The Washington times., 1909-03-29
Bends Every Effort to Pre-
vent Unjust Tax on
Necessities.
REVENUE QUESTION
is GIVING CONCERN
Problem of Providing Protection,
and At Same Time Raising
Money, Knotty One.
By JAMES HAY, Jr.

The President is spending most of
ms time putting in good, hard work
Tor the poor man in so far as he is
affected by the tariff bill
representative Hinshaw of Nebraska.
after conference with Mr.. Taft to-
day, said 1t was the desire of the Chief
Executive TO have the duties taken Off
the necessities Of life, or if this proves
impossible. to have them greatly re-
duced
BY the necessities Of life, Mr.. Hin
shaw meant the following articles:
Lumber.
Shoes,
Coffee and tea,
Gloves and stockings.
Woolen goods,
Oil
This was good news to Mr. Hinshav,
who is also talking for the poor man.
The Representative from Nebraska be-
heves that if hides are to be put on
the free list the duty on shoes should
be reduced He also wants the counter
vailing duty on coffee removed and the
duty on tea put down. The counter
vailing duty on oil is also Objectionable
10 him, and he believes gloves and
stockings should not be burdened with
high import taxes.
Would Cut Revenues.
AS such a policy, If incorporated in
the Payne bill, would mean a tremen-
dous reduction in the revenues OF the
country at a time when the deficit is
beginning 10 assume alarming proper
tions, the President is casting about for
a means TO bring more money into the
Treasury. So far, he has not settled on
any method as filing the necessity
which confronts the Administration.
Mr.. Hinshaw wants an Inheritance
tax and a tax on the dividends of cor
porations, but he got no definite infor-
nation as to what the Presidents atti-
tude on these.
1t became known today from an au-
thoritatiye source that the President
is opposed to the and 9 cent tax on
tea, and the countervaling duty on
coffee as now provided by the Payne
measure. He does not believe that the
duty on coffee will be retained. The
revenue from the tea duty would
amount TO SS,OOO00O a year, and he IA
vOrs raising this revenue by some other
means, such as a tax on the dividends
OF corporations or stamp tax If that
becomes necessary.
Another caller at the White House
this morning was Representative DaI-
zelI OF Pennsylvania, a friend Of the
Payne bill.
There is much talk that there is apt
to come a disagreement between the
President and the Senate, when the
tariff measure gets to the upper house,
because Of the purpose Of some Of the
Senators TO put the duties higher than
they are now provided for in the bill.
There is no denying the fact that the
Republican party is for the present III
a chaotic condition 50 far as tariff is
concerned.
Leaders Look Ahead
The party leaders are already looking
forward to what may happen in the next
Congressional elections, and It is ad-
mitted thac 1t IS matter of grave con-
cern what policy shall be followed so
as 70 get the votes and prevent the
next House going to the Democrats.
II is impossible at this time TO say
what will be the final attitude Of the
President toward the bill as a whole,
and il is also impossible TO tell 10 what
high schedules the party may be driver
by the necessity to raise money. But
that high schedules would hurt the
partys next campaign is pretty gener-
ally admitted.
4 delegation from the Phi AIpha
Delta fraternity Of Georgetown Uni
VeTsity, called on the President this
morning and presented him with an
honorary membership IN the Organiza-
tiOn. It is a law society. The Presi- I
Continues on Ninth Page.)