The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-07-23
TARIFF ROWS END
AIdriCh Says Tonight Will
Finish All Problems.
TAFT TO GIVE PEACE DINNER.
Trouble Broke Out Behind Closed
Doors of the Conference Com
mittee Room Between AID
rich and Payne.

WdSulukJOU, July El'-pchutOI Aio-
rich says that today will find the con-
ference committee again hard at work,
and he expects that by night, when all
Of the conferees are to be entertained
by the president at dinner, most Of
the problems apart from those to re-
ceive the personal attention Of the
president will have been solved.
The tariff will now be hoisted above
the chickering's Of congressional con-
ferees and transferred bodily from the
capitol to the White House.
Deadlocked because of the attitude
of Representative Payne, who appar-
emily has become obsessed with the
growing conviction that he is in the
minority, the conferees abandoned
their sessions. Senator Aldrich and
Speaker Cannon repaired to the White
House posthaste to consult with Presi-
dent Taft, literally taking the tariff
bill with them. What happened at
the White House between the presi.
dent and the senate and house leaders
is a sealed book. When Aldrich and
Cannon returned to the capitol they
minimized the differences that had
aroused bitterness In the conference
room and insisted that nothing un-
usual had occurred.
There has been trouble nevertheless
behind those closed and guarded doors
that shut the public from the room
where the real tariff bill Is being con-
hot
ences between Senator Aldrich and
Representative Payne have taken such
form that progress is impossible un-
less the president has influence enough
to compel action. 1t Is not denied
that there is serious clash between
Representative Payne and Representa-
tive Fordney Of Michigan.
1t was learned that a crisis was
reached when an effort was made to
vote on lumber. Mr.. Payne protested
that such a move would be unfair to
the president, as this is one of the sub
jects to be submitted to him for adj
justment, providing he can get votes
enough in the two houses to adopt
compromise rates.
1t is not known just how the lumber
schedule was Hought up in confer
ence. 1t was under discussion. and an
agreement between the conferees ap-
peared to be impossible.
"If we cannot agree let's settle the
question by voting on the question"
Mr. Fordney is reported to have sug-
gested. 1t is reported also that Mr.,
Aldrich acquiesced in that proposal.
That Mr.. Payne has little part in
selecting the conferees to represent
the house in the conference is well
known. Mr.. Payne made recommen-
dations that were ignored, and the
speaker made his own selections. Mr..
Payne is said to have complained to
some of his friends at the time that
the conference committee had been
"packed" with high protectionists and
that Senator Aldrich had been able to
WELD more influence with the speaker
than had he as chairman of the COM
mittee which prepared the house bill.
When Mr.. Fordney, who had been
placed on the conference committee re-
gardless of the fact that he is the
junior Republican member, said Lets
vote" Mr.. Payne protested with a
vehemence that startled his associates.
Some one said that the majority
should rule. That remark, 1t is de-
clared, came from one of the senate
members of the conference and it in
censed Mr.. Payne still more.
Mr.. Payne told Mr.. Aldrich that he
could vote the senate members Of the
conference if he chose, but that he
could not vote the house members so
easily. Full of wrath he told his
house colleagues that it was their duty
to stand up for the house bill and to
yield only after every possible effort
had been made to win. He intimated
that some of the house conferees had
been too ready to agree to increases
made by the senate. Unless the house
members intend to stand by the house
bill there is no use in trying to vote
on these matters. he said.
AS parting shot Mr.. Payne is re-
ported to have said that he would not
sign conference report merely be.
cause a majority of the house Repub-
hcan conferees had agreed to it. With
his coat tails furled about him Mr..
Payne stalked angrily from the room.
1t is said that, in the event of Pres
ident Taft and Representative Payne
are successful in obtaining q confer
ence report carrying out the free raw
material program, large number of
the minority will be found supporting
the twenty-four Republicans If they
decide to vote against the conference
report.
1t is the consensus of opinion among
those who have talked with the presi.
dent that he will hold out strongly for
free iron ore, free crude oil, free coal
and free hides. There are those who
believe that Mr.. Taft will be Obliged
to consent to a small duty on hides.
No report of the tarin conferees will
be made tomorrow The best encour.
agOment held out is for an agreement