The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1909-07-22
IN WASHINGTON
Leaders Confer with President-Taft
for Low Rates-Three Per Cent
Bonds May be Issued.
Washington, d. G.

Representatives Edwards and Lang
ley, and Senator Bradley, of Kentucky
figured prominently In the most i'm.
portant Washington event of the
week,-an interview OF President Taft
on Friday with a select delegation Of
twenty Congressman, In which he
made clear thai he VIII not give way
in his desire for the free entrance of
raw materials into the United States.
Mr.. Edwards ana his colleague explain.
ed to Mr.. Taft that East Kentucky
desired that lumber and timber COM
ing into this country shall pay a high
tax, as at present, so that the prices
for timber shall be higher. They
also stated that Republicans from the
South cannot hope for reelection or
for the triumph OF the Republican par
ty In their states if they cannot get
protection for the products Of those
states from the chiefs OF the party,
especially the President. Mr.. Taft
answered that American lumber does
not need protection, and that we
shall be more careful to reforest our
timber lands and to not cut timber
heeclessly IL we have to compete with
| foreign timber.
Mr.. Taft at this interview for the
first time plainly stated that he
I will insist on lower tariff taxes on
lumber, iron ore, hides, coal oil and
perhaps coal. He believes that the
Republican party in the last campaign
promised revision downward. The
above named articles are for the most
part raw materials for American
manufacturers, and IL their prices be-
come cheaper the American people
will get cheaper shoes, stoves, furni-
ture, etc. Moreover we have little
or nothing to fear from the free en-
trance OF these materials because most
OF them can be produced more cheap
ly in this country than anywhere else:
The tariff bill passed by the House,
the Payne Bill, reduced the tax on
lumber from the former Dingley rate
of 81 a thousand to 81 a thousand.
The Senators from the lumber states,
which want. their products protect
ed, fought hard to have the 81 rate
replaced Finally they agreed with
Mr.. Aldrich that $3.50 would be en-
ough If he would promise to see that
that rate was preserved in the con-
ference with the House. Mr. Aldrich
gave his word to do this, and now he
tells Mr.. Taft that his (Aldrich's)
honor Is pledged to see that the $3.50
rate goes through. Mr.. Taft will do
his best to have the Senators who
exacted the promise from Aldrich re-
lieve him from it, so that the low
House rate of 81 can be adopted.
The situation Ia regard to iron ore
is about the same. The House made
iron ore free The Senate made the
duty 60 cents ton instead of 81 as
under the Dingley rate. Mr.. Aldrich
and the gentlemen of the Finance
Committee are pledged to the Sena-
tors from the iron ore states to fight
for this high rate In the conference;
but they tell President Taft that If
he can get the iron ore Senators 10
relieve them Of the pledge which was
given In order to secure the passage
Of the bill in the Senate then they
will permit a low rate in the confer
ence, probably 40 cents. In the same
way the free hide people and the
free oil people are relying on Presi-
dent Taft TO use his personal influence
with the various Senators who forced
the insertion Of high rates in the Sem
ate draft of the bill. In this manner
President Taft finds himself in the
thick of the tariff fight at last. He
speaks of himself as having the en-
tire American people for his "constitu
ency," and he will do his utmost 10
persuade the Senators who want high
tariff on different articles to give Up
the ADVANTAGE to their particular sec
ton In order that all sections may pay
cheaper prices for the necessities OF
life. For instance il Kentucky allows
lower prices for lumber then iron ore
states will be forced to allow lower
for iron products. the hide producing
states will let us have cheaper hides,
and SO on. BY yielding on one point
each section will gain as to many
other points.
The corporation tax is having a
hard time, but will go through In
some shape or another. The bill was
drawn by the Department OF Justice
under the Presidents eye, but II has
been shown to be very faulty, and
another one is being framed. with
the tax at 1 per cent instead OF per
cent The Attorney General has sue
ceeded In giving Washington rather
low opinion of his ability to handle
the responsibilities of his position.
Last week he asked Congress to en-
act an Interpretation" Of a law pass
ed 16 years ago and which expired 4
years ago, but from which the decis-