New-York tribune., 1909-06-04
PRESIDEN [ AND TARIFF
MISUNDERSTANDING NOW
SEEMS TO EXIST.
Senate Leaders Sag They Kn05c
Nothing of DR.. Taft's Dissat's-
factiOn-1nother Problem.
From The Tribune Bureau J


Washington, June "A curious lack Of un-
derstanding appears TO exist between the Sen
ate and the White House regarding the tariff
bill. and seems able to throw any salts
factory light the situation. The Republican
leaders of the Senate insist that they know alb
solutely nothing OF the dissatisfaction of the
President with the bill they have prepared On
the other hand. it is known definitely that the
President Is seriously dissatisfied with the Sen
ate bill and that il has caused him and his ad-
visers much concern that IT has recently
been made the chief topic of discussion at u
Cabinet meeting
OF course. it is known that the President takes
an optimistic view of the outcome of the tarf
legislation, but that is based on his belief that
the House conferrees will insist material
concessions from the Senate, that ultimately
the measure presented for his signature will
very nearly approximate the Payne bill with the
Senate reductions maintained in all cases and
the Senate increases practically all stricken out.
Members OF the House frank 20 admit that
they appreciate the Presidents dissatisfac ction
with the Senate measure, and that they know he
expects them to stand out, If necessary, all sum-
mer, before they accept the increases made by
the Senate. But the Senate leaders to man
deny that they have learned of the Fres'-
dents dissatisfaction or that he expects them
TO make radical concessions to the demands II
the House conferrees.
AID VALOREM AND SPECIFIC RATES.
Another problem which is causing no little
anxiety to members of the administration is the
of the Finance Committee in translatng
ad valorem duties, especially in the cotton and
woollen schedules. into specific rates Members
of the Finance Committee maintain that they
have not increased these duties above the intent
of the Dingley law, but they frankly say that
they have Increased them considerably above
the effect Of the DingIey law They submit that
the construction placed the language Of the
Dingley law by the appraisers and the courts
has resulted In the collection of lower duties
than were intended by its trainers, and that
they have merely restored the duties u the
point purposed by Mr.. Dingley and mis- coli
leagues.
Members OF the administration are asking
however whether. usage having fixed the duties
at a given point, the consumers can be made
to understand that the actual increases are not
increases over the intent Of the trainers Of the
Dingley law, and. therefore, must not be re-
garded as increases at all; whether the con-
sumers finding that the duties are actually in
creased over the usage practice under the
DfngIey law will not resent such increase and
forget the intent which the law failed 70 carry
into effect.
II is recognized. of course, that the law
should be sufficiently specific TO avert the danger
of undervaluation on the part of some import
ers. and that possibly some readjustments are
necessary TO prevent injustice, but members OF
the administration close 10 the President are
asking If the Finance Committee would not
more nearly have carried out the party pledge
and the spirit OF the revision If IL had accepted
as a basis the % per cent decrease which, II is
alleged the construction of the language Of the
Dingley- law worked. and then adjusted all the
items TO that basis. instead OF attempt ng by
the imposition of specific duties TO collect the
rates intended by the existing law, which must,
Of course. be 20 per cent above those collected.
Some OF the Presidents advisers are asking
each other II the Executive has not pursued the
hands-off policy long enough and If, in Justice
TO himself, it would not be wise for him openly
to express his views OF the Senate tarin BILL
either IN the form Of message 10 Congress or
in a speech II is not known what view the
President takes Of this idea, but that he is far
from satisfied with the Senate bill is we'll
known TO all who enjoy his confidence while
the fact seems 20 be unknown to those most
responsible for the framing OF the Senate
measure.