The Washington times., 1909-07-18
PRESIDENT CERTAIN
Of DESIRED TARIFF.
Taft'S Friends Believe He
Will Get About What He
Wants in Bill.
VETO WILL NOT
BE NECESSARY
Executive Said TO Plan Only to
Block Measure Until 1t Is
Satisfactory.
BY JOHN SNURE.

tariff DILL such as President 1aLt
wants or no tariff bill at aH-this prom
Uses now to be the outcome Of the
struggle over tariff legislation in which
the House and the Senate and the
Chief Executive are involved.
Since the President took an active
hand in the situation and issued his
public statement In favor of revision
downward and free raw materials,
things have been coming in his direc-
ton. He has not by any means gained
all he is contending for and probably
will not. But he is assured that some
of the reductions for which he is work
ing will be made ana that the bill viii
be improved TO a considerable extent in
conference.
1t is no longer a matter of doubt that
the country is with the President IN
making a move for downward revision.
The floods of letters, kilograms and
messages to the White House empha-
size that as Go the messages being
sent to the Conferees and to House and
Senate leaders, urging them TO support
the stand taken by the President
VIII Have the Votes.
Nor is there much question that the
House situation is such that if the Presi-
dent can get out Of conference a bill
that stands for anything like real down
ward revision, he VIII have the votes
In the House to pass il.
In the Senate the situation is thought
TO be more precariOus for the bill than
in the House. The Senators who want
duties on raw materials are bent on
fighting the bill and a number Of insur-
gent Republicans are likely also 70 op-
pose the measure. A number Of the
insurgent Senators say they are with
the President in favor of free raw ma
terials, but they are not willing 10 for
give the rest of the bad features of the
bin simply because a few raw mater
ial5 are put on the free list II IS pretty
certain that when the conference report
is brought up in the Senate there will
be a talkfest that will be one Of the
oratorical MarathOns Of the year.
What Taft Wants.
President Tatt has let callers know
that he is working. not simply for free
raw materials in a few instances, but
that he is trying to force reductions in
other schedules. It depends much on
whether ne accomplished anything in
this direction as to what the attitude
toward the conference report win De
on the part of those Republican Sen
ators and Representative who refused
10 support the BIN when il passed each
house The President may or may not
win these insurgents over.
About the capitol there are many ex-
pressions of satisfaction that President
Taft has taken hold of the matter. On
the other hand. many Of the downward
revisionists say frankly the President
has got into the game too late and that
ne cannot now obtain anything like
comprehensive downward revision, for
the reason many important schedules
are not open TO consideration in con-
ference.
Moreover. while the conferees are
clearly inclined toward doing about
what Mr.. TAFT wants as to free raw ma
terials, there Is little evidence that the
cOnferees are doing much revising down
ward on other schedules.
Assured Of Something.
That the President will get either free
admission Of tie raw materials which
he wants 10 be made free OF low duties
on some Of them is assured, so Ear as
the conference committee is concerned
Iron ore and oil viii doubtless be re-
ported out free, while hides will either
De free or have "a duty Of IL per cent.
which IS half the present rate. Coal,
which is now 81 cents, will be 49, Lum-
her will either be 81 or SIS, with the
senate ulILElEllLldl6 III FAVOR OF IulElIEQ
lumber. Senator Aldrich is skeptical
sbopt the votes TO pass such a bill being
ObtAtnaDle. he has put II Up to the
President 10 get the needed votes.
az is settled there viii be no veto.
The President may block the bill, but lac
VIII not veto it, His friends in the
House will refuse TO adopt the confer
ence report unless it is sucn a one as
the President can sign.
The President can defeat this bin by
afung his lit-le finger" said one Of Mr..
Iafts friends
Philippine Change
The President has used his influence
10 get the Philippine free trade pro-
vision broadened. The conferees are
expected TO report IN favor of allowing
100000 cigars TO be admitted cree
from these islands. This number was
100000 i'm the bill The Philippines
provision provides for free admission Of
500 coo pounds OF wrapper and 10000
tons of filler tobacco and 10000 tons Of
sugar. It has been agreed upon by "a
subcommittee and viii probably be
adopted by the c0nferees Monday
Authority 10 make the Panama bond
issue which has been under discussion
viii be granted 10 a provision the con-
feTees have agreed TO accept The