The Washington times., 1909-05-02
NO HOPE HELD OUT
: FOR THE CONSUMER
Revision of the Tariff Will
Have No Downward
Trend.
ALDRICH DEPENDING
ON DEMOCRATIC AID
Pronounced Adherents of Doctrine
of Protection Will Control Con-
ference Committee.

That there is practically no hope for
the relief of the ultimate consumer In
the forthcoming tariff bill unless Presi-
dent Taft comes to his relief is the con-
victiou that is becoming stronger about
the Senate and House.
Senator Aldrich and his lieutenants
are gradually getting their forces or
ganized for the passage OF the tallH
bill In the Senate. Indications are be-
coming stronger and stronger that they
will be able ultimately to force the bill
through with comparatively little change
from the language reported by the
Finance Committee. Senator Aldricn
processes confidence that four weeks
more will see the bill either ready for
the signature of the President or nedIls
so. He does not expect the downWar1
rcvisionists will be able TO make much
OF an impression on the Finance Com
mittee measure.
Work of Conference.
The conference committee viii play
most important part In the tashloninS
of the tariff bill, but a study OF the
personnel OF that committee makes ii
clear that if there is to be any down
ward revision II must be accomplished
before the bill goes 20 conference
The Republicans who VIII serve on
the cfinference committee VIII be Sena-
tors Aldrich OF Rhode Island, burrows
of Michigan, PenrOse OF EernsyiVanias
and Hale OF Maine, and Representa-
1fVes Payne OF New 1orlss Daizeli OF
PENNSYLVANIA, Mccall OF MaSSacuuscLts,
and t1ill OF Connecticut. The Demo-
Gratis on the conference committee VIII
include Senator Daniel OF virginia,
Money of Mississippi, ana Bailey OF
Texas, and Representative clark or
Missouri. Underwood of Alabama anu
Esriggs Of Georgia
ID might appear that The Democrats
on the commlltee would combine Win
enough Republicans thereon 10 force
some OF the schedules downward, but
the fact is the Republican members OF
the committee viii shape the bhl Ia
conference. The Democrats viii not get
4 s'Iook-in.' So Far as being III a posi-
ton to affect the bin one way or an
other they might as well be IN China
as on the conference committee
No Revision Downward.
This means that eight men, who are
ultra-high protectionists for the most
part. will consider the bill in confer
ence 1t is out OF the question TO eN-
pect them to revise the tariff down
ward, unless, peTchance. they should be
iInpelled TO show some CONSIDERATION lOr
the ultimate consumer on account OF
tie attitude OF the White House and
the fear Of a veto.
Of the eight Republicans on the con-
ference Hcommittee there is just one
who is looked on as having leanings
toward downward revision. This IS
Representative Mccall OF Massachu-
sets.
rhe other seven are high tariff men
--i,y conviction snd training, and II would
He unreasonable to expect them 20 MAKE
reductions in schedules. Nor IS II hkeiy
tnat any OF the advantage which New
England may gain In the bill IN sen
ate or House VAL be surfendereQ IN
conference. This can DC understood
best BY consideration of the tact that
or aa
expected TO go on the conference COM
Tnittee are New England men, Scna-
tors Aldrich and Haze. and Representa-
tives Hill and Mccall.
The remarkable situation viii be pre-
scented, il the committee consists OF
fourteen, OF having the great middle
West and the FAR West without repre-
sertation on the conference committee
II the Republicans in the Senate who
are for downward revision should sue
cced in getting some of the schedules
reduced, then the conference commit
lee would have some reductions to con-
sidor. But otls2rwise, there VIII be
none.
Help From Democrats.
The difficulty in lthe way of the Re
publican Senators. who want downward
revision, Of accomplishing anything is
that Senator Aldrich can rally TO his
support number OF the Democratic
Senators, who are as eager for high
aHsies as the high tariff republicans
After the bin IS reported back rrom
the conference committee 10 the House
and Senate, nothing In the way OF I'M
portant changes need be expected. The
House rules viii doubtless be utilized 60
their best advantage when that juno
ture comes, for the purpose OF forcing
Tic conference report through the
House. In the Senaie. too, it VIII, as q
matter Of fact, be Impossible 10 amend
the conference report. AS q practical
parliamentary proposition, "a conference
report has e be accepted or rejected
md no considerable number OF Rcpub-
hCans can be found who viii vote 10
reject what the conferees have agreed
Gu thus voting against the bill
Under these clrCuMStc rCea Il Is al
most certainty that President Tau is
going 20 have put up to him "A bill which
cannot in any just sense OF the term be
regarded as a bin for downward revision
Then VIII arise the question whether
ne will sign such q measure The de-
cision Of this question win involve the
greatest responsibility that has set been
laid on Mr.. Taft's shoulders as Presi-
dent on the one hand, there will be the
tremendous pressure from the business
interests demanding that the susDpuee
over tariff be cut short. also. there viii
be the pressure OF the House and Sem
dte Replb!icdn organization.
On the other hand viii arise tho o,,oe-