Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1909-03-19
TARIFF REVISION
URGED BY TAFT
Says That Republican Premise
Must Be Fulfilled
He ASKS FOR SPEEDY ACTION

Points Out That In This Way Bust
ness Disturbances May Be Avoided
Conditions Not Met by DingIey
Act. Which Does Not Furnish Suf-
ficent Reconsideration Mes
sage to Congress Remarkably Brief
Washington, March II. President
Taft's tariff message Tuesday afternoon
left senate and house gasping-be-
cause of its brevity. AS the first
message of a new president to an ex-
traordinary session of congress it was
some 800 odd words long President
ROOsevelt's first message to congress
on Dec. 4 1904, was of more than
II 900 words. and its reading took
212 hours.
In STICKING contrast to the scenes
of confusion, disorder and acrimoni-
Gus debate which marked the opening
day of the house, the session of that
body yesterday assumed its wonted
air of dignity. There was general
good feeling among the members,
whose main topic of conversation was
the fight over the rules. The mes
sage of President Taft met with pro-
longed applause from the Republic
cans
Interest attached to the announce
ment by the speaker of the personnel
of the committees on rules and ways
and means The biennial lottery for
seats was conducted and many were
the dlsappointments upon the part OF
those whose names were the last to
be drawn.
The tariff bill was not introduced,
the delay in its presentation being to
receive the approval of new Repub-
lican member on the ways and means
committee whom the speaker will
appoint to succeed Mr.. Bonynge of
Colorado, whose. term has expired.
The text of President Taft's mes
sage was as follows.
ITO the senate and house of repre-
sentatives:
Il have convened the congress in
this extra session in order to enable
It to give immediate consideration to
the revision of the Dingley tariff act.
Conditions affecting production. man
ufacture and business generally have
so changed in the last twelve years
as to require a readjustment and re-
vision of the import duties imposed by
that act More than this, the pres
ent tariff act, with the other sources
| of government revenue, does not fur
nish income enough to pay the auth
orized expenditures. By July l next
| the excess of expenses over receipts
for the current fiscal year will equal
800 900, 600
The successful party in the late
election is pledged to a revision Of the
tariff The country and the business
community especially, expect it. The
prospect of change in the rates OF
import duties always causes a sus
pension or halt in bus ness because
of the uncertainty as to the changes
to be made and their effect. 1t is
therefore, of the highest importance
that the new bill should be agreed up
on and passed with as much speed as
possible consistent with its due and
thorough consideration.
For these reasons, | have deemed
the present to be an extraordinary Oc-
casion, within the meaning of the con
stitution, justifying and requiring the
calling of an extra session.
In my inaugural address, stated
in a summary way the principles up
on which, in my judgment, the re-
vision of the tariff should proceed
and indicated at least one new source
of revenue that might be properly re-
sorted to in order to avoid future
deficit 1t is not necessary for me Il
repeat what | then said.
Il venture to suggest that the vita
business interests of the country re
quire that the attention of the con
gress in this session be chiefly devot
ed to the consideration of the new tar
if bill, and that the less time givel
} to other subjects of legislation in thi
session, the better for the country.
KiHL A0ainet Rt0