Omaha daily bee., 1909-07-20
TASK
CONFR0NTS TAFT
Many Signs of Revolt Against His
Tariff Program in Both
Houses.
MUCH KICKING FROM FAR WEST
Raw Material Senators" May Com
bine Against Him.
INSURGENTS NOT SATISFIED
Cummins and Bristow Voice Their
Objection to Plans.
CANNON MAY MAKE TROUBLE
Speaker Intimates that No Special
Rule VIII De Reported I'm House
for Adoption of Con-
ferees' Report.
Raw Material Senators" May Com
bine Against Him.
Cummins and Bristow Voice Their
Objection to Plans.
CANNON MAY MAKE TROUBLE

WASHINGTON. July l9.-An Of the re-
publican members of the tariff confei>
ence have been invited by President Taft
to take dinner with him on Wednesday
night at the White House, The Invitations
did not say whether there was any pur-
pose in the gathering, other than sociabi-
ity, but it is assumed that he expects to
be ready to report progress in getting
votes for the abolition or reduction of
duties on raw materials.
Senator Crane spent an hour with the
president today and later talked with
Senator Aldrich. He endorsed the attl-
tude OF the president on the question OF
reducing duties raw materials Speaker
Cannon visited the tariff conference cham
Der Immediately after the adjournment OF
todays session and he had long talk
with Senators Aldrch and Crane. The
speaker had been at the White House
earlier in the day in company with Re
preventative Dwight (rep., N. ", the re-
publican whip.
Dark Hint from Cannon.
When Speaker Cannon left Senator Aid
rich's room tonight he said that the con-
ferees must frame the program for pass
ing the conference report through the
house and the senate and that the repre-
sentatives of the two branches would have
to assume responsibility for their actions.
This was understood to signify that a
binding rule could not be looked for to
carry an unpopular report through the
house. When pressed for an explanation
the speaker merely smiled.
There was no indication of a lack of
understanding between the leaders OF the
senate and house. The speaker exhibited
his usual good nature, and talked freely
with the newspaper men about every sub
ject except that which they desired to hear
him discuss Senator Aldrich left the office
building with Senator Crane for the pur-
pose of considering the possibility of put
ting through the senate a conference report
providing for free iron ore and free oil
and reduced duties on coal, lumber and
hides
Hard Task I'm Senate.
II the mutterings OF dissatisfaction heard
about the senate offices today may be
taken as a criterion, the senate leaders are
confronted with no easy task. Strangely
enough, many of the protests against the
free raw material program are coming
from the progressive republican faction,
who fought hardest for downward revision.
Many of the progressives come from
states interested in cattle raising and the
are opposed to free hides. or even to a
reduction in the duty. Other insurgents,
notably Senators Brlstow and Cummins
who are not particularly interested in the
question Of free hides, iron, oil or COAL
expressed the opinion that the president
should bring his influence to bear in a
NOV ement looking to reductions in the
duties on wool and wooden goods, cotton
goods and other articles which enter into
wearing apparel.
BOrah Inclined to Revolt.
| Senator Borah stated today that II the
free raw material program was adopted
some of the western senators would be
afraid to go home, and could not expect
to continue representing their states In
Washington. He il thoroughly In sym
pathy with President Taft's attitude on
the question of downward revision but de-
clares that it should not be confined TO
raw material. The Idaho senator is au-
thority for a report that there is in proc
ess of organization a combination of SEN
ators who will be pledged to defeat the
conference report II It should provide for
free coal and free hides These men are
not concerned over the proposition to place
oil and iron ore on the free list.
Circulating about the capitol today was
persistent rumor that the president would
not be satisfied with free iron ore and oil
and reduced duties on coal, hides ana lum-
Der. Many senators appeared to believe
this report and expressed the opinion that
he would insist upon hides and coal being
placed upon the free list. Senators who
visited the White House did not confirm
itol, but at the same time they were unable
To coptradict
CanvassinE TRft's Intentions.
The more conservative senators pointed
to President Tafts statement issued fol-
lowing a visit paid to him few days ago
as further evidence that he would not de-
mand all of these articles should be made
free, In this statement the president de-
clared at the outset that he was not COM
mitted to the policy of fres raw materials
but that he was for revision Of the tariff
downward. The conservatives argued that
the compromise program that has been
under informal discussion since Saturday
was directly in line with the statement.
No one suggested the possibility OF veto
in the conflicting views OF the presidents
position exchanged at the capitol today.
Among the older members OF the senate
and house who have had long experience
in harmonizing differences between the
two branches OF conaess, or between con-
gress and the executive, II was predicted
that the president would demand every
concession possible to obtain without en-
dangering the adoption Of the report.
These conservative members asserted that
the president realizes now how difficult
it would be to get an agreement In the
senate II all OF the principal raw ma
II terials are made free. When the conferees
meet about the White House board on
Wednesday night It is probable that the
president viii be informed just what con-
cesslons can be made without jeopardizins
the passage OF the conference report
, Corporation Tax Adopted
Today the confeFess devoted their atten-
ton mainly 70 the revised corporation -