Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-07-03


ate proper before it is finally passed and
sent to conference The elder states
men, profess to believe that the confer
ence committee OF the two branches Of
Congress will break all records and re-
port back complete agreement within
two weeks, but the progressive republic
cans" prophesy three weeks and perhaps
a month.
Talk of adjournment conferred. however,
On August j, or therea bouts. as the most
likely date. but everybody admits thae-~it
is still too early to guess very accurately.
Senator Depew this morning reported
the House bill providing for Porto Rican
revenues in times Of conflict between the
general council of the island and its legis-
lature, which is designed to relieve the
present situation there. The bill is the
result of failure by the present legis-
lature of Porto Rico to make appropri-
ations. and its enactment into law has
been recommended by the President. The
bill authorizes the President to CONSOLE
date all the executive business pertaining
TO Porto Rico i'll a single executive de-
the Philippine tariff bill must be passed
in addition to the Payne-Aldrieh bill be-
fore the final adjournment
Maximum and Minimum Rates.
In response to a question by Senator
Culberson OF Texas, the minority leader,
Mr.. Aldrich explained that the amend
to the duties fixed in the tariff bill proper
against the products of countries unduly
discriminating in any way against the
exports of the United States was neces-
sary IN order to protect the American
producers. Similar action is taken by
the other countries of the world, he said
and to show that this was true he sent
from the Treasury Department giving
these enactments of other countries
Senator Daniel of Virginia. ranking
democrat on the committee on finance,
was the first TO make a speech on the
maximum and minimum features Of the
new bill. He first offered a namendment
striking from it's provisions the special
tax OF > cents a pound on coffee and 10
cents a pound on tea under given condi-
tfons and then proceeded to deneunce the
whole arrangement as "a vague and in
definite piece Of legislation.
This amendment proposes three differ
ent kinds Of tariff" said he. There is
what might be called the dutiable list
the maximum and minimum tariffs and
what might be called the presidential
tariff, which comes and goes according to
the ideas of the chief executive. The tax
ing power of the government rests on
Congress, but the application the presi-
dentlai tarif rests. for the most part, on
the state of the presidential mind at the
on it,
ing In favor of the elimination of the
duty on tea and coffee, Mr.. Daniels
amendment to strike out that provision
was accepted by Mr.. Aldrich and
Mr.. Root that there was no necessity to
hold club over the countries that ex-
port these articles to the United States.
Non-Partisan Commission.
Senanr Cu1berson offering an amend
,cr,f 80 ,oly
ment of the tariff commission and to pay
Its members salaries of $3.50 annually,
MIR. Aldrich declared that experts were to
be selected and he did not believe politics
would be considered by the President in
that connection.
From the morning papers, said Mr..
Bailey, the director of the census is
making his appointments for partisan rea-
sons. Ii that is true it is the first time
it has been done in the history OF this
country. In view of that report. ne
said, he would not trust the executive
authority to make these appointments
without some restriction.
Mr.. Aldrich did not believe that census
appointments were being made for polit-
ical reasons.
Il know the President of the United
States too WE'LL he said, Ito believe he
would permit anything Of that kind
think no man ever occupied that office
WHO mas ldu higher ldedlS the duties
and responsibilities Of the place than the
present incumbent
Declaring that the trend of the times
was toward -partisansnip, Mr.. Root
said the very purpose sought by the
Texas senator would be defeated by di-
VidinS these appointments between re-
publlcans and democrats. He pointed to
the record of the President as a guaran-
tee that he would not be influenced by
partisan motives.
Danger Of Partisan Selections.
I'VE are united in our esteem for the
President" said Mr.. Money, but under
the dispensation Of Providence he might
die. and We might have a bad man like
the presiding officer of the Senate. and
he might make partisan appointments"
Vice President Sherman joined in the
smile that became general as the Missis-
sippi senator proceeded to show the temp
tation of men to make appointments with
q partisan bias.
There is the chairman of the finance
he added He has never
been charged with being anybOdy's good
Sunday school boy. He has never been
shot at as an angel
Mr.. Money further declared that he un-
derstood that the Postmaster General is
to appoint the census supervisors. and
to Mr.. Hitchcock. he continued:
Whatever that distinguished gentle
man may be doing. | have never been abe
to find him in the Post ONCE Department
| have called four or five times to see him.
and | have never been able to find him.
My experience is the common experience
on this side of the house. l suppose his