Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1909-09-18
PRESIDENT TAKES
tContinued from page l.l

me to sacrifice the accomplishment OF
certain things in revision of the tar
if which l had hoped for in order to
obtain party soliditary, which I believ-
ed more important than the reduction
of rates in one or two schedules of the
tariff"
President Taft's speech was re-
markably plain spoken defense of the
Payne bill. He has been met with
many queries since the beginning OF
his trip as to when he intended tax"
ing up the subject of the tariff, and
there was marked disappointment in
Chicago yesterday among those who
had the reception of the president in
charge, that he did not elect to speak
there on this most important subject.
Mr.. Taft waited until this afternoon
when with a mass of facts and figures
before him, with the new statement
just prepared by Chairman Payne OF
the house committee on ways and
means, and with his own personal
of all intimate little de-
tails of the tariff fight in Washing
ton still fresh in his mind, he sat
down in the state room of his private
car. the Mayfower, and dictated to
two stenographers, the speech he de-
livered tonight and which represents
the statement on accomplishments
and the dement's of the Payne bill
from an administration point Of view,
more thoroughly in its simple appeal
for understanding by the people, than
any document which has heretofore
been issued from any source.
The statement contained only
enoug figures to make the point which
the president has dwelt upon for some
time
As to the wooden schedule, Taft de-
clared without hesitation or equivoca-
ton, that the rates Of the Payne bill
were too high. 1t was found early in
the fight, however, he asserted, that
the wooden manufacturing interests
in the Republican party were so
strong than any attempt to change
the Dingley rates would result in the
defeat of the bill.
IT am sorry it is thus, and I wish
It could have been otherwise. It is
one of the important defects in the
bill and In the performance of prom
Lses of the party platform. That 1t
will increase. the price Of wooden
clothes or cloth, however, very much
doubt -
As to cotton goods, the president
asserted that it was found by taking
Of evidence that on lower grades OF
goods, manufacturers we're making
only a decent profit. AS to higher
grades, it was found that through
court decisions, rates had been reduc-
ed to a point below those charged on
lower grades. This called for the re-
and change from avalo~
rem to specific rates.
CAS- to whether rates on cotton
goods are higher than they ought to
be-" said the president, ut was
question of evidence. I will not de-
fend the evidence, but we hope soon
to know more about the tariff than
We did at the beginning of this big
Fight"
President Taft dwslt at some length
upon his Interpretation of the duties
and scope of activity Of the new tar
|n commission, which it has been as
serted in some quarters, was made
Lntoi an innocuous body by the senate
to the bill. Mr.. Taft has
maintained all along that the COM
as finally authorized, could
accomplish all that could be desired.
He said tonight that the commission
would collect evidence at home and
abroad, would ascertain the price of
producing here and abroad and would
gather into an encyclopedia, expert
Information on every question and ex-.
cry article entering into the tariff bill.
In his confidential talks that the:
of the new bill should be,
taken by the amount of the reduc-
tons made on aticles of general con-
supmtion compared to increases on
little used.
The president, by means OF table,
at his request by Mr.. Payne,
showed that the tariff had been in
creased on articles whose consump-
ton in this country amounts yearly
to 1851 900, 900, and that of amount
$579, O0e, 900, is represented by such
Injuries as silks, wines, liquors, per
fumes and pomades, leaving balance
Of $272,00O, 900 representing increases
on articles not Injuries. Against this.
the president set forth with great en-
phasis in his delivery, the fact that
the tariff had been reduced on arti-
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