The Oskaloosa herald., 1909-07-15
SPEAKER CANNON
! SNUBS PRESIDENT
Refuses to Make Taft Man a
Conferee.
SERIOUS BREAK IS FEARED
Big Stick" Necessary for Executive
to Win Downward Revision Fight
! Cut Corporation Tax to
One Per Cent.
SERIOUS BREAK is FEARED

Washington, July Alt Is general
ly agreed here among the best equip
ped observers that the strained tariff
revision situation has practically
reached the breaking point.
When the break comes it will find
either President Taft or the uncom-
promising tariff men in undisputed
control. 1t will make plain to the
country whether the Republican plat
form pledge of downward revision is
to be redeemed. This quite apart
from the corporation tax feature
which is concededly turned over to
the administration for adjustment.
The strain upon the situation was
increased when it became known that
Uncle Joe" Cannon, who in the house
is cooperating with Aldrich in the sen.
ate to defeat downward revision, has
been guilty of a direct personal snub
to the president. Representative Eb-
enezer ]. Hill of Connecticut was en-
titled, by seniority, to a place on the
conference committee; but he is a
downward revision man, and he was
not appointed. .
.. Taft Asks Appointment.
1t now develops that President Taft,
some days before the conferees were
named, asked Speaker Cannon in
letter to name Mr.. Hill. Instead, the
speaker put on Fordney and Calder
head, who are both ardent high tariff
advocates.
He advanced as a defense a desire
to have m ore just division geograph-
ically than would have been possible
with an aided New England man, but
he failed to convince the men opposed
to the AldrichCannon combination.
That Mr.. Taft should not resent the
snub keenly is impossible; and it is
held In certain quarters that it will go
far toward persuading him to get
down the big stick" and brush the
dust off preparatory to getting into
action.
Situation Is Not Bright.
AS summed up by leading eastern
Republican senator, who is closely in
touch with developments both at the
White House and in the conference
committee, the tariff situation as it
stands is far from bright for revision
downward.
President Taft has not yet disclosed
his hand. He is still smiling and talk.
ing Cancellation; but he may be play
ing a different game under the surf
ace. Without question, if he will de-
clare positively to congress just what
he wants in the way of tariff bill he
can have it-and no power on the part
OF the Aldrich-Cannon forces in that
case can prevent it.
The inistration-nurtured corpor-
alton tax amendment was subjected to
close scrutiny at cabinet session. 1t
was introduced by Attorney General
Wickersham and the members of the
President Taft cabinet recognized it,
in spite of the Disagreement it had
received during its brief visit to the
senate. The attorney general had pro-
vided for the abused prodigal new raj.
ment similar to that which it wore on
its first journey beyond the White
House
Tax Cut to One Per Cent.
The two per cent. tax on net earn
ings had been reduced to one per
cent, and other changes were made
which convinced the president that it
would be safe to let the youngster
venture once more to Capitol Hill and
test its welcome
BY passing over the cotton and
wooden schedules without taking up
any of the amended paragraphs, and
skipping the disputed points connected
with the rates on lumber in the wood
schedule, the tariff conferees were
able to dispose of about 400 amend
ments. Few of the conferees predict
that report can be made before a
week from Saturday, and some go as
far as to forecast August l or later,
|