The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-07-10
GO RIGHT TO WORK.
Tariff Conferees Hope to Finish in
About Ten Days.

Washington. July 1O.-No time was
| lost by the conferees of the house and
senate in getting together to map the
program for the many sessions that
must be held for the purpose of putting
the finishing touches upon tariff legis-
iatlon. Many of the differences between
the two bodies represented by the S47
amendments are likely to be contested
with bitterness, but Chairman Aldrich
or the senate finance committee and
chairman Payne of the house ways and
means committee agree that it may. be
possible to reach an agreement within
ten days.
The two leaders. however, are not so
sanguine OF their ability of getting the
conference reports adopted speedily af-
ter they have been presented to the
house and the senate. The manner in
hich the house conferees were select
ed by Speaker Cannon is occasioning
much criticism in the house and an eff
fort is being made to have President
Taft take part in the threatened con-
trCVersy. According to current report
Mr.. Payne sought to have the Repub-
-1can conferees named in order of their
seniority, as was done in the senate
The speaker chose the conferees him
SELF, ignoring Representative Hill, Con-
necticut, and Needham of California.
Representatives Calderhead of Kansas
and Fordney of Michigan who were
named in spite of the fact that they
are outranked by Messrs. Hill and Need
lam, are declared to be "standpatters'
OF the most pronounced type.
Payne Was PowerIess.
Friends of Chairman Payne are au-
thority for the statement that he did
not consent to Speaker Cannon's selec-
lions until after he had entered a Wig
orous protest. It is currently reported
that the two were engaged in a heated
argument over the question before the
house assembled Mr.. Payne was pow
erless to prevent the speaker from Sc
Letting such conferees as he chose. At
for lie
is said to have told a number of his
friends that he believed the conferees
had been chosen with a view to putting
the tariff bill through as speedily as
possible along senate lines. By this |
was meant the house conferees were |
expected to acquiesce in the principal |
increases in rates that had been made |
by the senate.
Aldrich telephoned to meet Mr.. Payne |
asking him to get the house cOnferees
together and to meet the senate, con- |
ferees in the finance committee rooms
in the senate office building at $50
M. Senator Aldrich then went to the
White House where he had an extend Il
ed conference with President Taft who
had just returned from New England.
The president questioned Mr.. AIdrich
concerning many of the amendments to
the tariff bill made by the senate. but
it is said he did not criticise any of the
proceedings in that body except the &C
CSpldIlCS OIL at amendment TO the cor
poration tax provision making it ap-
phcable to holding companies.
May Change Corporation Tax.
The inference gained by Mr.. Iaft's
callers is that he would not sanction
the adoption of an amendment taxing
the net earnings of corporations unless
the utmost caution is taken to prevent |
double taxation. After the conference
with the president Mr.. Aldrich said
that it might be necessary to entirely
Tedraft the cOTnOTafiO Gil III
conference. If this is done, he said the
new provision will be along the lines
of that agreed upon at the recent
White House conference. All of the
members, met in the senate office
building at the appointed hour. They
were in session about an hour when
the Democratic members were dis
missed. Senator Bailey and Repre-
sentative Champ Clark. walking out
together, laughingly told a number %
waiting newspaper men that they could
not expect much help from the Demo- /
Gratis in covering the news of the con-
ference.
1--WE have been dismissed" said Mr..
Bailey, land we will not be called in
again until the majority completes its
job of fOOling the people,
Senator Aldrich frankly told the r
minority that the majority would pre-
pare its report without assistance.
No protest was made by the Demo-
Gratis as it had been known all along 5
that they would not be permitted to
participate in making up the confer
ence report any more than they had
been permitted to have a hand in MAX
ing up the bill in committees.
After the departure of the Democrats
the Republican conferees talked for n 4
short time without taking up the bill
They agreed that 1t might be advisable
to appoint subconferees to consider
portions of the bill where the phrase
ology is vital Ii
McVInnrNTc E0CT