The Washington times., 1909-08-04
FURNISH NO MONEY
TO CUSTOMS COURT.
Pet Creation of Senator Aid
rich Given a Set
back.


bill caused mild sensation at the Cap
itol by reporting at noon today, and
providing in their report no money to
pay the salaries of the judges and Of
fcers of the new. customs court.
The fact that this court is a pet crea-
tion * Senator Aldrich and that the
Rhode Il Jlander made q particular ap-
peal to the conference not to knock 1t
out makes the proceeding one of espe-
ciaI interest.
In ADDITION to this, there seems to be
a dist i difference OF opinion between
the House and Senate conferees as to
the reason for leaving out the appropri-
alton When Mr.. Tawney explained the
report in tho House he indicated that
the intention was not TO KIN the Gus
toms court, but to give the House and
Senate opportunity next winter to reach
an agreement as to the salaries which
shall be paid the officials.
He did not even intimate any purpose
70 knock out the court entirely, and
some of she members of the House indi-
Gated the opinion that the real reason
for making no appropriation at This time
was to prevent reductions of the salary
below those provided in the tariff bill.
The tariff dill places the salaries of
judges at $4,000 a year ard these the
House cut to $500 in making up the de-
lciency bill. with corresponding reduc-
tons in the salaries of officers of the
courts. Mr.. Tawpey assured the House
that there was no intention of taking
away from the House Its complete con-
troll over the matter of salary. saving
mas efr1H -
bers of the court would De appointed at
all until after Congress met in Deem
Der.
At the Senate wing, however. il was
declared that the real result OF re-
iQslng the appropriation would be to
i nm the customs Court. 1t developed
tnat every member Of the conference
was opposed 10 the institution SEN
ator Hale, titular leader Of the SEN
ate and supposed ally Of Aldrich. was
one of the leaders in the effort to cut
out the new court By cutting out
Iishment, 1t is left, provided for by
the tariff bill, but without any means
for its establis hment
There is ~ doubt I think, that the
whole provisions fer the Customs Court
VIII be repealed from the tariff act
| next winter" said one of the con-
terees today. The fact is that the
! measure passed the Senate without
| reasonable consideration and after Il
| had passed sentiment developed against
| 1t so Astrongly that without question
| the proposal would be defeated if IL
| should go TO the Senate again There
| Is no question that the conference re-
port Will be agreed to by both houses. -
Tbs customs court was planned by
senator Aldrich and the extreme high
tariff people. 1t was to have head
quarters in Washington and 10 consist
| Oh presiding officer and four assO-
ciates, a $3.50 per year. The estab-
| lishment included an assistant attorney
general at $500 ard four attorneys at
5000 each. marshal at $1,000, a clerk at
$4,000 and such other employees as might
! be needed.
The bill carried 100000 for salaries and
| So, 900 for travelling expenses. The con-
| ferees on examination decided that the
court would very soon cost at least
| $Z5O.O00 year, and they were unanimous
when II came to a vote in cutting il
out The conference committee consist
| ed OF Senator Hale, Senator Galiingher.
and Senator Clay and Representative
Tawney, Smith Of Iowa. and Livingston
| of Georgia.
There was not a suspicion that it
would take such action until its work
was completed. tt was expected that
/ Hale and Gallingher would stand for
| the court until the end. Instead, Hale
was soon convinced that the estab-
] lishmenL was all wrong One of the
/ him was that it was to be made an
/ asylum for sons OF statesmen and a
! means of repaying some political
! debts.
| Declaration was made most posi-
! lively that before the provision was
| inserted in the tariff bill creating the
court its entire membership had beer
determined. William Payne. son OF
/ Chairman Payne of the Ways and
! Means Committee, and clerk and tariff
expert to that committee, was TO be-
one member; another was TO be Gen
eral Sharratts, of the board of genera
| appraisers.
! These were the only names specified
! in the conference discussion, but it wa.
/ fiat declared that the whole member
ship and a list of attorneys and EN-
/ ployes had been made up. This causeC
| expressions of decided disgust from Mr.
! Hale, who insisted that he would moi
, vote a cent to any such procedure. The
/ House members We're unanimously Op.
posed TO the provision, although Mr.
Livingston did not take much part II
] the discussion. Messrs. Tawney anC
| Smith were certained that the provision
should go out
They threatened that the Hous,
! would not accept the report so long a.
| Il was in. They threatened to make Z
! fight against the report and were posi-
/ tive that the House would stand By
them In that event il would very
/ slralz delay 70 no q