Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-07-16
ASK MERCY OF TAFT
Delegation of % congressman
Plead for Duty on Raw
Materials.
POLITICAL LIVES IN PERIL
President Remains Obdurate, How
ever, Saying He Believes in
Less Protection.

Washington, July 16.-The White
house was stormed today by a dele
cation of 23 republican congressman,
who spent an hour and a half with the
president telling him their very politi-
cal lives depended upon the protection
of raw materials. 1t has become pret
ty generally known about the capitol
that the president has expressed him
self quite freely as favoring the free
entry of hides, oil and coal, and mater
ial reductions on lumber, etc. Most of
the congressman were from the south
ern states.
Does Not Change Views.
Taft told them he favored protec-
ton where protection is necessary, and
that where protection is no longer need
ed he is in favor of either greatly re-
ducing the duty or removing it alto
gether.
Taft Item stays In.
Washington, July 16.-After a lively
debate the democrats in the house yes
terday failed to have provision,
brought in by Mr.. Tawney, appropria-
ting $4,000 for President Taft's trav-
cling expenses, ruled out or stricken
out of an urgent deficiency bill.
AS soon as the matter was taken up
Mr.. Rainey. democrat of Illinois, at
tackled the paragraph providing for the
travelling expenses of the president.
He said that it was understood when
the presidents salary was increased
to $4,000, that there would be no
other allowance. Such a method of
| boosting the presidents salary" said
Mr. Rainey, in order that he might
Swing around the circle in the face
of deficiency of $50 100000, was bad
| faith
Criticism of Taft Vehicles.
He charged that while Mr. Taft was
still private citizen, cruiser was
| remodeled for his use, land he was
sent on an easy and luxurious trip
| through tropical seas to Panama, alb
| solutely without authority of law. :.
| The president also was criticised for
insisting on automobiles at a cost OF
S12,G00 when there were horses and
| carriages available.
Not only the item for travelling eX
penses, but the contemplated addition
| to the executive offices was bitterly as
sailed by Mr.. Murphy, republican OF
| Missouri He declared tiiat the gov
ernment architects evidently were not
| competent enough to draw plans for a
room or two because the work was
| authorized to be done by private arch
itects.
AIIOts Time to Republican.
| Mr.. Livingston of Georgia, who con
| trolled the time for the minority, dis
covered that Mr. Murphy was speak
ing on the democratic side, and that
he inadvertently had given him an
allotment of 10 minutes.
"The time | control" said Mr.. Liv-
| ingston, lis for democrats" General
laughter followed.
Upon the plea that it was improper
Legislation, Mr.. Macon of Arkansas op-
posed the extra allowance to the pres
| ident. and when the reading of the
bill for amendment was begun he
! promptly made point of order against
the additional appropriation on the
ground that it never had been author
lied in an appropriation bill. Mr.
| Tawney produced the necessary au
lthority, remarking that the original ap
propriation in 1906 was passed will
tho aid af damocratie votps