The Washington herald., 1909-08-01

The, conference report on the tariff was
taken up shortly after the House con-
vened AZ 10 O'Clock yesterday morning
Mr. Payne. chairman OF the Ways and
Means Committee. and manager on the
part OF the House. who had charge Of the
bill. asked unanimous consent TO dispense
with the reading.
Representative Mondell. Of Wyoming,
one Of the Republicans who opposed the
by Mr.. Taft. INSTRUCTED the proceedings
for several hours by insisting upon the
reading Of the report. The reading
clerks had gotten about tlree-quarters
Of the way through when, about 1870
o'clock. Mr.. Payne rose again and re-
newed his request TO dispense with the
further reading.
Mr. Mondel was present at the time,
and rose in his seat as II to object, but
did not do 50. The unanimous consent
was granted. AID the clerks stopped
reading
Rule Brought In.
Then the real work Of the day began.
A special rule was reported by Repre-
sentative DalzelI. Of Pennsylvania, chair
man OF the Committee on Rules. provid-
ing that no points Of order should be
entertained against the report. and pro-
vidins also that general debate should
continue until o'clock last night. when
voting on the report began.
There war a short and uneventful de-
bate. Mr.. Dalzell explained the circum-
stances leading UP 20 the compromise on
the hides schedule, and explained the
necessity for the rule In reply to
question by Champ Clark. the Demo-
cratic leader, Mr. Dalzell said there had
been no increases in rates above either
the Senate or House rates which would
be protected by the special rule against
points OF order
Minority Leader Clark announced that
he would vote for the rule
But it doesn't go far enough" Mr..
Clark asserted. 1T should be amended
so as to provide that no point OF order
should lie against any provision where
rates have been inserted In the report
lower than the rates OF either the House
or the Senate bin"
Without further debate. the rune was
adopted by an overwhelming vote, SCI
ayes to II noes.
There was a burst OF applause lasting
several minutes. from the Republican
side OF the House. as Mr.. Payne rose
shortly after 1 o'clock 10 explain the re-
port. He was confident. ne said that
the bill as finally enacted will be ac-
ceptsd both BY the House and by the
country as a genuine downward revision
OF the tariff
THE bill. as agreed upon by the con-
ference committee. was a complete full
fllment OF the pledges OF the Republican
party for a revision Of the tariff. When
this bill becomes a law" Mr.. Payne de-
clared. 1T will reflect credit on the Con-
gress that enacts t."
Cotton Compromise.
Explaining the compromise on the cot
ton schedule. Mr. PAYNE told Of the
abuses which had grown up in the ad-
minisuatiOn Of the Dingley act under
court and treasury decisions which had
the effect OF reducing the rates on vari-
Gus classes OF cotton goods below the
rates intended to be imposed By the
Dingley act
The corporation tax, he added, was
presented as an administration meas
IRE, and he thought It would meet
with popular approval. The House con-
ferees. he continued, accepted the Sen
ate amendment for a customs court
without hesitation, because OF the
faet that the Ways aud Means Commit
tee has had such a step under consid-
Grafton for some time.
The court. he estimated would cost
probably $1,000 a year. but Il would
cave the government many millions In
increased revenues. After speaking
about an hour and a half Mr. Payne
concluded with stirring appeal to his
party colleagues 10 rally 10 the sup
port OF the conference report.
Minority Leader Talks.
Champ Clark. the minority leader.
started a strong speech by relating an
Oriental legend IN which a pious Brahnin
vowed that on a certain day he would
sacrifice a sheep. and went forth to the
market plare TO buy one.
Three rogues lived in the neighborhood
who knew OF the vow made by the
Brahmin One OF the rogues attempted
20 sell him an unclean beast for the sac
rihce. At first the Brahmin declined to
buy the unClean beast, but finally. as the
other two rogues came along and in
sisted that the unclean beast was "a
sheep of the finest fleece he consented
10 make the purchase.
ut seems Mr.. Clark continued. that
the President has been dealt with much
IN the same manner in which the Brah-
min was treated. Let US hope that his
VIII be a happier fate. He has been
grossly misled as to the nature Of this
report
Calls II ExtOrtiOn,
Those downward revisionists who are
congratulatlng the President uproariouslY
are most assuredly thankful for small
favors. No man will begrudge him any
glory Justly his due; but when we re-
feet upon the fact that, even according
10 his most enthusiastic euioglsts. he in
sisted on lowering the rates on only half
a dozen items or Whereabouts. when the
rates should have been lowered on hun
dreds OF Items, and that the conference
report still reeks with largess for the few