Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1909-07-22
Free Raw Material is Sticking
Point with Solons.
DINNER AT THE WHITE HOUSE
Members of Conference Committee
and Other Prominent Statesmen
Discuss situation with
President.


WASHINGTON, July H.-The White
House dinner and conference, at which
tariff conferees and the presidents closest
advisers were brought together tonight in
the effort to settle differences regarding
the tariff bill, ended at II 30, with the dis
putes over raw materials no nearer adjust
ment than they were before the dinner
invitations were received.
Only one question was determined beyond
appeal and that was that the conferees
will have to settle their own differences.
Pains were taken, however, to convey the
impression that this decision is not indica
tive Of any absence Of appreciation of the
presidents efforts. IL merely confirmed
what the elder statesmen" had asserted
from the frst-that tariff making is trad
ing and the shrewdest dealer and the
strongest section is bound to get the best
of the argument
That this trulsm is responsible for the
insurgent movements in the house and
senate and party revots in middle western
states, does not alter the situation.
Bill Up in the Air.
Briefly stated, the representatives Of the
house and senate practically admitted that
they were unable to forecast the outcome.
Senator Aldrich spoke for the senate and
Speaker Cannon and Representative
Dwight, republican whip, for the house.
Mr. Dwight spoke of the insurgent move
ment organized by the "anti-fTee raw ma
terial" faction in the house, but he was
not ready to estimate the strength of the
element.
Representative Payne expressed the
opinion that a conference report carrying
free iron ore, coal. hides and oil could
be adopted in the house, but, he said, he
had not canvassed the situation.
Senator Aldrich was very positive In the
opinion that such a report would fail in
the senate. but he thought there could
be reductions made In the senate rates,
to the free list without endangering its
adoption.
President Doesn't Press Point.
Apparently the president realized thai
the time had not arrived to call for a de
cision on the subject of raw materials
1t is stated that he did not press tn,
representatives of either house or senat,
for more definite statements of the situa
tlon IN their respective branches OF th'
congress
The customs court and the corporation
tax amendments were discussed at length
Most of those present agreed with Presi
dent Taft that the customs court should
be situated in Washington, since Il is L
be a court of appeals, whose decisions will
be final. Senator Hale dissented from thi,
opinion on the ground that a large ma
Jority Of the cases originate In New Yorl
and the evidence is more readily avail
able In that city Attorney General Wick
ersham and Secretary Root, who drew tn,
amendment, favored New York as head
quarters for the court.
To Canvass Both Houses.
The discussion Of the corporation ia,
dealt with the revenue it viii produce an
the general effect of the tax from a po
ltical point Of view. Some Of the conferee
said, after the dinner. that no conferenc
report would be signed until both house
had been canvassed to the probability O
its being accepted. No one say hoy
much this will delay adjournment OF tn
tariff session.
The dinner was served on the western
terrace, or roof OF the low-lying structur
which connects the White House prope
with the executive offices
The long dining table was set in a mint
ature grove Of bay trees with great boNe
of seraniums and other growing plant
surmountlng the sidewalks which extern
two or. three feet above the level of tn
roof and make garden enclosure Of tn
terrace.
The president and his guests made nine
'~An at the table,
Only Republicans There,
In announcing his invitation to the cor
ferecs to dinner the president followe
the custom at the capitol Of includln
within that term only the republican men
bers Of the conference committee All
these were present tonight with the ey
ception OF Senator Cullom OF Illinois, wh
Is detained at Atlantic City by the serior
Illness OF his wife From the senate can
Messrs Aldrich. Hale, Burrows and PEI
rose. From the house were Messrs, Payn
Dalzen. Mccall, Bouten. Calderhead an
Fordney
To meet the conferees the president II
Vited Vice President Sherman, Secretar
of the Treasury MacVeagh, Attorney Gel
eral Wickersham, Speaker Cannon, Sen'
tor Crane, Senator Root and RepresentatiN
Dwight OF New York, republican whip
Of the house
These are the men with whom the pres
dent has consulted most freely on the sui
isk lof the tariff and 1t was felt that
some satisfactory working arrangmeI
could not be made as a result OF tonight
meeting. hope OF an early solution OF n
tariff tangie would be remote.
The real discussion Of tariff matters al
not begin until after dinner was dispose
Of It was said to have been one of ii
most CAREFUL prepared banquets ev,
served from the famous old White Hou,
Kitchens, and Il was no fault OF Il
president, his steward or his old Virgin
'darkey" cook II the men OF the tari
commission we're not in an amiable moo
when the meal was done.
IL was we'll along toward o'clock whs
the dinner began. The White Houi
(ContinuOd en- second PAEal