The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-08-22
Promise Is Made That Aid
viii Be Given China to
Be independent
CABINET CONFERENCE
ON IMP ORTANT MATTERS
Reorganization of Interstate Commerce
Commission is Taken Up and
Formation of Tariff Board ls
Partly Outlined.
BY WIN. HOSTER,

BY WIN. HosTER.
Beverly, Mass, August H.-(Special.)-
To Charles R. Crane of Chicago, the new
minister of the United States to China
President Taft this afternoon outlined the
policy of this government toward the
Chinese empire. There Is particular sig
nifcance attaching to the first clause of
this policy in view of the exploitation to
which China is now being subjected by
Japan.
There Is always to be kept In front, the
President instructed Mr.. Crane, the obli-
cation of the United States to help China
in every way to become independent Of
other nations.
In addition to this 1t is to be our policy
to combat the idea that 1t Is a good thing
to keep nation in an inferior position
in the belief that thereby 1t will be more
profitable to barter with her China ia
to have the advantage of our most con-
siderate friendship. The open door rblicy
is to De insisted upon.
While the relations of China and Janan
We're discussed by the President In out
Inning the general policy of the United
estimate that is placed by the President
upon the relative value of the friendship
OF the two nations was made public. 1t
Is distinctly understood, however. that
this government viii always throw this
intii srce in favor Of CHINA in every issue
where the independence and Integrity OF
China are concerned The policy is not
new with the President. 1t is all embodied
In the speech which he delivered in Shang
hal. But its application just now is sig
nificant
Cabinet Conferences.
Minister Crane was with the President
for half an hour Immediately preceding
the first important cabinet conference
that the President had held since he left
Washington. Beginning at $3.50 o'clock the
President was closeted with Attorney Cen
eral Wickersham, Secretary of the Treas
ury MacVeagh and Secretary of the
Navy Meyer, until 7:3o o'clock this even
ing.
The council was held In a first floor
room. overlooking the sea and the entire
range of governmental affairs was COW
cred.
That many matters were left undeter-
mined that are of immediate Importance
is instanced by the fact that the Presi-
dent requested all three of his advisors
10 consult with him again tomorrow aft
ernoon at 3 o'clock. Beverly, In conse
quence, feels OF real Importance tonight.
with cabinet councils being held two
days in succession In the Stetson cottage
on Burgess Point, the Beverlyites believe
that the real dignity of summer capi-
tai has at last been attained by their
little city.
One of the matters discussed long and
earnestly today was the board of tariff
experts that was authorized by the PAYNE
Dill 1t Is an open secret now that the
President believes that he has authority
under the provision of the Payne bill to
put his tariff experts to work on any
feature of the customs laws that he be-
]eves requires investigation. If the board
cannot report to Congress the President
knows Of no law by which he can be pre-
vented from reporting to Congress the
findings of the tariff board with any
recommendations that he may see fit to
make.
Foreign Tariff Board.
The suggestion has been made that the
experts be designated by the title of the
foreign tariff board. This name has not
yet been accepted by the President, but
1t Is altogether likely that the experts
will come to be known by that name.
OF more Importance Is the fact that
the President intends, If possible, to have
the experts named and at work early
in September or before he departs on
his western trip.
Just now he and Secretary MacVeagh
are In deep trouble trying to settle upon
the number of experts that shall be
named and who shall be named. Secre-
tary MacVeagh turned up at the sum-
mer White House today with 40 names
for the President to Gull over.
The list will be taken up again tomor-
row for consideration
Next In Importance to the toreign tariff
board was the discussion To-Day concern