The Washington herald., 1909-07-20
Dinner at White House To-
morrow May End 1t.
HEART.TO.HEART TALK PLAN
Senators Lined Up Agninst Free Raw
Materials win BE Given Chance TO
Argue with the President-Taft
stIu Firm on the stand Taken.
Crane 10 the Rescue.

eonferees Of the Senate and the House
at dinner.
There have been tariff dinners a-plenty
at the White House since the tariff situ-
alton assumed an aspect OF uncertainty
but on wednesday. according 10 the gen
eral view prevailing. the President and
his guests Will have heart-tO-heart talk
which Will result probably IN a definite
agreement as to the terms OF the most
troublesome features OF the pending
measure
II will ba that or a distinct deadlock
between the President and the House
conferees on the one side and the Senate
conferees on the other.
The crisis is now on.
Everything in controversy has been
thrashed over. and the situation has re-
solved itself into a crossing OF argumen-
tatIve swords between those who favor
the free admission OF certain raw mate
rails and those who are opposed 10 plac-
ing these raw materials on the free list.
President Is Firm.
President Taft has not swerved from
his insistence that the tariff bill. in order
TO be in accord with the pledges Of the
Republican party, must put bituminous
coal, crude oil, hides OF cattle, and iron
ore on the free list.
II anything. he Is more determined than
ever TO fight for this programme. The
conferees are beginning 20 realize that
the President has set his Jaw. and when
they go 70 the White House tomorrow
night It will be with the knowledge that
Mr.. Taft viii be prepared 70 resist sug-
gestions that compromise be Effected
which will permit the imposition OF a
duty on hides and coal at least.
The President Is represented as not be-
ing impressed with statements that un-
less some OF the raw materials in contro-
versy are made duhable. the conference
report win not be adopted by the Senate.
Without doubt. his stand has had some
effect already. for the Senators In favor
OF keeping hides of the free list are un-
derstOod TO be willing TO consent 10 a
duty OF 10 per cent. or perhaps as low as
~ per cent a reduction in each case
from the present duty Of 15 per cent
which Is the rate fixed In the Senate bill.
and the Senators who want coal kept of
the free list are showing a disposition 10
accept a dutiable rate OF 80 cents, or 45
cents. a ton, against the present rate Of
81 cents a ton. which the House retained.
or 60 cents ton, the rate in the Senate
bill.
But the President has declared he will
have none OF It. He contends. and prob
ably Will contend 90 the eonferees al
the dinner that the country will be salts
81 rr~ffh ror
free hides. in addition 20 free oil and free
iron ore
Senators Under Pledge.
Apparently the attitude OF the Senate
conferees has not changed any more than
has the attitude Of the President
They would willingly make the conces-
sions which the President wants II It
were not for the pledges they gave 70
certain Senators whose votes we're neces-
sary TO put the tarif bill through the
Z Senate, and who now are insisting that
ne Senate conferees shall not recede
from subFc-t Of the 6O-cent duty on coal
and the 10 per cent duty on hides.
Realizing the Presidents attitude. with
all that It may mean to the Republican
party. the Senate leaders set to work
to-day TO see what could be done TO
induce Senators who are opposed to put
ting hides. coal and iron ore on the free
list and making oil free without the re-
strictiOn OF the coUntervaiiing duty, 20
modify their refusal to consent to radical
reductions in the duties on these prod
ucts.
Senator W Murray Crane, who has
been one OF Senator Aldrich's right hand
men in maintaining the Republican or
ganization OF the Senate. and who. II
he had any title. would be called the
Republican whip got back 10 Washing
ton from Massachusetts yesterday morn
ing and started out Immediately 70 see
what could be done 10 effect a COM
promise satisfactory to the President and
all concerned, which would insure the
enactment OF a tariff law.
Upon his arrival here Mr.. Crane went
at once TO the White House. where he
had a conference with the President, and
afterward he talked over the situation
with Senator Aldrich. Then Mr. Crane
began 10 interview stubborn Republican
Senator'S with the object OF finding out
how far they would consent to conform
10 what the President desired.
II was asserted last evening that from
the standpoint Of the President and those
who want raw materials placed on the
ton rather encouraging.
May Mean Fight.
There are indications that not more
than six Senators who were consistent
In their support OF the Finance Commit
tee during the consideration OF the tarir
measure will vote against a report OF the
conferees in favor Of free oil, hides. coal
and iron ore.
More than that number are dissatisfied
with the proposition to place these things
on the free list, but enough OF them have
shown a compromising disposition to give
color to the belief that IN the end the
entire number OF regular Republican re-
calcitrants will be reduced to half a dozen
or thereabouts. It Is doubtful II even
these six will vote against the bill itself
n the worst comes TO the worst from
their point OF view.
Some OF the Republican insurgents are
showing no willingness to come out OF
the woods. It Is the general understand
ing that no matter what kind OF tariff
bill emerges from the conference commit
tee, Senator'S La Toilette and Bristow
viii vote against II. and Senator Cum
Minis. whose attitude is uncertain, may
join them.
May Follow La Toilette.
One or two other Republican Senators
who we're sometimes insurgent and some
times regular are not declaring them
selves, but It would not surprise anybody
II they followed La Toilette and Bristow.
Apparently the most unconpromlsing
insurgent Senators are somewhat miffed
because they have not been summoned
to the White House by the President II
they were summoned. il would give them
q .hal.a-. % aIal-. Lhaa NJ ~. 81 LII -