Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-07-29
TAFT'S ULT|MATUM
TO THE CONFEREES
Notifies Them That He Can
not Accept Their Rates on
Lumber, Gloves, Hosiery.
REPEATS HIS DEMAND
ON HIDES AND LEATHER
Conference Report May Not Go to
House Until Monday.
DOUBT WHEN END WILL COME
Democratic Members Of the Com
mittee, Summoned to This Morn
ing's Meeting, Again
Excused.
Conference Report May Not Go to
House Until Monday.
DOUBT WHEN END WILL COME

President Taft notified the tariff con-
ference committee In writing this
morning that he could not accept a
rate exceeding Sf.25 rough lumber
I'm the new tariff bill. and that he would
insist mpon the senate rates ON gloves
and hosiery.
In his communica ton to the committee
the President reiterated his demand that
hides be kept on the free list and that
rates on leather and leather goods be
shaded below the House figures, as has
heretofore been agreed upon.
The exact terms of the letter have not
been given out, but it is regarded as an
ultimatum from him and is interpreted as
meaning that If his terms are not COM
piled with he will veto the bill when it
reaches him.
willing TO concede on lumber, gloves.
hosiery. leather and leather goods he
states in the letter that he has given
much consideration to the subject and
has reached the conclusion that it would
be quite unwise. If not impossible, to
make Iurtner concessions.
He says that IL his terms are accepted
he will exert his influence in both houses
OF Congress to have the conference re-
port accepted. but that If these various
schedules are not adjusted in accordance
with his suggestions he would feel called
upon TO reject the bill when sent to him.
The plan to have the conference report
submitted to the House tomorrow will, of
Course. fall through, and It seems now
quite probable that it will not be received
before next Monday, If then.
The Presidents message to the commit
Gee was the result of an interview which
members of the conference held with him
last night. When they presented the
compromise figures on lumber. gloves and
hosiery. which had been agreed upon by
the committee, he took their memorandum
into his possession. saying that he would
give it more deliberate consideration than
he could then bestow upon it.
Instead of communicating his views to
Individual members of the committee, he
put them in writing. and they We're this
morning read to the conference. In polite
but plain language he told them that he
could not consent to any rate on lumber
beyond that which he had already indi-
Gated, which was $1.23. and he felt that
the pledges of the party required that the
lowest rate on hosiery and gloves. which
was the Senate figure, should be retained.
Doubt When End Will Come.
The transmission of the President s
views had the effect of reopening all of
these subjects and mucn doubt has arisen
in the minds of the conferees to when
ha Ead Mr. ipi1
told some of the democrats that probably
they would not be summoned again before
Saturday or Sunday. Other members of
the conference expressed even more doubt
as 10 the length of time that would be
required TO reach understanding.
Some of the senators are exceedingly
iena cious in their views in favor of d
high duty on lumber and 1t very diff
ficuIt 10 get them to yield anything. There
is some apprehension that there will be
great difficulty in bringing them to the
Presidents views. On the other hand ii
is declared that it would be difficult to
get through the House s1.4o rate 1t
would be TO get through rate of x1.J0,
and the firm stand taken by the President
has had the effect of stiffening the de-
termination of the low lumber element.
Democrats Dismissed.
The democrats who had been summoned
remained in the conference for less than
an hour. and during that time they were
given very slight opportunity 10 participate
in the proceedings. They discovered only
that the republican members were still
in deep water. Some of them expressed
displeasure over being compelled again to
retire from the conference room and one
of them was heard TO say that he did
not know whether it was better to walk
out than to be thrown out.
Senator Bailey. who had gone out with
the other democrats, proved pacificator
advising his party colleagues, he sug-
Gested that the republicans should be
left TO solve their own difficulties. IF,
lie said, we had the preparation OF a
tariff bill on hand We should insist upon
making il after own fashion. Why
not let the republicans do the same thing:
They have their troubles and we should
let them settle them without our In
reference.
In dismissing the democratic members
Of conference the republican members
voucnsafed no explanation TO them other
than that they had been called in pre-
maturelS.
.'In view of the fact that this is the
second call We have received said one
OF the democrats, lit strikes us that our
republican friends finding il difficult
IL determine where they are at
Some OF the democrats were inclined 70
Ee impatient over the situation, and oc-
easionaliy .here was heard a suggestion
tstat IL an agreement was not reached
seen Congress should adjourn until some
time in the fall To permit the republicans
To get together.
An Air of Mystery.
There was an air OF almost impeuetra-
bic mystery about the conferees when
they went into session today. Nest of the
interest centered upon the lumber rate
No positive information could be obtained
rs 10 whether sl.40 figure, which was
ixed yesterday by the committee. would
stand. The indications, however, were
decidedly in the opposite direction.
IL was believed that the President had