The Washington herald., 1911-06-26

It has been made clear to the Senate
leaders that President Taft is opposed
10 any tariff revision at this time. The
President objects not only to any amend
ment to the Canadian reciprocity bill low
ering tariff rates, but believes that the
programme for passing an independent
bill revising schedules is ilI-advised. His
attitude, which has become known since
his return Saturday night, win have q
still further depressing influence ON the
efforts of Senator Wesley Jones and 9TH
ers looking for plan OF tariff revision
in which Republican regulars and insur-
gents were TO unite and relieve the con-
Eumer and confuse the Democrats. The
plan has already met the disapproval Of
some Republican leaders, who point out
that rothlng could ccme OK such Re-
publican legislative programme while the
Democrats control the House
President Taft believes that tarin re-
vision should wait upon the reports OF
the tariff board. The President, 1t Is be-
Neved now, viii outline plan OF tariff
revision, based on the boards report.
when Congress- meets In regular session
IN December. In the next important
speech he Is to deliver, at Indianapolis,
On July 4, the President will deal with
the general subject Of tariff revision It
Is regarded as certain that he would
veto the Canadian reciprocity bin IL 1t
came to him loaded down with amend
ments dealing with tariff revision, and
there Is little doubt that he will decline
to approve the farmers free list bill and
other tariff measures OF Democratic orr
gin II these pass the Senate President
Tsft's friends believe that he will be the
gamer politically by turning his back
on tariff revision plans and Withholding
his support until he has report written
from a board Of experts.
Week of Reciprocity.
The Canadian reciprocity bill will prob
ably be debated with some earnestness
in the present week. Senator La Fol-
lette's amendments carrying general re-
vision will probably be unfolded before
the Senate's gaze within few days. The
Democratic Senate conference is likely
to shed some light on the situation.
While matters are still rather chaotic
the President has been advised by Sem
ate leaders that a vote on the Canadian
bill win be reached earlier than had been
expected. As to how long the tariff bills
may be before the Senate there is still
nothing definite. The Root amendment
will be voted on to-day and will undoubt-
edly be rejected The President has been
go advised by his party friends in the
Senate.
The possibility Of a coalition between
Democrats and insurgent Republicans in
the Senate on tariff revision programme
Is. more remote than ever. The insur-
gents are beginning to turn against their
allies, the Democrats. They are charg-
: ing that the Democratic leaders in the
Senate are working In harmony with the
regular Republicans to pass Canadian
reciprocity without amendment and then
get away after a show OF considering the
other tariff bills. The insurgents say the
Democrats do not want to see legislation
enacted revising tariff schedules down
ward at this time.
Playing Politics.
They are playing politics with the
question TO keep it alive for their next
campaign said an insurgent Senator
yesterday.
The insurgents say the tariff amend
ments will have to be fully debated be-
fore there is any agreement fixing a day
for vote on Canadian reciprocity.
1T will be six weeks at least before
there is an agreement to vote on the
Canadian reciprocity BILL" said one of
the leading insurgent Senators last night.
The situation is now reversed in the
Senate. Some time ago the Democratic
Senators were declaring that the insur-
gents would be made to fish or cut bait
on the question of relieving the consumer
from the iniquities of the Payne-Aldrich
tariff law. The Democrats declared that
they would put up TO the insurgent
brethren the House tariff bills and COM
pei them to vote for or against them.
Now the insurgents are coming forward
with a tariff revision programme, and
aggressively declare that the Democrats
are seeking TO evade the issue. There is
every indication that bitter struggle Is
Just ahead in the Senate between insur-
gents and Democrats, in which each side
will try to fix upon the otner the re-
sponsibiiity for delaying or defeating
general tariff revision.