The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1909-07-23
COMMENT FROM THE
NATIONS CAPITAL
The President Squarely For a
Downward Revision
HIGH RATES WILL NOT GET BY
Attitude of the Chief Executive One
That Will Meet With Great Approval
Among Consumers-Free Coal, Iron
and Hides Likely.

Among Consumers-Free Coal, Iror
and Hides Likely.
From our Special Correspondent.
Washington, d. c., July 81.
That President Taft will have his way
in the adjustment of the tariff schedules,
can be put down as a settled fact. Every
body feels it here, and even the stand
patters and high raters are now admitting
their defeat and many of them have al
ready fastened to the White House to
make their peace with the executive.
kilograms and letters are pouring in on
the president, commencing his stand and
assuring him of the sympathy of the con-
sumers in his determination that some of
the necessaries of life, at least. shall go
on the free list. 1t is very evident that
the president struck popular and re-
sponsive note when he let it be known
that the high schedules of the senate
would have to be reduced if the bill was
to become law. Privately, the president
has found out on whom he can depend, in
the ultra-protectionists, and he feels sure
of his ground in the event of an attempt
to force the issue in either house.
The bill may be reported by the con-
ferees Friday or Saturday of this week,
but just when it will reach the president
is a question on which opinions are di-
vided. Even with free hides oil, coal and
still seek for lower duties on other
schedules which may precipitate another
protracted debate in the senate, though
the house is willing to quit The rules of
the senate do not limit debate which
could go on interminably should a sena-
tor wish to talk 1t is presumed. there
fore, that whatever the result of the work
IS 10, h. -,
talk, after the bill is reported. The new
amendment to the corporation tax, which
has been accepted by the conferees as
presented by Attorney General Wicker
sham. reduces the tax to | per cent and
exempts holding companies from taxation;
that is, exempts those corporations that
own the stock of other corporations or
indications favor the passage of the
amendment as re-drafted at the request |
of the president. Several of the insur
gents who opposed the bill in the senate
do not regard the lowering of the duties |
on few raw materials as sufficient;
they believe that other concessions are
just as necessary. They contend that |
but just what they will do with the con-
ferees' report remains to be seen.
Should the republican insurgents in the
house to the number of about so Join the
democrats in opposition, the bill would be
beaten. But no one yet knows what the
democrats will do. 1t is probable that
some will oppose while others will sup
looked upon as a concession to New Eng
land wants 1t may not cheaper shoes to
put hides on the free list, but it should
afford better material and better shoes.
The duty on hides benefits no one, it is
but the beef trust and their tan
ners. The farmer certainly gets nothing
out OF it. This then is the status of tariff
change before the bill finally passes, but
one thing you can count on, if any one
makes concessions it will be the senator
who has voted hard and fast for the higher
duties as presented by Mr.. Aldrich and
his assistants.
If doubt had before existed as to where
President Taft stands regarding revision
Of the tariff, it was removed last Friday
when a party of "a congressman waited
on him at the White house to ask for the
retention of duties on raw materials.
The president told the law makers pleas
antly but emphatically that he would GER
tainly insist on a downward revision
within the limitations of the protective
principle in response to the pledge of the
republican platform and in consonance
with his own repeated declarations be-
lore and since his election. In order that
here might be no mistaking his meaning,
he president later dictated a statement
n which he emphasized his views. If it
vas necessary, in order to maintain
on the free list, like hides, coal,
ron ore and oil and so per cent reduction
IN sawed lumber, then they would have
% 90 on the free list if the bill was to be-
,ome law.
While the president made no mention q
If veto, he made it so plain to the dele
ration that the congress heed the call of
he country for downward revision that
lis auditors went away feeling that it
vas up to the conferees to act in accord c
Ince with the presidents ideas of proper $
evision. The declaration of the presi- !
lent, that he was not committed to the '
principle of free raw materials but that c
he was committed to the principle of e
downward revision of the tariff which he Q
o look at the matter, not from the i
tandpoint of any particular district, but !
rom the standpoint of the whole country f
nd from the standpoint of responsibility 5
or the whole republican party" left moth 7
ng to be said by those who had come t
prepared to debate with the executive. t
of course" said the president, "a revis- 5
On of the tariff. as claimed by the defend II
RS, could not be perfect, must have de b
ects and inconsistencies but in so far as a
is influence went, when called upon to $
ct in connection with legislation it would d
e thrown. in the direction of performing !,
he promises of the party as he under. a
toed them, and that if iron ore and oil a
nd coal and hides did not need protection
nd the conditions were such as to en-
bic the ore producers and oil producers
nd coal producers and the producers of
ides to compete successfully. without re- I
uction of wages, with the producers
rom abroad, then they did not need a
utv. and their articles should go on the
rec list"
EARLY RIVER NAVIGATION.