The Washington herald., 1909-08-01


Whether you choose 10 regard it as
a vindication OF sentimental strategy
or as q demonstration OF Taftian
eleventh-hour Intervention. the fact is
that ehe conferees of the House and
Senate did agree on a tariff bill report
Thursday. It is also a fact that the
Senate did recede from its high level
on several important articles rather than
run the risk OF a veto Of the whole bill.
although the President is believed not to
have used definite threat Of a veto. Mr..
Payne's analysis or the measure. as finally
shaped. IS that IL offers q general down
ward revision on the necessaries Of life
and an increase in some Of the lUxuries.
But this analysis IS far from satisfactory
TO the radical downward revisionists Of
either party. The radicals say the effect
of the whole bill is a general upward re-
vision. II is generally conceded. however,
that President Taft came nearer to the
programme which he had outlined and
obtained more concessions from the high
tarim Clique than most of his critics ex-
pected
The House Saturday night, by a ma
Jority Of eight adopted the conference
report. and the report goes 20 the Sem
ate on Monday. IL will probably reach
the President by Friday lie will sign
the bill
President Taft has shown an inclination
u play one card at a time In his game OF
tariff revision with the Aldrich-CannOn
combination on Capitol Hill. After hav-
ing stood his ground for free hides. along
with lower rate on leather goods. early
IN the week. and when there was more
hOrn N he. &,
report, the President reverted to the
question OF a lower rate than the Sen
ate's SL5O on lumber. This appeared 10
disturb the working balance in the House
and everything was up in the air again.
But finally the high-tariff men showed
signs Of giving in on that point. Things
were moving along again when another
storm was sighted IN the word from the
White House that the lower Senate rate
on gloves should be agreed on. In a writ
ten memorandum from the President to
the conferees Thursday this and the lum-
Der demand were made virtually as an
ulumatum II the bin was TO have his
signature. Again the conferees were dis
posed to assent rather than upset the
whole work OF the session. and a report
was felt 70 be In sight.
In a conference with the President on
understanding Of the partys position on
the tariff. IL was in substance that the
purpose In view was 10 reduce rates
where practicable. 70 prevent the further
raising OF prices by means of industrial
combination rather than the reduction OF
prices through larger impOrtatiOns. Thus
the protective idea was stiIl supreme
As the bill stands, Il makes reductions
In the metal schedules. hides and petrO-
leum are on the free list. the Senate
rates on leather goods are lowered. lum-
Der in the rough is LETT half way between
the Senate and the House figures. or at
H.25 per 1000 feet, the much disputed
item OF gloves changed from the hign
House figure TO that OF the Senate iron
ore was reduced 10 Is cents duty, and coal
20 45 cents.
After receiving the report. Friday, the
House adjourned for the day 20 enable
the printers 10 finish their work.
The President was quoted by friends as
being pleased with the outcome. although
. admitting that it was not an ideal meas
ure
The talk Of insurgency among the high
tariff men was not taken seriously.