Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1909-08-06
TARIFF BILL PASSED AND CON
GRESS ADJOURNS.

The new Payne tarln act Is no" tue
Law Of the laud and the Dingley law
has gone the way OF its predecessors.
With the adoption of the conference
report by the Senate yesterday after
nooa the lorg struggle over the customs
rates and other forms OF taxation ended
and nothing remained but the closing
formalities at the Capital. The con-
current resolution directing the COM
mittee on enrolled bills TO make the
correction in the shoe and harness
schedule reducing certain rates was
speedily put Though each house, and
By the time President TAFT reached the
OspitaI the text of the tariff act,
printed on parchment with the shoe
and harness corrections made as directed,
was ready for the approval OF the execu-
tive.
President Taft signed the tariff bill
at 5 05 o'clock. The law became efec-
tive at midnight last night. The new
rates will be enforced today and the
steamers rushing across the Atlantic
with hurried imporlatlons falling to
reach port before the custom houses
closed yesterday will today be charged
the new rates on their cargoes. There
are PORTIONS of the bill which go iuto
effect at various other dstes, but these
are all spec fically stated in the bill and
do not affect the general rstes which go
into effect tomorrow.
President Taft arrived at the Capitol
al 4:45 p. no. and entered the room set
aside for the occupation OF the president
on the concluding day of session OF
Congress.
At o'clock Mr.. Taft signed the tariff
bill and both houses adjourned sine die
officially al 6 o'clock last night. That
is the time entered upon the j)urnsls,
but as q matter of fact the adjournment
was taken IN the House at 5:3S p. N.
and in the Senate a, 5;58 p. m. The
closing hours OF the ,ssion we're attend
ed by scenes of a most uniuteresting
character.
ia the Senate resolution offered by
Mr.. Odlberson, expressing the apprecis'
ton Of the Senate for The able and i'm
partial manner in which the vice-presi-
dent had presided over the sessions OF
that body was adopted yesterday.
10 especially happy language Mr..
Sherman thanked the Senate for the
courteous treatment which had been ex.
tended toward him at all times.
Before adj0urDiug the House Speaker
Cannon, with the members st'nding
with their hats In their hands, made
neat speech ia which he thanked them
for their service during the special ses-
sion. Upon lis conclusion he got a
round of applause from both sides.
President Taft yesterday evening gave
out at the Whits House a statement 10
regard TO the new tariff laws 10 which
he declared that the tsriff has been ''re-
vised downward" but that the bill is "no
free trade bill" He said:
81 believe the tariff bill 10 be The re-
sult of q sincere effort on the part Of the
republican party to make q downward
revision.
"The bill Is not perfect tariff bill
nor a complete compliance with the
promises made, strictly interpreted.
"This Is not free trade bill. 1t was
not intended to be. The republican
party did not promise to make free
trade bill.
"The corporation tax is just and
equitable excise MEASURE which, 1t is
hoped, will produce a sufficient amount
to prevent a deficit"
The president gave an elaborate dinner
at the White House last night to all the
leaders prominent in the tariff contest,
republicans aud democrats.