The Washington times., 1911-08-19
Taft's Vetoes Hazard
Chances of Action
Next Session.
DEMOCRATS LIKELY
TO BLOCK PROGRAM
Break in Senate Coalition May
Prevent Necessary Co.
operation.

Whether any tariff revision legislation
need be expected prior to the Presiden-
tlal election is the question that now Is
being widely discussed about the Senate
and House. Not only that, but it is be-
lHg gwen no little discussion in Presi-
dental circles. Members of the Cab
met. who at times get down to matters
OF plain politics and ordinary economics,
are even talking about it.
Acute interest is given TO this question
by various developments. One of these
IS the break between the insurgents and
Democrats in the Senate caused by the
action Of certain Democrats led by Rs-
con and Johnston of Alabama in unit
ing with the Old Guard Republicans and
defying the Democratic caucus action
on the cotton bill
Taft's Future Action.
Another Is the veto of the wool bill
and the free list bill and the announce
lnent OF the President that the tariff
board will be ready &c report at the be-
ginning of next regular session on the
cost OF production of wool and woollenS
and cotton goods.
1t follows, of course, that President
Iaft Will urge revision Of the wool and
cotton schedules next December or early
next winter. He Will urge revision along
the lines Of the tariff board report. The
Delief is widespread about the Capitol
that the tariff boards figures will bs
such as to warrant heavy reductions in
both the wool and the cotton schedules
lnOeed, 1t is well known that Senator
LaFOllette prepared mis- wool bill and
cotton bill In the belief that the tariff
board would report in favor of duties
lower than he had fixed upon.
Probable Opposition
With the President recommending tar
III revision. as to wool and cotton and
perhaps as to steel and one or two other
schedules, the problem will be to get
Congress to act on the eve of Presi-
Dental and Congressional campaign.
This problem will not be easy. 1t
is easy TO perceive that the Demo-
Gratis, having put the President In the
position of blocking tariff revision,
are going to be loathe to let him es-
cape from that position by the en-
actment of legislation. Even II the
House passes a wool bill and cotton
will do so.
Senate Situation.
1t is in this connection that the
split between the Democrats and in
surgents in the Senate is important.
Only by team work between them will
1t be possible to get such tariff legis-
lation as the President wants, unless,
indeed, he can win the regular Re-
publicans over to support revision. It
is hardly to be expected that the reg
ulars will turn into reductionists Of
the tariff. And the difficulty in get
ting insurgents and Democrats to
unite will be that distrust and sus-
picion has been engendered by the
NntTnn
that the breach may prove extremely
slow of healing.
1t has been pointed out that the Dem+
ocrats who engineered the split with thu
insurgents were men like Bacon, Johnl
ston. and Bankhead, Senators who,
while from the South, are protection
Democrats.
Chance to Block Revision.
1t has not escaped attention that By
causing a breach with the insurgentS
they, these Senators, have taken the
best possible way to head off tariff leg.
islation next session when there would
be, II harmonious action could be Sc.
cured. real chance to obtain tariff
reductions.
the Cabinet who urged the President
not to veto the wool bill lest he block
the way to any tariff legislation prior I'd
the 1912 election, and thus saddle blam4
on the Administration. It looks a good
deal just now as if Mr.. Stimson had
correct insight into the situation.