The Washington herald., 1909-03-09
TARIFF CHIEF TOPIC
Question of Revision Per-
yadeS Political Talk.
CONGRESS FACES PROBLEMS
Fortunes OF Dominant Party in Next
Elections Are Wrapped I'D in Com
ing Tariff Legislation, says One
Man-Lnw May Not BE I'm Hands
of President Before August 1.

With the opening Of the extra ses-
sion Of the Sixty-hrst Congress a week
away, and President Taft installed in the
White House. the aIl-absorbing topic Of
conversation is the revision Of the tariff.
The questions with which Congress
had 90 deal during the last seven years
are insignificant when compared 10 the
problems II now has before it," said
member Of the WAYS and Means Com
mittee yesterday. IT am not an alarmist
Republican, but I think I can forsee that
the fortunes of the dominant party in
the Congressional elections next year
and possibly in the Presidential election
next time. are wrapped up in the coming
tariff legislation. There IS no use smut
ting our eyes 10 the difficulties OF the
problem before the party
II is becoming more evident that the
"standpat" Republicans are going 10 rely
more and more on the deficit IN the Treas
ury as the night goes on. They are going
10 center around this deficit excuse for
failure 90 revise. or. rather support Tevl-
sion. and some Of them are hoping they
will be successful IN their fight Whether
substantial reductions are going TO be
made depends upon how the House and
Senate take these excuses.
Date Is in Doubt
During the last week there have been
numerous conferences with the view Of
agreeing 20 plan for rushing the new
tariff law through both Houses. and some
believe 1t viii be i'm the hands of the
President by the first or the middle Of
June. Some say it viii be the middle OF
July before the bill has been passed by
both Houses. while others contend that
IL may be the first of August. Danger 10
business viii De made the pretext for
insisting that discussions be cut short
when the bin finally reaches the Senate.
and If such a thing is possible the Senate
leaders are going 10 do away with the
word contests that some OF the younger
members have framed up Whether this
programme can be carried out is prob
lematical
An intimatiea >ames from the Commit.
tee on Finance. of which Senator Aid
rich is the chairman. that that COMMITTEES
may not. after ALL hold any hearings or
the House bill Possibly the great inter
ests that are seeking protection VIII not
/ object 90 this arrangement II they car
be assured that they will fare well. and
| those who know say their faring vii
not be so bad" IN the end.
So far the Committee on WAYS and
Means has given out but little as 70 the
plans for the revision. All the RepublI
can members have assumed the attitude
which has marked the career OF its chair.
man, Serene Payne and from present
/ indications quiet viii continue 70 be IN,
only thing emanating from tha: commit
tee room.
The Republican members are Sitting
during the recess. putting finishing
I touches on the bin. and when the extra
/ session is called 10 order the new scheG
ules will have been "au cut and dried
/ The outside "dope" is that the com
mittee has abandoned the minimum anC
/ maximum plan Of schedules. but the mem
bers OF the committee are as reticen
about this as they are about all othe
/ things concerning the tariff
Keen Interest in Details.
The keenest interest ceuters about vha
the committee VIII recommend about tn,
tariff on wool. lumber. hides, steel
/ coffee, and tea. The outside intimatiol
/ is that a duty VIII be laid on coffee an,
/ tea, and that the duty viii be retaine,
/ on lumber Wood pulp viii, IN al prob
/ ability be placed on the free list.
/ The new bill, II IS believed by some
! viii provide for an income tax. Il IS be
/ lieved tie Supreme Court would uphol,
/ such a law. Anyway the dominant part,
/ has announced its willingness 10 test IN,
/ constitutionality Of such a law.
! Just what the Democratic members O.
/ the committee are going 10 do depend
on the bill 90 be introduced by the Re
/ pubIcans. When the public tariff hear
ings came TO an end the Republicans Eek
| cused" the Democrats from further serv
. ice. and nothing was left for them TO d.
but sit and wait 10 see how the schedule
/ would be recommended. II the new oil
/ promises revision downward. there prob
ably will not be much Of a measure pre-
/ sented by the minority. but II no relic
seems in sight. Il is a safe prediction tha
a bill viii be sent IN soon after the ses
sion convenes.
The new bin viii be introduced probabl
I about the middle Of the week after IN
beginning Of the session. 10 will be neces
! sary for a new committee to be appointed
and from present indications this viii b
held up several days-during the fight o
the Democrats and the insurgents for
/ committee on committees instead OF III
old plan OF Speaker on committees
which has been the cause OF so muc
! squabbling lately.