The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-08-22
PRESIDENT MEETS
CABINET MEMBERS
Goes Over Plans for Tariff
Commission.
MacvEAGH SUBMITS NAMES
Visitors VIII Return TO the Taft
Cottage Again THIS Afternoon,
when the Programme VIII BE
Given Further Consideration-New
Minister 10 China Talks of work.

Beverly, Mass. Aug. N.-There was
Cabinet discussion this afternoon at the
Taft cottage that began at O'Clock and
lasted until the lamps had to be lighted
on the automobiles which were to carry
the visitors away.
The Presidents advisers were with him
FOR four hours and a half. Secretary
MacVeagh, Attorney General Wicker
sham. and Secretary Meyer made up the
council The three members OF the Cab
!net viii return again tomorrow after
noon 20 continue the conference.
Mr.. Taft had an interview with Charles
r. Crane, the new Minister to China, in
which the President outlined this gov
ernments attitude toward China.
The foreign tariff board. which is the
name which the commission Of maximum
and minimum tariff experts will probably
have. was the subject on which Mr.. Mac
Vcagh reported to his chief The Sec
rotary Of the Treasury asked for more
time In his selection OF the board. He
brought with him list comprising those
whom he considers fitted for this task
and available TO undertake il.
Discuss Personnel of Board.
The personnel Of the board was dis
cussed for a greater part Of the after
noon. Whether it will be composed Of
three members or, as has been considered
most feasible. OF five. was not definitely
hxed
Mr.. Taft believes that ne can make
the appointments and FIX their salaries
before ne leaves Beverly.
Attorney General Wickersham brought
with him a tentative draft or the recon-
mendauon which he will submit az the
conference I'm New York August 30. He
came 20 Beverly with tne intention Of
gathering the Presidents ideas on the
legislative reforms which will be the
functions Of this meeting, 20 submit 10
Mr.. Taft for Incorporation in his message
TO Congress next fall.
some Work Easy,
There are some subjects with which
this commission viii have TO deal which
Mr. Taft thinks viii be comparatively
easy 20 formulate in recommendations to
Congress. For example. he believes that
the reorganization Of the Interstate
Commerce Commission will not he hard
70 outline.
He anticipates little trouble in framing
suggestions for the control Of overcapi-
talization OF corporations and the over
issue Of stocks and bonds.
II viii be more difficult Mr. Taft Is
convinced, to draw up the proposed
amendments to the antitrust law. These
will be some OF the subjects on which the
President will speak to his audiences on
his Western trip.
The President told Mr. Crane to-day
that he believed in an open-dOor policy
toward China. He believes the United
States should assist China in its develop
ment, and should be of aid to that coun-
Try in becoming a nation independent OF
other governments.
Mr. Taft does not believe In the old
colonial idea that it is 10 a countrys ad-
vantage TO deal with another nation in
which IL is possible TO buy up its prod
ucts at small price, in order 10 sell
them in some other country where a
higher price can be obtained
Developed Country aIOst Sought
Broadly. he told Mr.. Crane that he be-
lieved that a country most developed was
the country most TO be sought In trade.
Mr.. Crane expects to sail from this coun-
try on October 6, but it was agreed that
he should see the President before he
leaves.
Mr.. Crane told the President that when
he was discussing with his father the
acceptance Of the mission to China. he
told him that the chief reason that he
wanted TO accept It was that he heartily
concurred with the ideas which he knew
Mr.. Taft held toward China. The Pres
ident was greatly pleased with HIS assur-
rance.
Ambassador Reid Is expected at the
home OF W. J. BOardman at Manchester
next week. The President has reached
no definite conclusion I'm the matter OF
selecting a successor TO Mr.. Reid