New-York tribune., 1909-02-27

pending tariff revision was the most important
matter to be attended to. he said Although
there were other causes for the depression Of
business. it is this expectation Of tariff
vision. he said which halts Improvement Of
present conditions.
Regarding the commission advocated by Mr.
Van Cleave Mr. Taft said that his views about
it were fully expressed in his open letter to 5 E
Payne. chairman of the Ways and Means Com
mittee written some time ago, in which he said.
A tariff commission would be harmful or use
full as its functions were described IN the bill
My own ideas have been that there ought TO bs
a permanent commission of tariff experts TO
keep themselves advised by all the means pos.
sble OF the cost of producing the articles named
in the schedules in foreign countries and IN
/ think that what we lack is evidence. and
some such means might very we'll be used for
the purpose Of securing it.
1 should be the last to advocate commission
with any power to fix rates, II that were consti-
tutiOnal as it would not be- or with any func-
tfon other than that Of furnishing the evidence
to Congress upon which from time to time IL
might act
NO OBJECTION To COMMISSION
Mr.. Taft said he had no objection TO the COM
mission but he did not want it appointed at
the present moment. because it would only re-
tard the speedy revision Of the tariff It was for
this that Mr. Taft decided to call Congress for
special session The way in which Mr. Taft
spoke about the shOrtness of the special session.
saying that he expected It To adjourn early in
JIne gave the impression that he had conferred
with members of both houses and had some as
surance that his plans would be carried out
Returning TO the commission question, Mr.
Taft said that he had no objection to its being
appointed later to study and gather data about
the " orking of the revised tariff in a way which
he had outlined in his letter.
Mr. Taft had a restful day yesterday at the
home of his brother Henry ". Taft, No 50
West 4Sth street In the morning George W
Wickersham who is TO be his Attorney Cen
eraI. visited him Some OF the other callers
were Charles F. BrOokeT, national committee
man. of Connecticut; Ralph Peters. presl-
dent Of the Long Island Railroad; John Barrett,
director of the Bureau of American Republics;
Louis c. Hay. F. L. Hearn. Alexander Cameron
and General J. c. Underwood
The Presfdent-eleCt and Mrs W H Taft viii
leave here for Washington at 800 O'Clock this
forenoon by way of the sd street ferry
Chicago Feb. 26-FranIzlin Macveagh. who
will probably receive the Treasury portfolio IN
the Taft Cabinet. was hailed to-day as Mr.
Secretary" by his associate directors in the
Commercial National Bank Mr. MacVeagh
smiled and said THANK YOU
Mr. NacVeagh has taken all but the formal
steps in his complete retirement from the busi-
ness OF Franklin MacVeagh & Co. in order 70
meet the requirements of the federal statute
of 1879 relative to the Secretary of the Treas
urv's Affiliations. He Will resign from the board
of directors OF the Commercial National Bank
but will hold his stock in that institution
Jacob NJ. Dickinson is preparing 10 wind Up
his business as general counsel for the Illinois
Central Railroad before proceeding TO Wash
ington to take up his work as Secretary ot
War