The Washington herald., 1909-06-08
Honest Revision in the Balance

AS usual upon every defeat OF Repub-
lican insurgents by the Senate regulars,
we begin 10 hear wonderful stories Of
what viii be done in conference to revise
the tariff downward in accordance with
campaign pledges. We should like TO be-
lieve these stories. but we fear that they
are TOO good TO be altogether true. They 20
upon what appears to US the rather vio-
lent assumption that the conferees will
yield 10 the wishes Of a decided Repub-
lican minority in both Houses. and that
the ultimate revision viii correspond 70
the contentious Of a faction rather than
20 the expressed desires OF a substantial
majority. Doubtless there will be many
changes in conference. Compromises will
be arrived at, concessions made, increases
dropped or agreed to. but we are IN
able TO see any solid ground OF belief that
there viii be such a revision in confer
ence as viii differ in essential principle
from that determined upon in the respec-
tive Houses. In a word. the final result
can hardly be other than a stiff protec-
tive measure. carrying on the whole
higher range OF duties than any previous
Dill. particularly on manufactured articles.
II our expectations on this head are dis
appoirted-and we would rejoice II they
should be-the happy eventuaIIty will have
been due TO the active Intervention OF Presi-
dent Taft in behalf Of a redemption Of his
own pledges TO the people The hope has
long been held out-we do not know with
what authority-that at the proper stage
and it has been assumed that that stage
would be reached when the tariff bill
went into conference.-the. Taft's strong
influence would be felt for a reduction Of
excessive duties. We do not know what
other influence would be as effectual to
accomplish what revislonlsts hope for.
Yet 1t may be pointed out that such in
tervention would be wholly dissonant with
Mr.. Taft's policy Of noninterference in
legislative matters. It would involve q
complete change Of front. a reversion to
that common practice Of Executives
which Mr. Taft has been widely COM
mended for avoiding For this reason II
may be doubted whether Mr.. Tart has IN
mind any such course as that attributed
TO him. Nevertheless, we should welcome
any expression from the President.
whether publicly made or privately con-
veyed 10 individual legislators. that would
tend to check the unblushing effrontery of
the protectionist forces in the Senate. A
voice OF commanding leadership IS i'm
peratively demanded at his tuncture. and
should it be heard from Mr.. Taft. the
ordinary citizens OF these United States
would not stop to inquire whether or not
II were precisely constitutional In fact.
as Senator Newlands has pointed out. the
transmission Of a strong. precise. and def
mite message 10 Congress would be mere
ly an exercise Of the highest constitu-
tional preroEative Of the Executive.
In the absence OF an authoritative and
influential word from the one person in
our official hierarchy representative Of
the whole people, We may expect the pro-
tectionist old guard to carry the dav.
Intimations Of a veto are idle. We have
heard Of Just one Republican likely to
vote against the tariff bill. Can II be
reasonably assumed that Mr.. Taft will
align himself with Senator La Toilette
against a Republican majority in both
Houses? Would that be a policy OF
"statesnanlilSe conciliation?"