The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1909-03-17
PRESIDENT
MESSAGE READ
TO CONGRESS
Suggests That the Session Be
Devoted Entirely to the
Tariff Measure.
DRAWING OF SEATS
BY HOUSE MEMBERS
RESOLUTION AGAINST INHERIT
ANcE TAX PRESENTED IN
TIE SENATE.

Washington, March 16.-The second
days session of the house found the
members in much ealmer mood. The
question of the amendment of the rules
having been settled yesterday, the ten
sion was noticeably relaxed and feel
ing of general good fellowship was ap-
parent. The drawing of seats was the
first business to be transacted, and this
proceeding, although rather monot-
onous to spectators, commanded the in
tense interest of the members. As a
special compliment, Messrs. Bingham
of Pennsylvania, the father of the
house; Sherwood and KeifeT of Ohio,
Payne of New York, Clark of Missouri,
Tawney of Minnesota, Livingston of
Georgia, Sperry of Connecticut, the old
est members of the house; DeArmond
of Missouri and Talbot of Maryland
were allowed to select their seats with
out reference to the result of the draw
ing.
Some Had Good Luck.
Some of the old members were espe-
cially fortunate in procuring desirable
seats. Messrs. Dalzell of Pennsylvania
and Mann of Illinois got their former
seats Messrs. DeArmond of Missouri
and Hitchcock of Nebraska were
among those equally lucky in their 10
cations.
a storm of laughter at the expense
Of MIR. Clark of Missouri was created
when he suggested that the Democrats
who were forced to occupy the so-called
Cherokee strip" to the extreme right
of the speaker, be allowed 10 choose
seats in the last tier, and not be COM
PEELED to mix up" with the Republi-
aans.
In view of the alliance of the Repub-
iiean insurgents" and the Democrats
on the question of modifying the rules,
the humor of the suggestion became at
once apparent, but it nevertheless pre-
vailed.
Presidents Message.
President Taft's message was as fol-
lows:
ITO the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives: 1 have convened the con-
gress in this extra session in order to
enable it to give immediate consider
n ton to the revision Of the Dingley
tariff act Conditions affecting prOduc-
ton, manufacture and business geneT-
ally have been so changed in the last
twelve years as to require a readjUst
ment and revision of the import duties
imposed by that act. More than this,
the present tariff act, with the other
sources of government revenue. does
not furnish income enough to pay the
authorized expenditures. BY July l
next the excess of expenses over re-
CENTS for the current fiscal year will
equal s100, 900, 900.
Pledged to Revision.
THE successful party in the late cleo
ton is pledged to a revision of the tar
lff. The country and the business COM
munity especially expect it. The pros
pect of a change IN the rates of import
duties always causes a suspension OF
halt in business, because of the rnCer-
tainty as TO the conditions to be made
and their effect. It is therefore of the
highest Importance that the new hill
should be agreed upon and passed with
as much speed as possible consistent
with its due and thorough considera-
ton. For these reasons, 1 have deemed
the present to be an extraordinary occa-
sion within the meaning of the cOnsti-
tuition justifying and requiring the call
ing of an extra session.
Repetition Unnecessary.
I'm my inaugural address, I stated
i'm a summary way the principles upon
which, in my judgment, the revision of
Continued on Page 2.