Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1909-03-18
TAFT ASKS REVISION
IN HIS FIRST OFFICIAL MESSAGE
TO Congress.
New President Calls Attention Of
Congress to lniquities of Dingiey
Bill and Appeals for Redemption
OF Republican Party Platform
Pledges.

WASHINGTON, D. c., March IT,
Owing to the fight waged Tuesday
in the house over the modification of
the rules, President Taft did not
send his message to the special ses-
sion of congress until today. When
it was read in the house it was
greeted by the Republicans with
loud and long applause. After read
ing, it was referred to the ways and
means committee.
Fourty-four Republicans and IL
Democratic senators were in their
seats when the message was laid
before the esnate. 1t received careful
attention, though there were many
who laughed when that portion was
reached which suggested that Moth
ing but tariff legislation be consid-
cred at this session. Following the
reading. Gallinger, of New Hamp-
shire, presente da resolution from
the legislature of his state, declar-
ing that an inheritance tax should
not be made subject of national
legislation, as suggested by Taft in
his inaugural address and referred
to again today in his message, but
should be left to the states as a
source of revenue for them. The
senate then adjourned until Friday.
The message in brief. 1t calls at
tention to the demand for tariff re-
vision and the need of revenue to
meet the treasury deficit, which the
president says will be $1OO,0OO,000
by July.
The message follows:
"To the senate and the house of
representatives:
81 have convened the congress in
this extra session in order to enable
1t to give immediate consideration to
the revision of the Dingley tariff
act. Conditions affecting production,
manufacture and business generally
have so changed in the last twelve
years as to require the readjustment
and the revision of the import duties
imposed by the act. More than this,
the present tariff act, even with the
other sources of government revenue,
does not furnish income enough to
pay authorized expenditures. BY
July /, next, the excess of expendi-
lures over receipts for the current
fiscal year will equal $10O,OOO,OOO.
''The successful party in the late
election is pledged to revision of
the tariff. The country and the busi-
ness community especially expect it.
Prospect of change in rates of i'm
port duties alawys causes a suspen-
sion or a halt in business because Of
the uncertainty as to the conditions
to be made and their effect. It is
therefore of the highest Importance
that the new bill should be agreed
upon and passed with as much speed
as is possible, consistent with its
due and thorough consideration. For
these reasons have deemed the pres
ent to be an extraordinary occasion
within the meaning of the constitu-
tion justifying and requiring the
calling of an extra session.
'In my inaugural address.I stated
in summary way the principles up
on which. in my judgment, revision
of the tariff should proceed, and in
dicated at least one new source of
revenue that might properly be re-
sorted to in order to avoid future
deficit. 1t is not necessary for me
to repeat what then said. ,,
81 venture to suggest that the Vi
tai business interests of the country
require that the attention of congress
in this session shall be chiefly devot-
ed to consideration of the new tariff
bill and that the less time given to
other subjects of legislation in this
session Of congress, the better for the
country.
civilian H. TAFT,
"The White House. March 16."