The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-09-21
President Is Cheered on His
Arrival in Grand Rapids,
and Orphans Sing "Ameri-
ca" as He Passes.
DEFENDED HIS VETO
OF 3 TARIFF BILLS
He Says Cotton, Wool and
Free List Measures Were
Originated for Political
Purposes Solely.
: (National News Association)

(National News Association)
GRAND RAPIDS, Sept 21.--A driz-
cling rain failed to dampen the en-
thusiasm with which President Taft
was greeted on his arrival here today.
EnrOute from the station to the Coun-
try club the President paused at st.
Johns Roman Catholic Orphanage,
where the children and nuns were
standing in the rain waiting for him.
President Taft got out of his auto
mobile, shook hands with the mother
superior. while the children cheered.
They sang America" as he departed.
In his speech at Campas Ulace, the
President made vigorous defense Of
his veto of the farmers free list, wool
and cotton bills, which he alleged
were evolved for political campaign
purposes.
TAFT Defends Action.
The President in his address today
gave his reasons for vetoing the wool
bill, the free list bill and the cotton
bill, taking the position that they had
been carelessly prepared and drafted
without expert advice of the Tariff
Board. He then reviewed the history
of the movement for the creation Of
a permanent tariff commission, and
how a bill creating such commits
sion had been filibustered to death by
q small minority in the house. Then
he said
Il have gone over with care this
history OF the movement for Tariff
Beard In order to show how fully COM
mitted am to the proposition that We
ought not to have any revision Of a
schedule os the tariff without accurate
Information as to the operation and
effect OF the proposed changes. and
further to show that in this view 1
have had in the past the hearty sup
port not only of the regular Republi-
cans, but also, and even with more
emphasis, those who call themselves
Progressive Republicans.
Bound to Protection.
Second. also wish to point out
that all Republicans of whatever shade
are committed to the maintenance OF
our protected industries to the point
OF retaining duties on imported ar
ticles which shall equal the differen-
and abroad.
Third. Except for the extra session
called only to pass upon the recipro-
city bill, the first time that the Six
ty-second Congress could consider and
pass upon tariff schedules would be
in December, and at that time its pre-
decessor, by consent Of both parties,
had fixed as the proper time at which
q full report as to the most objection
able schedule ought to be reported.
With the money granted me by Con-
gress l had provided u board. nonpar-
tisan, and with the same personnel
as the statutory board would have had.
to make a report not only upon wool
but also upon cotton.
Although many of the Democrats
had assisted in the support of the
vocated such a means of securing ac-
curate information in respect of the
probable operation Of the proposed re-
vision, the House ut once began to
make record for political purposes
by passing three tariff bills, the wool
bill, the free-list bill, and the cotton
bill. They gave no public hearings of
any kind on either of these bills and
they presented no satisfactory infor.
'mation upon which the effect of any
OF them upon the industries involved
could be judged. Their investigations
may have been sufficient to satisfy the
conscience of tarifffor-revenue man
who believes in any reduction, how
ever great. OF existing duties, but for
one pledged as l am to maintain a
tariff high enough to enable existing
Industries to live, the case is differ
ent"
Veto Of Wool Bill.
Speaking OF his veto of the wool
bill the President said:
II had no adequate Information, and
had been furnished none, upon which
! could say that the bill presented to
me was in accord with the Republican
platform of protection upon which
was elected, and to which l am in
honor bound to square my official act
and policy. In the absence of such
adequate information, and with the
prospect Of securing it in three months
It became my bounden duty to with
hold my approval of the BILL What
was the necessity for such great haste
in passing the bill at an extra session
called for another purpose? The bill
~ II passed the House provided II
should 20 into effect Jan. !, 1912. The
bin passed the Senate and contained
. similar provision. When the bill
went into conference. 1 am informed
that the suggestion was made that the
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