Evening journal., 1912-08-14
STEEL BILL
DRAWS VETO
FROM TAFT
President Believes Measure
Would Destroy Trade and
Affect Workers
HOUSE TRIES TO PASS
BILL OVER PRESIDENT
By The united Presa.

by The United Press.
WASHINGTON. d. c., Aug A.
Basing his objection on the fact that
the bill would be disastrous to the
iron and steel industry and that It
was revision of the tariff without am
bic study and investigation President
Taft today sent a message TO the
house vetoing the steel bill.
The message declared that despite
the statement of the Democrats that
the bill was prepared basically to re-
wise iron and steel manufactures, less
than one third of the revision was ap-
piled to those products. Fifty-nine al
lied industries, the president asserted,
were directly affected
"The ways and means committee
avowed,' the message said, that the
principle of protection had not been
considered but that in framing the
president revision the committee had
adopted the general principle of re-
ducng all duties TO a revenue basis
so far as practicable, except in those
cases where more cogent considera-
ton than those relating to the fiscal
policy of the government dictated the
transfer of given items to the free
list This makes a clear cut issue be-
tween the protective policy and that
of tariff for revenue only, and without
fuller information, therefore l am
obliged to treat this bill as a revenue
bill and one on which the considera-
tion of preserving the industry by
maintaining a tariff necessary to do
so. had little weight There is moth
ing to show me that the duties provid-
ed will equal the difference in the
cost of production here and abroad in
the great line of industries, and that
the wages of workmen will not be re-
duced by a measure which avowedly
discards entirely the principal of fair
protection. II should be noted that
the labor employed in the secondary
industries, which have had so little
consideration in this bill, is in a large
measure high grade, skilled labor,
commanding a high level Of wages.
The message declared that before
revision should be attempted there
should at leaet be public hearings and
plenty of time for careful study Of
the rates.
Il am not prepared TO say that
there are no items in this schedule
president declared
Commenting on the fact that all
machine tools were put on the free
list by the bill, the president said that
The term machine tools" was of such
wide application that its scope should
be clearly defined. If free entry were
made of such tools. he said the same
privilege should be Secured for Amer
can tools abroad.
"A bill for complete revision OF
This schedule" the message conclud-
ed, was presented to me a year ago
Many increases and decreases of rates
are now made from those named in
The former measure. The changes
are not explained and indicate the
hasty method pursued in the prepa-
ration of both Is it not fair to ask
either on tne basis Of protection OF
revenue. which was right?
"On the whole, therefore. 7 am not
willing TO approve of legislation OF
This kind. which vitality affects not
only millions of working men and the
families dependent upon them, but
hundreds Of millions OF dollars worth
IF stocks of goods in the hands Of
storekeepers and distributors general.
", without first providing for a care
ful and disinterested inquiry into the
conditions of the whole industry
From the outset Of my administration
I have urged a revision of the tariff
based on a non-partisan study of the
facts
Immediately after reading Of tn
veto message Representative Under
wood moved for vote on the passag
of the steel bill over the veto. Min
ority Leader Mann objected but wa
overruled by Clark Then Mann ap
pealed from the decision of the chaiI
precipitating a roll call
Clark's ruling was sustained. 241 3
9 and Majority Leader Underwood i'm
mediately renewed his motion to pas
the measure over the veto. One hour
debate was agreed 10.
Several Democrats "insurged
against their party on the roll cal
It was apparent that Underwoo
sought to press his advantage yes
terday, when success in carrying th
wool bill over the veto made it az
parent that the Democrats and Pre-
Fressive Republicans could outvot
the small attendance of Republioa
rac,,1orc