New-York tribune., 1909-06-09
PRESIDENT SILENT
ON A TARIFF VETO
CONFLICTING RUMORS OF
HIS ATTITUDE.
Senate Leaders Confident He Vii
Yield to Their Tie7cs in End
Mr. Taft May Be Referee.
From The Tribune Bureau ]


ing absolutely nothing on the tariff bill His
determined silence and his unwilIingness even TO
make up his mind until the time comes to
act are proving the occasion for all sorts Of re-
ports TO the effect that he Will veto the meas
ure. that ne will not veto it, that the Senate
leaders are confident he will yield 70 their views
when the bill reaches him and many others
equally divergent When his attention is called
to these reports the President smiles and re-
marks that they make interesting reading"
but that he cannot confirm or deny them be-
the time for him to reach a decision has
not arrived and he is consttutionaHy adverse
to making up his mind important subjects
earlier than is necessary
From the recent speech OF the Secretary OF
the Treasury the conclusion has been drawn in
some quarters that the President Will veto the
bill unless it is made materially more accept
able to the Middle West than it appears
to be. Senators. on the other hand, are con-
vinced that the President will not veto the bill.
and their conclusions are probably based on a
realization of the fact that they purpose to
make such concessions before presenting the
measure for the signature OF the Chief Execu-
tive Will avert all danger of a veto
Certain of the so called progressive Repub-
Hcans in the Senate are frank TO express the
view that the President. by declining to take
any part with them and refusing 10 exert in
fuence on Senators while the measure is under
deliberaton in the upper house OF Congress.
is missing the only opportunity he will have 70
secure a more radical revision. They are ex-
pressing their dispIeasure with considerable
vehemence. and OF course their views find their
way into the public prints
NOT DISTURBED BY SPECULATION
This speculation does not. however. disturb
the President in the least He has his own con-
ception Of the duties Of the Chief Executive.
and he does not deem it either his duty or
within his province TO seek 70 influence the
party leaders in Congress or to express to them
in the form Of a message hts views regarding
the tariff at this stage of the proceedings He
believes that his views are well known. that he
has expressed them publicly and with great
franxness. and that being intelligent men. the
party leaders are perfectly capable Of interpret
ing them. He has been told by them that they
have their own problems to meet. that certain
amount Of manouvring IS necessary 10 secure
action on the bill with anything approaching
reasonable expedition and that. after all. the
real tariff bill will be framed in conference
They have assured him that ultimately
paSsed the bill viii make good the pledges OF
the party and meet his views TO what the
tariff revision should be, and he deems It right
and proper to accept these assurances and 70
refrain from attempting to Judge Of their work
until IL is completed.
The Presidents course leaves open a wide
field for speculation. both as TO the course Of the
leaders in Congress and as to what ne will
gard as a proper fulflment OF the pledges made
by the party platform and by himself in his
campaign and other speeches. and on a subject
Of such vital interest there is certain be much
speculation. II may be well. however 70 re-
member that predictions as TO the course which
the President will adopt when. In his Judgment,
the time arrives for him 70 act. are merely de-
ductions from his public utterances combined
with a knowledge Of the man. Of whom the
Secretary OF the Treasury has well said. He
will be concriatory as long as he is not asked to
compromise principle"
PREDICTIONS At THE CAPITOL
At the Capitol the predictions regarding the
Presidents course are as varied as those which
appear in the press The Senate leaders. as
has been said. believe there is doubt that he
will sign the bill they will ultimately send TO
the White House They admit that there may
be some important changes made in the meas
ure " hen il reaches the conference stage. but
they do not relish any intimatOn that the Presi-
dent is not fairly well satisfied with the measure
as it stands to-day The House leaders. on the
other hand find considerable comfort in the
view of the President, somewhat casually ex-
pressed some time ago. that the Payne bill ap-
Deared TO him 70 be z pretty good measure.
Bastng their conclusions on their own view that
the Senate has put rates too high 70 meet the
views OF the President. they confidently predict
that he will lend his influence. once the meas
ure goes into conference. TO the adoption OF the
Pavne rates wherever the Senate has provided
higher duties. Some members Of the House pre-
diet that the President will act as a sort OF
referee between the conferrees Of the two houses
whenever they reach deadlock and this is.
perhaps. not improbable.
When the measure goes to conference the
President will call to the White House Repre-
sentative Payne and Senator Aldrich and dis
cuss with them the various features of the bill.
and that will actually be the first time he dis
cusses with either OF them the rates IN the sew
eraI schedules Mr.. AIdrich has called at ths
White House many times and has discussed IN
a broad way the policy OF the Senate and more
in detail the several administrative features OF
the measure. the maximum and minimum pro-
visions the customs court. the tariff commits
sion and the new methods OF valuation. but he
has scrupuIousIy refrained from discussing the
individual rates with either Mr.. AIdrich Mr.
PAYNE and that is the policy he purposes to
pursue 10 the end. or rather. until the bill goes
to conference all reports 10 the contrary not
withstanding.
MANY REDUCTIONS UNHERALDED-
There is one feature of the progress OF the
bill through the Senate which is not receiving
the attention it deserves. That is The large
number Of reductions in the rates which have
been adopted at the instance of the Finance
Committee but which. having been adopted
almost invariably without debate. have
tracted little attention The President has
noted these reductions. and they have served