The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-07-21
The Eminent Specialist, DR.,
Taft, Is Called In Consul
tatiOn In the Case
PAYNE EXPLODES IN Fit
OF INTENSEST ANGER
Little Can Be Learned of What Oc-
Cured at White House Consuta-
tlon but insurgents Are
Alarmed at Developments.

Washington, July 20-The tariff bill was
hoisted abive the chickering's of congress
sonal conferees today and transferred
bodily from the capitol to the White
House. DeadloclSed because of the attitude
! Of Representative Payne, who apparently
has become imbued with the growing
conviction that he is in the minority the
conferees abandoned the usual afternoon
session. Senator Aldrich and Speaker Can
non repaired to the White House post
haste to consult with the President Taft,
literally taking the tariff bill with them.
Most of the conferees spent the after
noon going over the troublesome details
of the conference with the leaders. Re-
ports of serious conflict of opinions over
various schedules we're banded about
and grew to extravagant propositions with
the telling. The long absence of Senator
Aldrieh and Speaker Cannon did not tend
to ease the tense situation.
What happened at the White House is
sealed book
When Messrs. Aldrlch and Cannon re-
turned to the capitol they ninimized the
differences that had aroused bitterness In
the conference room, and insisted that
nothing unusual had occurred. Senator
Aldrich said that tomorrow would find the
conference committee again at work and
he said that by night, when all of the
| conferees are to be entertained by the
| President at dinner, most of the prob
lens apart from those receiving the per-
sonal attention of the President would
have been solved.
Trouble in Camp.
Nevertheless there has been trouble be-
hind those closed and guarded doors that
shut the public from the room where
the real tariff bill is being constructed.
! Some say that the differences between
| Senator Aldrich and Representative Payne
have taken such form that progress Is
impossible unless the President has in
fiuence enough to compel action. This
story is denied by both of the principals
1t is not denied however, that there was
clash yesterday between Representative
Payne and Representative Fordney of
Michigan
From a creditabie source it was learned
that a crisis was reached when an effort
was made late yesterday to vote on lum-
Der. Mr.. Payne protested and argued
that such move would be unfair to the
President, this was one of the SUBJ
jects practically submitted to him for ad-
Justment, providing he could get votes
enough in the two houses to adopt com
promise rates.
IF we cannot agree, let's settle the
question by voting" Mr.. Fordney is re-
tod tn hox- cd Tt L. IL ,le
that Mr.. Aldrich acquesced in that pro-
posal.
That Mr.. Payne had little part In Sc
Letting the conferees to represent the
House in the conference is we'll known.
Mr.. Payne's recommendations were
ignored and the speaker made his own
selections. Mr.. Payne is said to have
complained to some of his friends at the
time that the conference was packed with
high protectionists, and that Senator AL
drich had been able to WELD more in
fiuence with the speaker than had he.
as chairman of the committee which pre-
pared the House bill.
Payne Protests.
When Mr.. Fordney, who had been
placed the conference committee re-
gardless of the fact that he is the Junior
republican member. said, Lets vote"
Mr.. Payne protested with vehemence
that startled his associates. Some one
said that the majority should rule. That
remark incensed Mr.. Payne still more He
told Mr.. Aldrich that he could vote the
Senate members of the conference IL he
chose, but that he could not vote the
House members early Full of wrath,
he told his House colleagues that 1t was
their duty to stand up for the House bill,
and to yield only after every possible ef-
fort had been made to win He intimated
that some of the House conferees had
been too ready to agree to increases made
by the Senate.
After Mr.. Payne had departed the other
conferees predicted that ruffled feelings
would be ironed out over night. So ii ap-
peared when today's session opened No
reference was made to the disturbance.
but nevertheless none of the subjects like
ly to provoke reopening of hostilities
were broached
Although a number of minor amend
ments, which had been passed over In for
mer considerations of the BILL were taken
up and settled amicaby, 1t Is reported
that all of the conferees acted as If they
feared a volcanic eruption. Soon after
noon some one suggested that an adjourn
ment would be advisable and no objec-
ton was raised.
When asked about the early adjourn
ment Mr.. Aldrich and others said that
It was to give conferees opportunity to
consult with colleagues and constituents
about numerous amendments Then
Messrs. Aldrich and Cannon hurried to
the White House.
1t is declared by Mr. Payne's friends
that his unswerving attitude on the low
rates in the House bill is dictated solely
by desire to see President Taft success
ful in his contention for downward re-
vision of the tariff
Insurgents Alarmed.
The 2S republicans of the House who
called upon President Taft recently to
plead with him to receds from his position
In favor of free raw materials were COM