The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-05-12
Taft's Plan for Tariff
Comm iss ion Not
Viewed Calmly.
MEMBERS OF BOTH
PARTIES f EA r 1T
Ultra-Pr Protectionists Foresee An
other Revision Of Rates, While
Democrats Are Afraid It
Will Take Away Issue on
Which They Expect to
Garry Country.


| Washington. D. c., May 1l.-ultra-
protectionists Of the House are opposed
| 10 President Tatt's plans for an appro-
priation that will enable the tariff
| board to find out the true facts as to
the proper duties that should be i'm
posed on foreign goods coming into
! the United States The Democrats also
are opposed to the plan. Between the
I two they expect to defeat the appro-
! priation on a point of order, or By
marshaling sufficient votes.
| The ultra -protectionists are afraid of
the proposition. because they believe it
would mean tariff revision within three
years, while the Democrats are opposed
to it because they consider 1t a life
saver fer the Republican party.
Why don't you change the wording
of that tariff commission proposition?"
| Tawney asked Representative Burle.
sor. of Texas. to-day.
Why. what's wrong with it?" in
quired the aiinnesotian in return.
Just this: 1t should read: To fur
nish the Republican party with a life
preserver, s25o.O0o."
Democrats to Vote solidly.
on one pretext or another the Dem.
ocrats will vote solidly against the
provision. So will Representatives
high protection;sts.
Speaker Cannon is making no hght
against the proposition. and probably
will put nothing in the way.
These are facts that came out around
the White Houst to-day, not official,
but gathered from the various callers.
the list including Mcssrs Payne. Dali
zeii. Tawney and Burleson.
The two high priests OF protection
spent some time with the President.
but they would not discuss what took
place in their conference. Mr.. PAYNE
is TO open the debate on the sundry
civil dill tomorrow. He is to talk
two hours and make a tariff speech.
one of defense of the Payne-Aldrich
law. Tho debate all around is to be
on the tariff. The bill contains the
tariff commission appropriation.
Speaker Cannon will have some one
in the chair when the bill is in COM
mittec of the whole. and there will be
a point OF order against the para
graph. on the ground that 1t is new
business and is not germane. If the
point of order is not sustained Repre-
sentative Tawney. believes the provis-
ion Will become law. If it is sustained
q fight Will be made for the appropria.
tion in some other way. Mr.. Tawney
contends that the point of order is rot
germane. as the appropriation relates
to an establishment that has been In
existence year.
President Taft's Earnestness.
The earnestness of President Taft
for the tariff commission appropriation
is fully as strong as on any other sub
ject that he has considered. He up
holds the proposition as pledge of
same IS he stands for other pledges
that have been made. On the tariff
the platform said in part:
TN all tariff legislation the true
principle OF protection is best main
tanned by the imposition of such duties
as will equal the difference between
the cost of production at home and
abroad, together with a reasonable
profit to American industries"
President Taft earnestly desired that
this principle should apply in the pass
age of the Payne-Aldrich tariff law,
but he fully recognized that there were
no intelligent facts and figures upon
which to base the various schedules.
He appealed for a tariff commission
as part of the bill that was passed.
He did not get exactly what he wanted.
He does feel now that the time has
come when the Republicans can pre-
pare the way to base future revision
OF the tariff upon scientific facts and
not upon guesswork. II the people
as he believes they will,
the honest intention OF the party to
itself for removal of all in
equalities in the bill they will con-
tinue the Republican party in power.
rather than take chances with the
Democratic party.
The President Is hearing words of
praise from various parts Of the coun-
try on the proposition for a tariff COM
mission.
Fear the Result.
While word has reached the White |
House that there is opposition from
Democrats and certain Republicans Ito
the commission idea, the President las
not felt that the Republicans will go
SO far as to defeat the appropriation.
AS to the Democrats, it is evident that
Burlesson's joke Is a
serious matter with his party asso-
ciates in the House. tariff commits
sion. having the money and authority
to start work and complete the I'M
portaM part of 1t as early as com
patible With careful and scientific coll
lection Of data. will take from the
Democrats. 1t was predicted to-day
the very issue upon which they expect
to win in the coming elections,
Reports from various parts of tho
country indicate that the tariff qnes-
ton is far more interesting to the
masses of the people than the railroad
or other questions. and for that reason
the Democrats, 1t was pointed out to-
day. do not wish to have the dirt cut
from under their feet
Senators Aldrich and Crane talked
With the President for a short time to-
lay regarding the railroad bill and
other legislation in the Senate. They
went away satisfied with the outlook
.or the administration measures.
Crane predicted that a vote
would not be reached In the Senate
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