Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-04-01
PRESIDENT BELIEVES 1T WOULD
BE A GREAT AID TO PRESIDENT
AND CONGRESS IN MAKING
TRADE AGREEMENTS.
CONFERENCE HELD
AT WHITE HOUSE
PRESIDENT CALLS PAYNE, CAN.
NON AND OTHER LEADERS IN
TO FORM PLANS FOR PUSHING
MEASURE THROUGH.

Washington, D. c., March 31.-Pres-
ident Taft today declared himself In
favor of tariff bureau to be created
at this session Of congress. He be-
lieved such bureau would be of great
assistance to him in the application
of the maximum and minimum prin'
ciple of the Payne bill in the negotia-
tion of foreign trade agreements, as
well as in furnishing detailed informa-
tion to congress and to the White.
house on various tariff questions as
they arise The presidents announce
ment was made to the executive COM
mittee created by the national tariff
convention recently held in Indianapo.
lis.
May Vote on April 10.
Indications today are strong that
rule will be brought into the house
next monday fixing April 10 as the
day for voting on the Payne bill.
Without any preliminaries the house
today resumed consideration of the
tariff bill. Morgan of Missouri urged
protection for the zinc industry,
Taft Calls Conferences.
President Taft, at a two hour con.
ference with the Republican house
leaders yesterday afternoon. dis.
cussed methods of pushing the tariff
| bill through the house and yet pre-.
serve it as a Republican measure
1t Is reported that the president
promised to use his influence and help
to this end and that he will do all he
can TO induce Republican members to
pledge their support to the bill as II
Is finally shaped by a Republican
party caucus In the house.
| The conference was called by Pres
ident Taft as the result Of the insistent
reports that the Republican members
Of the house are far from unanimous
as to the bill which is now being con
sidered. The leaders have been al
work for almost two weeks trying to
J devise some means which would in.
sure the sepedy passage Of measure
that would conform to the Republican
protective principles and provide the
revenues the government needs.
President Feara Coalitions.
But 1t has been so far impossible I'd
line up all the members for the bill,
or even to secure their pledges to
stand by measure which would ba
thoroughly and completely Republican.
1t is to prevent the bill from being
torn to pieces by coalitions of dis
gruntled members of both parties that
President Taft is declared to have TAX
en- this step.
The conference was held In tha
White Touse proper instead OF in the
executive offices, where such meet
4 ings usually are held.
President Taft sent for the house
leaders shortly before 3 o'clock, Speak
er Cannon being summoned from the
caucus of the Illinois delegation which
was being held in his private room.
The others who attended were Serene
E. Payne and John Dalzell Of the waya
and means committee and John w.
Dwight, the Republican whip, who has
been canvasslng the situation among
the Republican members. Senator
Aldrich was not there.
No Dictaton, Says Taft.
Reports that President Taft called
these leaders to the White House to
J tell them what he wants in the bill
and what he docs not want, have no
apparent foundation in fact. The
president has declared positively THAI
he will not attempt to dictate any Of
the schedules. Had he changed his
mind on this feature. he would have
, invited Senator Aldrich to the meets
ing. From the presence Of Congress-
} man Dwight, who has not had anys
thing to do with the molding OF the
bill, it is insisted that the conference
was to discuss the methods by which
. the bill Is to be sent through the
house
The poll of the house is not com.
pleted and the various state delega,
}. tions have been intrusted with the
: task of converting their own members
!, to the program OF the house leaders
to settle all the disputed points, both
e as to amendments and rule, In a
r Republican house caucus.