The Washington herald., 1909-07-22

publican standpoint and enact a tarIf
law that would be satisfactory 10 the
country. was discussed at length last
night at a dinner given by President
Taft
The guests we're Vice President Sher-
man. Speaker Cannon. Secretary Of the
Treasury Mecveagh. Attorney General
Wickersham, Senator Root, Senator
Crane. Representative Dwight, Of New
York. and the Republican tariff con-
ferees Of the Senate and House-namely.
Senators Al3rich. Burrows. Penrose. and
Hale; Representatives Payne. Dalzen
Mccall Boutell, Calderhead. and Ford
ney
Capt Archibald W. Butt. the Presidents
military aid. was present also, but not
TO talk tariff or politics.
Big Guns on Hand.
The dinner was filed with political sig
1 nihcance. from a tariff viewpoint
Senator Crane was there because he
had made a canvass OF the Senate and
was able 70 tell how every Republican
senator stood On the questions in con-
/ tr0versy.
{
publican whip Of the House, knew the
position of Republican Representatives
who were inclined TO be rebeliious on the
tariff proposition.
! MacVeagh was there 10 give evidence
as 20 the financial aspects Of the situa-
ton. and Attorney General Wickersham
and Senator Root were present 10 ex-
plain the details Of the corporation tax
I amendment, as we'll as 10 give the benent
/ OF their advice in other ways.
After the dinner which was served in
the state dining-room. the President and
his guests went TO the roof garden over
the long. low building that connects the
! White House with the Exc .ut!ve Offices.
and exchanged views on The tariff over
/ their cigars
Just 4 Happy Affair.
From a social standpoint the dinner was
! a great success But as far as any
/ definite results affecting the tariff bill
were concerned. IL amounted 20 nothing
I After Il was over some CT those who
! attended said that Il had served %
! produce an excellent state Of feeling
I among the COnferees themselves and IN
/ bringing them closer 10 the President.
but thar beyond that nothing OF a definite
D
/ The only political note OF significance
/ was struck by President Taft In stating
\ 70 his guests that he Republican party
should redeem the pledge il made in the
\ last campaign 10 give a genuine down.
ward tariff revision.
/ He talked informally along the lines OF
( the statement he made The other day 20
/ The twenty-three high tariff Republicans
/ who called on him in the hope OF prevent
/ ing him from using his influence 10 have
/ certain raw materials placed on the free
I list.
( On that occasion the President declined
\ 20 follow the lead Of the high tariff men,
/ and declared himself 10 be In favor OF
admitting certain raw materials free.
I Last night he talked much 10 the same
/ effect. but evidently without any lnten-
| ton Of entering into a discussion OF the
4 issues involved.
Customs Court.
: During and after the dinner there were
some Joking illusions to the corporation
tax. whose Unpopularty throughout the
country has caused a good deal OF COM
meHt among Congressman.
However. most OF the time devoted
/ 10 serious discussion was taken up IN
/ an exchange Of views as 20 whether the
!
headquarters IN Washington or New
/ York.
! This discussion was regarded mainly as
/ academic. and there was no decision
reached in the matter. or any attempt 10
reach decision.
/ If anything definite can be said 20 have
/ come out OF the dinner, il IS that every
/ body there was in a good mood. and a
/ harmonious spirit prevailed, and there
was general expression of opinion that.
I the ,arin bin would reach an agreement
before the end of the week. and the COM
uittee would probably have it's report
before one or the other Houses IN that
time.
When the Presidents guests assembled
at the White House much OF the III feel
| ing engendered by Tuesdays faTe-up in
the conference committee room had pass
ed away Mr. Taft had been working in
the role Of conciliator. and had managed
to bring about a better understanding be-
tween the contending Senators and Rep
resentatives.
Tuesday night he went IN his motor
car 20 the apartment house where Repre-
sentative Payne lives and took Mr.. Payne
OUt for a run in the country. during
which they discussed the matters which
had offended Mr.. Payne and caused him
TO leave the conference room in anger.
Prior 20 that Senator Burrows, who had
claShed with Mr.. Payne over the tarif
schedules. had gone to Mr.. Payne's room
In the Capitol and insisted on resuming
! friendly relations
The trouble between the cOnferees was.
in a measure. a good thing. in that it
helped TO clear the atmosphere and
brought the personalities Of the senate
and the House 20 realization that they
would not make progress unless they at
tempted 20 adjust their differences in q
friendly manner
The purpose Of last weeks White House
dinner was 70 have final rounding up
Of all the cOnferees. with a view 70 bring
ing order out OF the troubles that dis
turbed their deliberations.
President Tart was anxious that there
should be no misunderstanding Of the
attitude that he assumed ard he has all
along been hopeful that a full and free
discussion Of what he proposed would
result in the adoption Cf his ideas
philadelphia Fencing (Bended). 25<c
Z ]. q c. n