New-York tribune., 1909-03-09
WHITE HOUSE COUNCIL
TARIFF DRAFT INCLUDES
WAR RETENUE TAXES.
1ldrich, Cannon and MacTeagh
Talk 5cith PresidcHt-Duty Of
Four Cents on Coffee.

afternoon with Senator Aldrich. Speaker Cannon
and the Secretary of the Treasury. Franklin
MacNeagh. For nearly two hours and half the
President went over with these leaders the
financial situation Of the government; the ends
TO be attained in the current tariff revision and
all legislation which in any way bears on the
federal finances
President Taft held conference with the
Republican members of the Ways and Means
Committee on Saturday. and this was the second
Of a series which he contemplates, as the result
Of which he expects greater cooperation be
tween the executive and legislative branches OF
the government than has existed for some time
The Congress leaders who took part in to-day
conference came away enthusiastic over the
logical views and the judicial attitude Of the
Chief Executive, and predict the most cordial
relations between the two branches,
In calling Messrs Adrich and Cannon to the
White House o-day the President had several
purposes to serve. He desired to introduce MI
MacVeagh to Mr.. Aldrfch, and that the ne"
Secretary and the Speaker should renew an OLD
acquaintance. He desired to impress upon all
three simultaneously his wish for complete CO.
operation between them and he wished TO dis
cuss with all three the Treasury deficit and the
necessity of taking steps TO increase the rev
enues He took occasion to impress upon them
his ideas regarding the revision of the tariff.
and suggested that abundant attention be gwen
to those inequalities and njustices in the ad-
ministrative features which have been dlscov-
cred.
The President d cit with some emphasis upon
the fact that the Republican party slaluS
pledged to give the country a genuine tarif
revision and warned his hearers that failure
on the part of the Republicans to make good
the party pledge would inevitably lead to dis
satisfaction and probably political reprisals- He
pointed to the information which has reached
him from all sections of the country 10 the effect
that business is largely marking time; that
merchants are waiting to learn the outcome Of
the revision before making their purchases ana
that speed in enacting the necessary legislation
would 20 far 10 Offset criticism of which. Of
course there would he some.
Mr. Taft putt both leaders their mettle to
expedite the tariff bill through their respective
houses and impressed them with the fact that
he had every confidence in their ability 10 main
tain party discipline and Obtain satisfactory re-
suits without unnecessary delay Speaker can
non took occasion To point out thst tho support
Of the President against the insIrgent move
meut would greatly facilitate the speedy con
sIderation of the tariff bill
sAYS REVENUE LAWS MUST BE RECAsT.
The President made - clear 10 his advisers
that he believed that later. il not at this coming
session It would be necessary TO recast pracu-
caUy all the federal revenue laws in order to
bring the receipts up 10 the necessities Of tn"
government lie said. however that he believed
Congress would he wise TO confine itself almost
exclusively to tariff legislation at the coming
session. He talked Of a graduated inheritance
tax saying that he believed there would be time
enough between now and next autumn to make
a reasonably accurate estimate Of the revenue
which might he expected from the new tariff
bill and that If by November it seemed unlikely
that il would produce sufficient revenue 70 meet
the expenses he would strongly recommend
graduated inheritance tax. which he believes
sound in principle and easy Of collection. He
said he appreciated the advisability OF admins
tering the executive departments economically.
zrlt he did nt believe in "Cheeseparirg. ana
that the government must be- carried in
STYLE commensurate with the greatness Of the
country and the breadth Of its interests.
Although no announcement has been made By
the House Committee on Ways and Means re-
garding any Of the schedules of the tentative
bill it has been learned on unquestionable au
thorty that because of the placing Of hides on
the free list the duty on shoes will he consider
ably reduced
While no fgures were obtainable regarding the
While no figures We're obtainable regarding the
steel schedule it is stated the same authority
that substantial reduction in the duty on steel
rails. tools and similar products is provided for
duty Of -four cents . pound on coffee is levied.
This is by way of a compromise with the Porto
Rfcans who demanded a tax of six cents
pound
Whiskev and beer will remain as they are at
present if the ub-committee resolutions are
enacted into law. It was felt that Whiskey was
already carrying all the tax it could stand. while
in the case of beer the prohibition movement
throughout the country. il was explained. had
cu+ down the consumption Of beer and il was
felt that it would be hardship to impose any
further tax
SPLAN TO REVIVE WAR TANES.
y having become manifest to the committee
that the duties derived from customs under the
new bill would not produce the revenue expect
cd thev turned to the expedient of reviving the
var revenue act of 1898 which placed a tax
an kilograms bank checks. playing cards and
all stocks bought or sold That feature of the
war revenue act IS Incorporated III the measure
drafted, it is said.
Word has reached the lumhermen who are
bore looking after tariff matters that the Ways
.nd Means Committee will stand for tariff
&c 81 a thousand on lumber The present rate
10 e. and the cutting of the duty i'm half is
= compromise between the free trade advocates
and those who insist that the lumber schedule
shall not be disturbed. Some of the lumbcrmen
are disposed to accept the 81 rate. but the pro-
Dosed compromise is far from satisfactory to
the lumbermen from the Pacific Coast states.
Thev insist that Oregon and Washington can
mot compete with British Columbia in the Am
erican market if there is any reduction in the
present rate. They making a final effort
10 keep the 81 rate intact, and have some
hone that the Ways and Means Committee may