Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1909-07-29
From Washington.
Correspondence Of the Alexandria Gazette. !
Washington. July 80.

Correspondence Of the Alexandria Gazette. !
Washington, July 30.
For the frat time since the tariff bill
has been in the hands of the conference
committee the democratic members OBJ
iained view of the counsel room TO-
day. Word had been sent to them last
evening, when the republicans thought
satisfactory agreement had been
reached to attend the committee meet
ing this morning. They we're at hand
and we're in session with their republi
can colleagues about sn hour. They
we're told that the supposed agreement
bad proved to be false alarm because
of the objections of President Taft to the
conference duties on lumber and gloves
The democrats we're informed that 1t was
hoped to clear up the differences during
the day and they would probably be in
yited to attend the meeting tomorrow
When the conferees adjourned last
evening, Messrs. Aldrich and Payne
went to the president at Fort Myer and
informed him of the rates agreed upon
in conference. The president answered
that the rates proposed would not do 1t
Is stated today thst the submission Of the
matter to the president was informal,
hat it was afterwards formally submit
ed to him and that q formal answer
vas expected from him today. A special
rule will be adopted In the House to
deal with the couferees report. The
conferees in their efforts to reach On
agreement, have gone sOmawhstGouuid
their authority under the rules and q
rule will be necessary to legalizo their
action.
The reason for the failure of the tariff
conferees to close up their work in &C.
cordance with last nights work, is that
the president refused 10 give the con-
ference report his o. K. in its present
shape. In written communication to
the conferees which was received by
hem this morning President Taft
again insisted that thu rates on lumber
should not exceed 81. % aud that the
Senate rates on gloves snd hosiery which
are much lower than those contended for
by the House should be retained. With
this communication before them which
was regarded in the nature of an ulti-
matum, it became necessary for the re-
publican members to withdraw their in.
vitston to the democrotic members to
Join with them in the consideration OF
the report. Therefore, after brief dis.
cussion which did not deeply enter into
the merits Of the bill, the democrats
withdrew. They we're promised, how
ever, that q statement should be pre-
pared of the changes which have been
made by the conference committee in
the tariff bill.
This statement, it was said, would be
handed to them to lay, bat 1t is possible
that the difficulties that are being en-
countered in meeting all of the presi-
dents views, may delay its completion.
There is, however, q hopeful feeling |
which received expression later on the |
floor of the Senate, when Senator Bailey,
who Is one of the democratic Conferees,
gave 1t as his opinion that he could
safely say that we will adjourn within
4 week or ten days" That indicated
that the republican conferees had given
their democratic colleagues pretty def
nite assurances that they will be able to
conclude their report today. 1t has been
decided that there will be only two days
debate upon the report in the House.
The opinion is now expressed thst in
the Senate it can be disposed of within
less than one week.
President TAFT is standing pat today
IN his determination to secure g tariff
Of 81. % on lumber and the Senate rates
On gloves. Congressional callers at the
White House had no difficulty in fiud-
ing out where tie president stood. aud
when they left the executive Office
frankly said that If q compromise WAS
expected by the president, those who
cherished the hope would be sadly disap.
pointed. Senator'S Burrows aod SmoOt
had conferences with the president this
morning soon after be reached his Office
md when they left said that the presl-
lent had not changed his mind over
night.
The morning session Of the tariff con-
erees ended 81 o'clock with the House
and Senste still in disagreement over the
matters 10 which the president is inter
,sted.
Naturally the receipt of the prasi-
lents ultimslum crested some con-
iternatiou in the conference committee.
rhe members, however, now have de-
mite idea of just what the president
wants and it is predicted that after a
of the struggle perhaps for
/ day or 30 longer they will come to
he presidents terms.
Republican opponents OF the tariff Dill
q the House werebusy today comforting
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