 70
make it clear that in advocating a tariff
commission ne did not assent to the no
ton that the fixing OF tariff rates should
be devoIved upon a commission. as that
would be unconstitutional. for Congress
alone has power TO levy taxation, and
all bills for raising revenue must orig
mate in the House However. this quail
hcston OF his views did not alter his
opinion on the main issue. and much has
been made Al the Indianapolis convention
Of the adhesion Of both President Roose-
welt and Mr.. Taft 10 the commission idea
Il now appears that Mr.. Taft's belief
in the desirability Of tariff commission
is purely academic. He viii not propose
the creation OF any such body. since he
has the assurance Of the leaders OF Con-
gress that a tariff bin can be better
framed in the good old way. As a con-
stitutiOnal Executive. he is willing to let
Congress attend 70 It's own business after
its own fashion
Naturally. Mr.. Tafts complaisant att!-
tude OF this matter is a source OF IN
restrained Congressional Joy We are told
that the leaders like his method Of leav-
ing 10 them the settlement Of the date
on which the special session should be
called. and his willingness TO refrain
from urging on them a commission Mr.
Taft, they are saying. treats their opin-
ions with respect and consideration. and
appears willing TO listen TO advice II is
all very lovely. suggestive OF all manner
OF good times and good things. We shall
later see how Mr. Tafts touching faith
in the sincerity Of the tariff revisers is
rewarded II the old way OF framing
schedules is al right. perhaps the old
( brand OF protection is al right. too.
Mr. Bryan believes he resembles
Noah sa--s ire NFifv-a,,Laa Seminal The