The Washington times., 1909-05-11
President and Congress
Even Now Are Not in Per-
feet Accord Over Bill.
EXECUTIVES IDEA
FAILS OF PASSAGE
Best Chances for Real Downward
Revision, However, Lie in Con
ference on Measure.
By JAMES Hay, Jr.


Tile President and Congress are not
in perfect accord In regard 70 the tar
III bill"
This statement, made today By a higlts
protection Senator Immediately astsr hs
had talked to the President. IS OF the
greatest significance IN that II presages
action at some time which win result
in the enactment Of a measure with
mitch more downward revision IN Il
than is now generally expected from
surface indications
The speaker went on 10 say that
there is every probability that the dif-
ferenees OF opinion between the Execu-
tive and the legislature VIII be adjusted.
He explained 1t in this way.
The President is rot only the Presi-
dent, ne is the titu,ar and active lead
ct OF his party. Seniors and Represen-
tatives realize this. aid it is inconceiv-
able that they would refuse 10 receive
and act on airy suggestions that he
might make in regard 10 the bill They
know that he, as the leader, is looking
out for the interests of the party and
that. in this case, the interests OF the
party are Identical with the interests
af the country
Wants Real Revision.
1t can be stated on authority that
President Taft would be pleased with d
bill containing All the downward re-
vision of the Payne bill, all the down
ward revision OF the Aldrich bill, and
no increases over the Dingley rates. At
present the Finance Committee of the
Senate is not proceeding with the aim
of bringing about sucl q bill. And out
OF tnis comes the IacIf OF accord.
But, as this high-rr otection Senator
pointed out. there is a general attitude
OF expecting that compromise wiz be
effected "a ana that & tHs Prssioent
tariff measure becomes law. TIE
President, however, has kept SteadfaStIy
to his determination not 70 cOerce Con
gresS. The Constitution does not make
MIN grand cOercer, and he has pow
erfuf respect for the instrument drawn
Up by the fathers.
When, then. wiz the compromise be
Members OF the House and Senate be-
Heve il will come about after the Sen
ate has finished with the bin and the
conferees are ready to take Up the worN
of whipping il into inai shape At pres
ent members OF CsGgrsss 20 TO Nh
Taft. and. when they ask for his Opin-
ion or seek suggestions from him. he
tinct understanding that he Is not en-
gaging IN coercive talk
Conference Last Stand
On the other hand, IL these sugg Sstions
bring forth nc fruit after they have
been sought. it may well be that. when
the bill is ready for conference, it wiz
contain paragraphs so Objectionable to
the President that he may thinR It does
not square with the campaign promises
OF himself and his party for general
downward revision. If this turns out to
be true. as is more than possible. those
who will 60 to him for suggestions may
have it pointed out TO them that II Il
highly impOrtanto 70 make certain
changes in the schedules
According 10 the hiSh-protectioh SEN
ato- who talked with him today, and
according 20 the opinions OF other Sen
atOrs and members of the House. the
Presidents Suggestions at that time VIII
be potent This VIII be because OF the
realization that Mr.. Taft is his partys
leader. and that his wishes sho--ld be
held in the greatest respect and as
worthy Of Incorporation into the bill
That a veto OF the measure would be
q great blow to the business prosperity
of the country is admitted by every
body. and that it is impossible to secure
would please every man is also ad-
mitted. But there II the further con-
viction that those who know the Presi-
dents wishes should make every effort
to placate his objections II they are
voiced TO the conferees. - conference
on a bill is the place whe-e camprorniss
is most easily and most effectively
reached.
Little Danger of Veto.
Consequently there Is widespread
beIief-altaOugh 1t is not often made
known-that the real tariff bill viii be
made in conference. Congress does not
wish to place the President or the party
IN an embarrassing position before the
The attitude OF both warrants
the belief that compromise will be the
ready and effective means of making
the tariff bill into WI at IL should be
There is no general belief that there
is danger OF The Presidents vetoing the
measure. but there is a conviction that
all possibility Of its necessity viii be
done away with by the Willingness OF
Con ngreSS to compromise in such q way
as 10 produce a measure which shall
mean general downward revision.
But until the Senate finishes with the