Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-03-24
Discusses Canadian Tariff
Trouble With President.
TASK IS A DELICATE ONE
Ambassador Has to Be Circumspect
in His Interference.
CRUMPACKER IN A DILEMMA
Wants to Oppose Insurgents OF His
District and Still Be
Regular.

Regular.
James Bryce. the British ambassador,
spent half an hour with President Taft
at the White House today. MIR. Bryce
was on two missions One he talked
about. The other he declined to COM
ment on, or even to admit that it was
under consideration. The latter was by
far the more important. It was the ca,
madam tariff situation. which is still
acute, and. under the Payne law, must
be settled within seven days.
Mr. Bryce said he had called on the
President to arrange for receiving Sir
Ernest Shackleton. the Briton who reach
ed within ninety-seven miles OF the south
pole The President will present medal
to the British explorer Saturday night at
a reception to be given by the Nationa!
Geographic Society in honor of the noted
Englishman.
The delicacy of the British ambassa-
doris participation in efforts for the set
Element Of the tariff trouble Is well ap-
preciated and for that reason Mr.. Bryce
hesitates to discuss the matter. Canada's
independence of the mother country IN
practically every way makes 1t necessary
that great care should be taken in what
ever Great Britain does to prevent
possible commercial war between the two
countries. That this threatened war
might have consequences extending Tar
both at the State Department and British
embassy but does not seem to be fully
appreciated by Canada.
The White House is being flooded with
messages from Americans interested III
Canadian business imploring the Presi-
dent to prevent a tariff war between the
two countries. These interests are espe-
cially large along the border, and tar1n
war would it is claimed. be disastrous to
millions of American money and thou
sands of men.
Tables Now Are Turned.
To all appearances. Canada has the
United States in a bad hole and is quietly
enjoying the writings that are notlceaDie
on all sides. For years Canada sought
closer commercial relations with the
United States. but was treated with about
the same Indifference she now manrests
to this country. Although the Canadian
minister of finance. Mr.. Fielding. has con-
ferred with President Taft and has re-
turned to Canada to talk with his col
leagues of the Canadian government,
there is really little hope that Canada will
offer any material concessions to the
United States. What the tariff board has
sought from Canada Is the minimum
Canadian tariff on about thirty important
American articles going to Canada, in
exchange for the minimum Payne law
rate on all Canadian goods coming to the
United States. Up to this time Canada
has declined to yield to this and does not
snow any mcmahon 10 make mlnlHum
rates on even a half dozen American ar
ticles. This small concession might be SUI
hcient to enable the President to stretch
his Interpretation of the provisions Of the
Payne law and yield the minimum rates to
Canada. If Canada will not yield in any
particular 1t will be for the President to
decide what to do. He has the power to
give the minimum rates to Canada, even
in the face of the claim Of government
officials that Canada has shown undue
discrimination against the United States
in treaties she has made with France and
Q number of other countries
tanada's claim is that her general tar
!. If rates which she is willing to give the
United States, are on a basis with the
minimum rates of the United States, and
that she would be the loser by applying
her intermediate rates to American
goods. Her purpose appears to be to
stand pat on that claim. If the United
States applies the maximum rate she will
apply her surtaX rate. which is an addi-
tonal 80 1-3 per cent on the general rates
Crumpacker in. Distress.
The amiable and able Representative
Crumpacker of Indiana is in a peck OF
trouble. He went to the White House
today to give President Taft an oppor-
tunity to share his distress with him
Mr.. Crumpacker's congressional district
convention meets next Monday Mr.
Crumpacker will be renomnated, but he
wants to be reelected.
There is big bunch of insurgent
cessfully to this and at the same time
keep the support Of the regular re-
,publicans. The platform OF the con-
tariff and current political subjects.
Mr.. Crumpacker has drawn up three or
four different pIanks, but not one suits
the President was able to console MIN
or point a way out.
Senator Beverage, the leader of the
Indiana republicans. is himself pleased
with being classed as an insurgent, and
will cater to that sentiment in the
platform he will prepare for the re-
when it meets early in April. Mr..
Beveridge will not, it is said. submit
his platform to President Taft, who
insists in his speeches upon the Payne
tariff law being upheld by republicans
everywhere 1t is customary for the
President. as the head Of his party, to
be consulted about such matters.
Straus to Meet Roosevelt.
Oscar Straus, United States ambas-
sador to Constantinople, sailed from that
city March 8, on the United States gum
boat Scorpion. for Cairo. where he Is to
conference. 1t was learned from a promi
nent White House visitor today that Mr..
Straus was cabled for by Col. Roose-
welt. who wishes to consult him as to
GOnulIlO0S at nome. SIFduS was Sec.
rotary of the Department Of Commerce
and Labor in the last few years Of the
Roosevelt administration. was close to
Mr.. Roosevelt and is likewise q warm
friend of President Taft. Mr.. Straus has
not been in close touch with political
affairs in this country himself, but he
is informed enough to take interesting
news to the former President.
DR.. Rubin Brainin of Berlin. the cele-
brated Jewish scholar and writer who has
been travelling in this country, was in
troduced to President Taft today by Rep
resentative SABBATH and L. 8. Gottlieb
Senior Portelo the Argentine minister
called on the President today to saw
goodbye upon leaving for his home coun-
try and to introduce Admiral Garcia Of
the Argentine navy. :,
Representative Mccall introduced May
or John NJ. Woods OF Somerville. Mass.
duced a party Of Michigan school teach
ers.
Local Bills Signed.
President Taft has signed q large mum.
her OF local bills. among them being the
following:
For the extension OF 4th street south.
east, from Congress Heights to Washing.
ton Highlands.
To change the name of 28d street, north
Of Calvert street. to Woodley place.
To authorize the extension Of 41st stree,
northwest.
To direct that Jefferson street north.
west, between 18th street and Colorado
avenue. be stricken from the plan of thu