The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1909-09-23
PLUMLEY ON TARIFF
Congressman from the Second District
Speaks before Methodist Brotherhood
on the Payne Tariff Bill-Defends
Measure as Aiding New England

measure as Alolng NeW Englanu
At meeting of the Methodist Brother
hood held last evening in the Vestry of
Trinity Church. Congressman Frank Plum
ley of the second district of Vermont held
the attention of large audience, composed
entirely of men, for nearly an hour and a
half with an account of the passing of the
recent Payne tariff bill and of his views on
the subject. Congressman Plumleys
attitude on the recent enactment was
favorable, and while he says that it might
be improved upon, still, he points out that
the law favors the east and New England
in particular and that we of this section
should be quiet on the subject.
The members of the Methodist Brother
hood assembled at 7.30 about the banquet
board which had been partly set in the
vestry of Trinity Church, with President
| V. A. Doty as chairman Mr.. Doty gave
short speech of welcome after which the
quartet of the brotherhood rendered a
selection. Mr.. Plumley rose and thanke d
the chairman for the complement but did
not mention the question which has held
the constant attention of the American
public for the past few months until well
near the end of his speech. instead he
devoted his time to DESCRIPTION of his
general impressions of Washington as a
capital and as a city; the organization of
Congress and an outline of the different
steps which measure must take before it
can become law.
The second portion of Mr.. Plumley's
speech dealt with the tariff act recently
passed at the memorial session of the last
Congress. In regard to this measure
the Congressman said: at is to the House
of the new tariff, for the lower branch of
the national Legislature is the aggregate
representative of the republican party
of the country which, it is acknowledged
by all, was directly responsible for the
passage of the act The act was built
on plans suggested in the planks of the
republican party and although the result
in all cases was not what the speaker de-
sired still they were as near an interpreta-
ton of the wish of the party whose ideas
of tariff revision met with the approval of
the vast majority of the voters of the
country as demonstrated at the last cleo
ton. Vermont, New England, in fact the
entire East need not talk in behalf of the
question; better would it be for them to
keep still on the subject, for Vermont and
the East are well taken care of by the new
tariff measure, and particularly can i say
this of this section of the East, New
England. New England is still the center
of the manufacturing industry and the new
law protects the manufacturers, protects
New England
"When the Senate began its work on the
revision it started in on the old plan of
former Senates of placing tariff on and
where the Especial interest" wanted it.
They would have a stiff rate fixed and
then trade with some other section of he
country for a favor in a particular com
modify. As result there would be a
raise on important matters against the
will of the people. President Taft was
approached by men of the mountain States
and asked to raise the tariff on hides. The
President lost no time in letting the
country know his opinion on this matter
but had a personal letter sent out by his
own secretary stating that he stood, not
for tariff on hides but for free hides
Hewas severely criticized at the time for not
speaking before but it would have
been futile for in case this kind then
legislative bodies always domineered over
the executive. An opportunity came for
our worthy President, however, when
thirty or forty members of the lower
house came to him and asked him to
intervene. Every time ! went near
the Senate | came away disgusted with
the way the bill was progressing. They
had bill which they were making accord
ing to the old plan which ! mentioned
before When asked how people would
know that the resultant tariff would be
an administrative measure they replied
that they would know it because it would
be Tafts measure and he was easy and
would surely sign it. The house on the
other hand said that they would stand
by the President
Il went to the White House few days
later and was met by Mr.. Taft. ! asked
him if he would stand by what he had said,
not in that blunt way you understand,
and he said Yes gentlemen, | have Just
said to Speaker Cannon that although
there is a little jelly on the outside there
is a stiff core in the center they thought
him easy. When the bill was finally
sent to him he kept it over night and the
next day returned it unapproved. The
house had been notified to meet at noon
and it took Just two and a half minutes
for the prayer and the reading of the
adjournment We then sent away our
democratic brothers saying to them that
we had trouble of our own. Then the
triumph of the session occurred when
in four hours a report was made such
as the President had first requested, that
is it contained the minimum of concessions
and the maximum of requirements. The
House and the President stood together
througho,t and Welded onlv unWillinply