New-York tribune., 1909-04-07
PRESIDENT AND TARIFF
POSSIBILITY OF Il DETO
DISCUSSED.
Dir. Taft Not Concerned 5cith De-
tails, but Insists That Party
Pledges Must BE Kept.
From The Tribune Bureau. ]

Washington, April b.-lS there any Iedi 'dii-
ger that the President will veto the tariff Dill?
This is question which Senators, ncluoing
some members Of the Finance Committee, are
asking each other with interest, and in few
instances with some degree of apprehension.
The President has taken the stand that he is
not a tariff expert that he has neither the
time nor the inclination to study each schedule
and determine its effect, and that morever, ne
does not regard this the proper time for the
exercise of Executive authority. but ne mas
more than once said, plainly but quietly that
if the bill as completed by Congress does not III
his Judgment meet the pledges of the Repuoh-
party he will veto it.
In the tariff conferences which the Senate
leaders have had with the Executive ne mas
seemed perfectly amena BILE TO their suggestions
and has raised objections to their plans eA-
cept in the case of the maximum and minimum
provision, and even in that instance he was per
fectly agreeable to the changes finally submit
ted for his approval by Mr.. Aldrich. AT all
times he has appeared the cheerful easy-going
gentleman rather than the stern leader or MS
party. Realizing these facts, and reahzihs
further that. in response TO the demands OF Ine
protected interests the Finance ConlliIlee 10
framing a substitute which cannot be regarueu
as in any sense "a revision downward OF the
existing tariff. some of the leaders are moVeu
10 inquire if 1t is not possible that Mr.. Aldrlch
has erred in his estimate of the President ana
has not assumed that his calm and genial eH
terror argues a pIiabiIity wholly unwarranted
by his real character.
Those who know President Taft best kn'"
that under smiling exterior he conceais great
fruness and determination, that once con-
WINGED that a proposition is right or wrong
nothing can swerve him; that, while ne Is
slow to make up his mind and is willing to
weigh all the evidence presented before DONG
So. once he is in possession Of the facts ne
decides for himself. and. having decided. any
effort 10 induce him to change is likely to
awaken wrath from which those who arouse
il are only too glad to seek cover
Has Aldrich taken this side ~ the Presl-
dents character sufficiently into account" is
another form If the question which some IN a
position to realize the extent and effect Of the
changes which the Finance Committee is max
ing in the Payne bin are asking one another
There are men on the Finance Committee VINO
feel that any attempt to take advantage OF the
Presidents present lack Of familiarity with the
details OF a tariff bill is frauEht with danger
that 1t Is about safe As playing with dyha-
mite" and they tremble 20 contemplate the re-
suit should the President decide that the party
leaders in Congress have not kept faith and are
seeking 10 obtain his signature TO a bill which
does not MAKE ENhd IN" H4'LIlA7t' Va ' 49,
form on which he was nominated and elected
MUST BE AN HONEST REVISION
eucb suggestions as these. when made behind
the closed doors of the Finance Committee
room. have been brushed aside as unworthy 'f
consideration. but the very confidence win
which they have been rejected is regarded ny
SOM. Of the most thoughtful arguing that
Mr. Tafts character is not wholly understood
by Messrs Aldrich Hale and others. Should
rho President decide that the tariff bill as
passed by both houses Of Congress was un-
worthy of his signature. no one could truthfuIiy
say that he had not given fair warning Of his
r,Irpose to veto the bill If 1t failed to come up
to his standard of honest revision"
Some of the most thoughtful men in the
marty councils comment the fact that the
leaders Of the party in Congress have radi-
calIy different personality TO deal with in the
present administration from that to which they
have been accustomed in the last seven years
President Roosevelt would have taken the ut
most interest In tariff revision. would have
sought informa ton from all quarters on the
meaning and effect of every schedule. and
would have contested every rate which he
deemed too high or too low as 1t was reached.
so that when Congress finally passed the bill
he would feel that he had done his best and
nothing more was to be gained by further op-
position This was his policy when the railway
rate bill was under consideration, and II was
the method he pursued throughout his incum-
bency.
President Taft on the contrary, has persist
emily declined to commit himself regarding
specifc rates and individual schedules He has
pointed to the promise contained in the national
nlatfornn and has even gone so far as to ex
press the view that so far possible, the
heaviest burden should fall on Injuries rather
than on necessities, but beyond that he has
refused to go, laughingly reminding House and
Senate leaders alike that the adjustment Of the
schedules was their duty, not his. and that he
had troubles Of his own" He has never failed,
however casually to remark that his response
bilitv begins where that Of Congress leaves off,
and that If he found the completed bill unsat-
isFactory he would not hesitate to veto II. 1t
is that laughingly expressed but oft reiterated
admonition which Is causing anxiety in the
minds of some of the men responsible for the
tariff bill-men who realize the chaos into
which Congress and possibly the country would
he Dlrnged were the President exercise the
veto mower and who know Mr.. Taft well enough
TO realize that were he TO decide that It was
his duty to veto the bill no consideration Of
noIitical expediency or financial exigency would
deter hlm.
LILLEY MUCH BETTER.