The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1909-08-05
WASHINGTON
From our Regular Correspondent.

One OF the most edifying specta
cles OF the tariff session has beer
that presented by Speaker Cannon
almost attempting to toll up the
passage of the bill, actua .ly sending
threats to the White House. be.
cause the President would not an.
prove the deal which Mr.. Cannon
made with former Representative
Littauer for eXtoftionate duties on
women's gloves which Mr.. Litta.
uer, who is one OF the largest glove
manufacturers in the country. wish
es to make without foreign compe-
tition at his plant at Gloversviile,
New York. When, at the begin
ming OF the session, there was a
threat to defeat Uncle Joe" Cam
non IN the race for the speakership.
and when large number of Re
publicans joined forces with the
democrats 10 prevent the readop
ton of the Reed rules which make
the Speaker nothing short of des.
pot, Cannon sent for Littauer and
made a hard and fast agreement
with him that he should have pro
hibitive duties on women's gloves
It he would save Cannon from de-
feat. Littauer, who is a liberal en-
tertainer, achieved the task assign
ed to him with, as will be remem.
bered, the help Of a few Tanrlauv
Democrats who turned traitor 10
their party in consideration of spec
ial tavors which the Speaker was in
a position to grant. The Ways
and Means committee met and the
Payne bill contained the glove du-
ties demanded by Littauer as the
price OF his assistance to the Speak
er. The House objected but was
powerless under the rules 10 pre-
vent the glove duties being adopted
without defeating the entire bill.
Influential members OF the House
Immediately began work in the
Senate. however, to prevent the
adoption OF the glove duties there
and were successful. The Dinsley
rates were adopted in the Senate
and the bill went TO conference.
Meanwhile, however, the President
learned Of the Canuon-Littauer
trade and determined to defeat it.
~
When the tariff bill went to Con-
ference Speaker Cannon packed"
the committee against Representa-
tive Payne in order to insure the
retention OF tee glove duties. But
the President informed the confer
rees that he would never agree to
any increase over the Dingley rates
on gloves. Cannon went TO the
White House, after first telegraph
ing 10 Littauer to come to Wash
instou and make the fight. The
Speaker told the President that he
was an old man, that he had lust
one request 10 make and that was
that ne permitted to keep his prom
lse TO Littauer. The President was
thoroughly disgusted that such a
trade should have been made. that
the people of the country were to
De compelled TO pay tribute to Lit
tauer for the far from meritorious
privileges Of having Cannon Speak
eT OF the House. He told Cannon
so very plainly. That did not 81
lenoe the Speaker. however. He
has been making political deals all
his life and was absolutely unable
to see anything improper in his
conduct or 10 grasp the Presidents
meaning. He never ceased his
night. The conferrees promised the
President TO report the Diugley du-
ties but Cannon kept up the con-
test. Finally. when the conferrees |
had agreed TO the Presidents de-
mard for free hides, Cannon got
them to demand the Presidents ap-
proval OF 4 compromise on the |
glove schedule. The compromise
was rejected but even after tina, a
still further compromise was pro.
posed.
The Republican conferrees have
come very near wreckiug the tariff
bill altogether. Their insisteuce on
the glove rates demanded BY Can
non and Littauer and the duty on
lumber demanded by certain west.
ern Senator's placed the bill in seri-
Gus jeopardy and incidentally dem
onstrated to the leaders OF the Sem
ate snd the House that although |
he was big and good na,ured and
apparently easy going, William II. |
Taft possessed determination more
dangerous to encounter once il was
aroused even than that of Theodore
Roosevelt.