The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-07-26
Callers Say President Feels
Veto Will Not Be
Necessary.
FREE HIDES MUST
BE INCLUDED
Executive Convinced Conferees
Will Respect His Wishes-The
Measure Must Suit Him.
BY JAMES HAY, Jr.

DIFFICULTIES DetWG@Q the COnIeTeeS on
the tariff bill, the President is fully
as confident today as he was last
week, that the conference report
will embody the reductions which
he demands in raw materials and
manufactured products.
WATCHING PAYNE.
From a high authority comes the
statement this afternoon that the
conferees are not so hopelessly en-
tangled on the question Of hides as
has been represented, and that
some of the friction has been
caused by the belief of Senators
on the conference committee that
Chairman Payne Of the House
Ways and Means Committee was
trying to ride over their views IN
q too rough-shod manner.
President Firm.
However this may be, the President
has not weakened in his insistence
that hides shall so on the free list,
and he is convinced that his wishes
In the matter will be respected by the
conferees. one item which has not
yet been settled concerns the duties
on gloves. This Is still ia dispute, but
friends Of the Administration believe
the big House rates will act prevail.
For the past week. as has been told
in The Times. Mr.. Taft has been cen
hdent that he would get from the con-
ferees the sort of bill that he wanted
While he has. of course, not threat
ened In so many words that he would
veto bin which did not meet his de-
mands, the members of the conference
committee have known that such was
his frame Of mind.
he thinks today, according to his
callers, that the veto will not be neces-
sary, and it was for this reason that his
optimism over the situation gave his
callers the pleasing impression that he
has the situation well in hand.
But, If the bill should be in bad shape
when presented 10 him, the veto would
surely be put on it.
a significant development today was
the visit of Senator BristoW TO the
White House. and the Senator's sub /
sequent statement that the 'insurgent l
Of the Senate are with the /
President heart and soul in the prin- /
eiples Of downward revision which he /
advocates. He also said he had found |
the President firm on his fight for free
hides and other downward work on the /
tariff.
Sherman Breakfast Guest.
This morning Mr.. Taft had as his
breakfast guest the Vice President. and /
ster Representative Dwight of New
York, the Republican whip" Of the /
House. went in for a talk with the Two /
men. Nothing concerning this confer |
ence was given out, but it was thought |
that it concerned the duties on gloves 1
and the outlook for a settlement OF the /
trouble regarding them this afternoon.
Some Of the Western senators are still 1
fighting against free hides with all their /
power, but the reliable reports are that /
there are enough votes in the confer |
enCe committee TO insure free hides and |!
enough in the Senate to pass such a /
paragraph. It is now an open-and-shut |
proposition that the President will veto
any bin which does not provide for free /
hides. This Is what. according to /
5rie'.ds Of the Administration, will |
,linch the matter.
Whether there will be an agreement |
Of the conferees this afternoon can not /
be fOretOld. The chances are about /
even that an agreement will be forth /
coming. If this turns out 10 be true,
there is strong probability that an ad- /
iouInment of Congress will be had by !
the middle Of next week. ;
Aldrich and Payne Fight.
Last night the conference broke up in /
4 row with bad blood between Chairman /
Payne and Senator Aldrich. Payne,
backed by the President, is standing |
firm for free hides. AIdrich. having /
gained the votes of a number of West |
ern Senators when the bill passed oy
a duty on hides, is bent now
Jn keeping his promises TO them. Here /
IN lies the real difficulty OF the situa-
lion, that the chairman of the Finance /
Committee, having made pledges in or /
der to get votes, now finds himself in |
-enseIy embarrassed by the unexpected !
nslstence Of the President on reductions /
)n free raw materials.
No morning session of the conferees |
was held. They adjourned last night f.
10 meet again this afternoon at 2:SO. /
Despite the trouble last night, some Of |
The conferees predicted a sudden clos
ng up OF the report tonight. II this is 1
the case and an agreement is reached.
the Democrats viii be given snort /
shrift and the report will still reach
the House tomorrow.
Chairman Payne, in the collision be
.ween himself ard Senator Aldrich. told
he latter plainly that he wcald sign no
report that did not provide for free
hides ard that he would carry the case
10 the House. This is the strongest
,ard M Payne can play. He knows
hat with President Taft back cr him
he House will sustain him and The rest
IF the cOnferees know l..