The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-11-18
TARIFF The KEYNOTE
Around 1t Parties Will Wage
Giant Struggle.

As members OF Congress continue 20
return for the coming session. II becomes
more apparent that the tariff is the sub
ject about which the political fortunes OF
the two parties are to revolve in the next
two years.
President Taft's advisers already have
their heads together and are trying 10
work out a plan OF procedure for the
Presidents consideration as soon as he
returns from his trip to Panama One OF
the chief purposes OF this plan naturally
viii be to put the Democrats in a hole.
Some OF President Taft's friends Will
urge him TO put the tariff issue squarely
up to the Democrats by calling an extra
session OF Congress Immediately after
the expiration OF the present Congress on
March 4.
May FOrestalI Enemy.
Republicans who give the President this
advice believe by calling an extra session
he could promptly put up to the Demo
crafts a proposition which they are bound
to take up on their own initiative within
a year. BY following this course, some
OF Mr. Taft's friends believe ne would be
able partially, at least. 10 forestall the
Democrats on the tariff revision propo-
sition.
The Presidents friends point out fur
Their that he could consistently follow
such a course. inasmuch as he has al
ready admitted that some of the schedules
Of the Payne Aldrich law need revision
and has had his tariff board at work for
several months collecting data to be used
as basis for future revisions,
By March ( next this tariff board will
be able 20 report on some OF the most
important schedules, and tho President
would be able to use this data as the
basis Of a recommendation for revision.
Republicans who are inclined 10 favor
this line OF action are proceeding on the
assumption that the Democratic party
never will be able 20 make good on an
attempt TO revise the tariff. They are
accordingly in favor of the President
putting the responsibility up 10 them.
Republicans acknowledge that such a
course OF action BY the President would
mount 10 his allgning himself with the
bp-ogressives.
Democrats Pleased.
The Democrats themselves welcome
suggestions for special session. They
harbor none OF the doubts which the Re-
publicans hold, OF Democratic ability TO
handle this big question
They say that II a Republican admins
tration puts the tarin up to them they
will act on it promptly, but they will do
/ IL in their own way. They are confident
that II they have an opportunity in a
/ special session to revise the tariff they
d 4 g.. f4aA xzrtAf -,
/ present Republican administration stili
deeper in a hole.
! Democratic leaders who have already
arrived in Washington have given this
/ subject OF tariff revision thought and 1t
/ Is practically certain now that they will
not work with the Presidents tariff
4 hoard.
1 +. There IS a possibility that when the
I Democrats are firmly in the saddle the
/ hands of the Presidents tariff board will
I be tied altogether by a refusal on the
part OF the Democrats TO appropriate
money for the carrying on OF the board 5
/ Investigations.
! That. however, cannot happen until 1912,
as the present Republican House will pro-
vide for the board In the forthcoming
! fiscal year. The board received an appro-
! prIation last year of slG0,000. and there
/ was some doubt. even in a Republican
! House, about its being voted
! II would be easy for the leaders OF
either party 20 bF.ng about conditions
/ that would demand a special session, re-
/ CARELESS Of the tariff.
! All indications point TO the fact that
the Democrats will have to compromise
on the tariff question with the insurgents
in the Senate II they are TO accomplish
any revision.
Definite information has reached Wash
| ingtcn that the radical insurgents in the
Senate will not stand for tariff on a
sevenue-only basis. These insurgents
will insist on revision being made on the
basis of the difference in the cost of pro.
duction here and abroad.