The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-02-27
TAFT WILL PUSH
TARIFF BILL
viii Make II First Of Import
ant Matters
AWAITING HIS ATTENTION
Expresses Hope Congress Will Accomplish
Some Needed changes--Present
Rates Halt Trade Like
"Dng Brake
AWAITING HIS ATTENTION

New York, Feb. -President-elect
William II. Taft declared in an inter-
view in this city yesterday that revi-
sion Of the tariff Is primary requisite
for the relief Of the present business con.
dition and he expressed the hope that
revision would be accomplished by June
!. Speaking Of this revision, Mr.. Taft
said TO q reporter;
"As this is the primary requisite for
the relief Of present conditions, l want
70 have IL disposed Of at once. am
hopeful that there will be important reyi-
sicns in the existing schedules made by
Congress in an extra session and l look
forward 10 June as the date when most
of these changes viii become effective"
Mr.. Taft's opinion was given after an
interview with James w. Van Cleave,
president Of the National Manufacturer
association, who called to urge the crea-
ton of permanent tariff commissioner.
After Mr.. Van Cleave's departure, Mr..
Taft said he favored such commission,
but did not favor its immediate APP
pointment. He declared that he felt the
present tariff schedules are onerous TO
business, halting it with the force of
drag brake, but he added that revision
was all-important first, and then perhaps
a commission.
Such commission, IL appointed now,
he said, might block the plan or revision
as now contemplated. After the revision
the commission could gather data, watch
the working of the new law, and suggest
amendments to It,
Mr.. Taft also made public the letter
which he sent to S. 4. Payne, chairman
of the tariff conference held II Indianap-
oils on February l6, in which Mr.. Taft
wrote:
"a tariff commission would be harmful
or useful as its functions were described
in the bill. My own ideas have been
that there ought to be a permanent COM
mission Of tariff experts to keep them
selves advised by all the means possible
Of the cost Of producing the articles
named in the schedules in foreign coun-
tries and in this country. / think that
what we lack is evidence and some such
means might well be used for the pur-
pose Of securing it, / should be the last
TO advocate a commission with any
power to fix rates, If that were constitu-
tional as it would not be, or with any
function other than that Of furnishing
evidence to Congress upon which, from
time to time, it might actD
Mr.. Taft is Of the belief that the pres
cnt halt in business is due to the uncer-
tainty over the coming legislation, and
that Congress would in all probability
expedite its consideration Of the tariff
schedule as rapidly as possible in order
that business may quickly adjust itself
and resume its normal trend
This opinion was expressed 10 Mr.. Van
Cleaves and Fl. z. Miles Of Rachins,
Wis. chairman Of the tariff committee
Of the National Manufacturers Associ- |
alton. Mr. Taft told Mr.. Van Cleave |
that he desired to have further infom-
alton concerning commission of tariff |
experts and would give it his every con-
sidcration. Tariff changes alawys halt /
business for time, was the opinion ex-
pressed by Mr.. Taft, and the sooner
such legislation was drawn and adopt
ed the better for the country.
Mr. Van CIeaye said after his confer
ence with Mr. TAFT that the president
elect expressed his belief in a tariff COM
mission to consider changes in tariff
schedules from year to year.
Both Mn. Van Cleave and Mr. Miles
were enthusiastic when they left Mr..
Taft. They were prepared to arouse
the whole country in favor of tariff ravi-
sion, they said, and with that end in
view q committee Of loo, representing
every state in the Union, would labor
to bring about the desired result.
"What we want, said Mr.. Van Cleave,
lis an honest tariff and not an apology
for one. For the last 40 years the tariff
has been more or less of a farce. Now
Iet US have real revision"
Mr. Van Ceave and Mr.. Miles told Mr.. /,
Taft that they indorsed his views on the
tarih and eartily approved Of his recent
etter to hartman Payne. 1t was learned ,
that Mr.. Taft told the two business men
le was willing to have q commission APP !
pointed to examine into the tariff ques- |
ion and to have clause inserted in the !
.ariff bill providing for the appointment !
Il such Q commission.
There will be special session Of Con-
.ress beginning March Is, to consider
ariff matters.
National Committeeman Charles r.
BROKER of Connecticut; Ralph Peters,
PRESIDENT of the Long Island railroad;
len. ]. G. Underwood and John Barrett,
PRESIDENT, of the bureau Of American re-
lublics, were callers on Mr.. Taft yester-
lay. The president elect and his brother,
'harles P. Taft, had luncheon yesterday
fternoon at the Holland House.