The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-03-14
RENEW TARIFF WAR
upon ANNIVERSARY
Congress Tackled Dingley
Law Twelve Years Ago
Tomorrow.
HARD UNDERTAKING
FOR BOTH HOUSES
Administration Hopes to Rush Re-
visions Despite Great
Difficulties.

Just twelve wears ago tomorrow.
March Is. 1897 the Fifty-ffth Congress
began the special session which had
been called by President Mckinley TO
revise the tariff. The result o: that
session, long and stormy, was the en-
actment Of the Dingiey tariff law,
which still continues in existence. and
which has resisted successfully all af-
forts of revisionists to get 1t over
hauled.
AT noon tomorrow the Sixty-frst Con-
sress will meet in special session, and
will undertake the great and important
task of revising the Dingley tariff law.
Shorter Session Expected.
The special session which revised the
tariff twelve years ago. lasted until
July "A. 1t is not expected the special
session which will begin tomorrow will
continue SO long as that. In this in
stance. the efforts of President Taft. of
Senator Aldrich. Of Speaker Cannon,
and of ali the leaders in Congress will
he exerted to bring the special session
TO a close as soon as possible.
IL is the hope Of the leaders that the
new tariff law will actually be in effect
by July l.
time when the Treasury situation and
the condition OF the revenues OF the
Government are highly unsatisfactory
The Treasury deficit is constantly swell
ling and is in the region of so, 600 900
Ut is, according to good authority. mucf
larger than it appears in the daily
Treasury statement by reason of tEE
fact the Treasury has been holding bach
l. IL r.-f1F in -
region of sl50,oOO,0Oo by the end of N.
fiscal year.
Greater Appropriations
For the fiscal year wh,,h VIII begir
July / next, the appropriations made
by Congress are about $l,040. GO 600
much larger than at any previous tiIn'
in the history or the republic. rnt
means that the next fiscal year ste
the current one will wituess n sill
larger deficit than the enc already C'
hand unless the revenue situation !
wisely met
Talk is current of bond issues to NEE
the ordinary needs of the Government
within a short time. Ii is apparent tina
Congress Is put into q most embar
RAISING situation
Not the least of the troubles that con
front the Republican leaders are tn
political possibilities. A mistake in IN
REVISION OF the ldT3n laws OF dH uHpOpu
lar course of action. may sweep tn
Republican party out of power in tn
next House, and may even affect TIN
next Presidential election.
To add &c the perplexitieS of the stu
alton as it stands before the leaders
there is war on over the House rules.
Program is Simple.
The program OF the special session /
not complicated. President Taft's spe
CiaI message viii deal briefly with tn
need Of prompt action on the tariff
The Ways and Means Committe
has the tariff bill ready. tt wi
he put into the House after tn
rules question is settled. with the lea Is
possible delay. II is expected the bi
will pass the House in q month.
The Senate Finance Committee Re
publicans. will begin work on the bi
Monday. The Senate bill will be read
almost as soon as the House passe
the tariff mea sure. Then will com
protracted Senate debate.
The Senate viii really make the TART
bill. After il IS passed by the Senate
IL win be disa greed TO by the Hous
and sent to conference and in confer
ence many points OF disagreement wi
be adjusted, giving the conferees enor
nous power. After Congress acts. IN
question VIII be whether the Presider
will sign the bill.