New-York tribune., 1909-05-10
THE TARIFF TO DATE
RIGOROUS DEB 4TE, BUT
SLIGHT PROGRESS.
4Idrich in Control, but Makes Con-
cessions - Erpects Prosperity
Viii Cause COntentment.
from The Tribune Bureau J

bill last week A few votes however, we're re
corded and these served 10 demonstrate that
Senator Aldrich was in control Of the situation.
The first test vote came detail Of the metals
schedule, when the independent Republicans
sought 10 bring about reduction Of the rate,
and the report OF the Finance Committee was
sustained by vote Of Il 10 35. If the votes Of
Senators who were absent, paired and not
voting be added 10 this. II shows a division Of
the whole Senate Of 70 to 43, giving the leaders
a margin Of six votes.
The last OF the week was marked by the first
real replies to recent criticism made by the Sen
ate leaders. They defended their methods Of
framing the bill, and asked that the finished
product should be awaited before Judgment was
passed
of Importance in the proceedings Of last week
was the determination of certain Republican
Senators chiefly those from Western states. 10
fight the organization every step Of the way,
with the hope of procuring some reduction from
the Finance Committees bill To the uniniti-
ated it might appear IN view Of the recorded
votes that such an effort was hopeless. and
is probably true that the consummate leader
ship OF Mr.. Aldrich will suffer no overthrow
But Mr.. AIdrich's long success as leader OF
the Senate has not been by dOgged peril
nacity or a blind unwiIlingness to conform TO
sentiment when voiced with sufficient force and
while II may be Impossible TO defeat his organ
ization. those most familiar with the situation
believe that the constant opposition Of Repuo-
lican Senators. the widespread condemnation OF
the Republican press and the disapproval with
which the President regards the Senate bill viii
be not without their effect, and will produce
some reductions even in the Senate itself. But
still more important result will probably ap-
pear in the conference Every blow struck at
the higher duties imposed by the Senate will in
the estimation of many Judges. strengthen the
hands OF the House Conferrees and prepare the
Senate leaders to make concessions.
POLITICAL CONSIDERATIONS.
The attitude of the press, especially of the Re
publican newspapers OF influence, is expected TO
have it's effect on the Speaker also. and he will.
the final analysis, control the course or the
House conferrees. Already there are predic-
tons In certain quarters that the final enact
ment of the Senate bill will endanger Repub-
Iican control of the House of Representatives. a.
prospect naturally most unwecome to Mr.. Can
non, who celebrated his seventy-third birthday
last week. and who could hardly expect to oc-
cupy again the high Office he now fills were the
House Of the 63d Congress to be controlled by
Democrats. Then, too. the political future Of
most Of the Republican members Of the House
rests with the view taken by the voters of the
tariff bill finally enacted Failure TO cause
the modification Of particular schedules as they
passed by the senate IS regarded as OHIy
the loss Of a preliminary skrmish by those Re
pubncans who are convinced that Mr.. Aldrich
and his associates on the Finance Committee
have made the rates too high.
One of the complaints most loudly uttered by
critics of the bill in its present form has been
caused by the inability of members of the two
houses who not members Of the WAYS and
Means and Finance committees respectively
to procure information. The purpose Of Con-
gress as defined by the national platform and
more especially by Mr.. Taft in the course
of the campaign, to adjust the duties so as
10 equalize the difference in the cost Of produc-
ton here and abroad. With this purpose in
view the members Of these committees presum
ably sought 10 ascertain the actual cost of pro-
duction Of the articles covered by the various
schedules both in this country and in those couu-
tries which. without tariff would become the
chief competitors of America in manufacture
and production In view Of the large majortties
in both houses, including not a few Demo-
Gratis who espouse the protection. doctrine, com
prehensive statements from the tariff commit
tees showing the cost of producing each article
in the tariff bill in this country and the cost Of
is production abroad, and the fact that the duty
Congress is asked 10 assess equals the< differ
enCe would obviate all effective. opposition to
the proposed schedules. and. aside from few
oonf1ne itself almost exclusively TO a question Of
the accuracy of the committees information:
while If the work thoroughly done such ac-
curacv would doubtless be easily demonstrated.
The members of Congress have enjoyed the
advice and assistance OF all the Treasury ex-
perts. but even they seem 10 be unable TO fx
the cost of production in, either country on any
material number of articles, fact which is at
least partly demonstrated by. the decision of
the committees 10 make the wholesale price in
this country the basis of vaiuation for con-
signed goods because of the inability OF the
Treasury TO determine fair valuation from
such foreign data as it can command.
LEADING FIGURES IN DEBATE.
Senator DoIIiver fgured most prominently in
the debate last week. speaking TWO days, chiefly
in opposition 10 the textile schedules, including
woollen and cotton fabrics. Mr.. Dolliver
charged that Senator AIdrich himself large
" in the dark regarding these schedules. which
17a insisted were inOrdinateIy high. that the
duties had been dictated by the manufacturers
and that Treasury experts had been used only
IL determine the relative proportions Of the pro-
nosed duty Mr. Dolliver spoke well. controlling
his temper and injecting sufficient huuor into
his remarks TO relieve them Of the deadly
rnonotony so likely TO characterize such tech
meal debates. Senator Aldrich became greatly
,rri,ated BY the charges Of the Iowa Senator.
and challenged his Repubicanism. character
,zing the wool schedule as the citadel Of pro-
lection
Mr.. Aldrich had printed in The Record" the
snsacbes delivered in the Senate in 1897 by
Nassrs. Vest and Jones in order 10 prove his
contention that Mr.. Dolliver merely rehash-
ing ancient Democratic arguments. The Sen
ator from Rhode Island showed great impatience