Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-07-23
Senators Tell President Their
Tariff Troubles.
McCUMBER LOOKING GLUM
Elkins Isn't as Happy as He
Night Be.
EXPECT EARLY AGREEMENT
Conference Report May Be Signed
Tomorrow Night and Bill
Passed Next Week.

10SScO NcAC WScA.
An important tariff development OF the
day at the White House was that the
western and other congressman who are
losing out the raw material fight
demanded greater reductions than al
ready made in finished products. not only
on leather goods. but on WOODEN and cot
ton goods. II they must stand the CEN
sure of their people at home for losing
on raw materials they do not want also
to stand the blame for not securing re-
auctions in rates upon things that come
into everyday use.
President Taft apparently sympathizes.
too. with their demands. according to the
leaders to see what can be done at this
late day to change the wooden and tarir
schedules In the direction of downward
rates lower than those either of the Sem
ate Or House.
Senator Elkins and Senator McCumber
represent the sentiment for late change.
The West Virginian sees himself losing
in his demands for full protection for
coal. lumber. iron ore and oil. Mr.. Nc
Cumber sees the handwriting on the wall
as to hides. Both see a kick from the
people as to the high rates for manufac-
tured articles. They cannot see the fair
ness of a program that uses the ak upon
their materials and takes care of the
products OF another mans state.
Both called at the White House today.
Both talked frankly and fully to the
President Both believe that a conference
report will be presented within the next
few days. and both say that the bill will
be fairly good one. Yet personally they
are disappointed in the way things are
working out.
When several House members who saw
the President were walking out of the
White House they were asked as to the
situation.
.Wen," said one of them. 1.-THE fight
seems to be over. Elkins is going around
reproaching the members of the House
for not standing BIZ the Senate, and Nc
Cumber is looking blue and detected.
That is the best evidence l have. The
wind-up is close at hand"
The tip Senator Elkins gets il that coal
will be given a duty of about A per cent.
which, he says. is about rs low as in the
Wilson bill, and the rate to be put OH
lumber will not be nearly as much as the
West Virginia senator says 1t should
have.
Wooden and Cotton Goods.
a mistake to adjourn without reductions
in cotton and wooden goods He is from
a sheep-growing state and naturally
wants the greatest possible protection for
wool. Yet he expressed a willingness to
see a reduction upon wool il correspond
ing reduction is made in wooden goods
Cotton goods. too. he said, should be
further reduced. He said the President
is investigating to see what can be done
in this direction.
Senator McCumber and many other
western men are quite insiStent on lower
ing the duaies on finished products along
with free raw materials. The feeling is
strong in that direction. and a conference
is to be held this afternoon to consider
what pressure should be brought to bear
The talk of lower tariff duties on
leather has brought the New England
shoe manufacturers to the front. Rep
resentative Gardner OF Massachusetts.
representing a district where cheap shoes
are made saw the President today He
told the President that the duty on the
lower grades of shoes Is as low as II
can be made. He had seen cheap shoes
made in Germany that could probably
be sent into this country in competition
with American shoes with such a low
rate OF duty.
He did not know about the rates on
the higher classes of shoes, he said. and
these might stand a reduction. Mr..
Gardner was OF the opinion that free
hides will be the outcome of the fight.
Mr.. Gardner said that the shoe schedule
had been carefully drawn in the House:
that each paragraph was closely related
and that any tamperfng with the sched-
ule now might endanger the American
shoe industry.
Crane Is Confident.
Senator Crane paid his regular morn
ing visit to the President and reported
the situation In Congress- He is pre-
dieting an agreement by the conferees
tomorrow night and the passage of the
bill next week. He has never appeared
SO sanguine. and all indications at the
White House seemed to bear him out.
Other visitors talked Of conference
report by tomorrow night. and even the
disconsolate Senator Elkins predicted .
report by the conferees Monday.
Senator Bailey OF Texas. who called
upon the President in connection with
the latter's visit to Texas in September.
publican canvas and did not know
what the great show was doing but
he had been informed that the conferees
would report tomorrow. He said If the
agreement was full that would mean
adjournment of Congress by the end OF
next week. II the agreement was par
tial, adjournment would be delayed.
Stops In Texas.
The tentative itinerary OF the western
trip to be taken In the fall by the Presi-
dent is: FL Jaso. Tex, October Is; San
Antonio. October 10. and the Goth. 2lst.
22d and 23d at the ranch OF c. p. Taft
near Corpus Christi; the Gath at Houston.
and then out through the northern part
Of the state to ST. Louis
Senator Elkins invited the President to
attend a celebration at Point Pleasant.
w. Va, October Is, but the President said
he would be in the west at that time.
Today's cabinet meeting continued con-
sideration of the estimates of the different
for the next fiscal year. this
being the third meeting for that purpose.
The President today sent the following
nominations to the Senate:
Envoy extraordinary and minister pleni-
potentiary to China-Charles r. Crane.
Illinois.
Assistant director of the thirteenth de-
cennial censlls-William i. Willoughby,
District of Columbia.
Will Visit Columbus, Ga.
President Taft has added Columbus,
Ca, to the list Of places he will visit in
the fall. He made this promise today to
a committee from the board of trade and
city council of Columbus, who were es-