Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-08-09
President Disapproves Meas
ure Reducing Tariff.
SECOND TIME WITHIN YEAR
Similar Action to Be Taken on SteeI
and Cotton Bills.
GIVES REASONS FOR DECISION
Most of Rates, Says Mr.. Taft, Are
So Low as to Result in In
jury to the Industry.

For the second time within a year
President Taft today vetoed bill to re-
wise the wool tariff-schedule X of the
Payne-Aldrich law.
With message Of disapproval he re-
turned to Congress the bill evolved as a
compromise between the House and SEN
ate on the grounds that its low rates
would bring disaster to home industries.
But the President appealed to Congress
not to adjourn until it had enacted a
measure to substantially reduce unnec-
essary existing duties without destroy
ing protection for the wool industry in the
United States.
The Presidents disapproval of the wool
bill is to be followed with similar vetoes
of the steel bill and the cotton bill. The
sugar bill is likely to be vetoed, as is the
excise tax bill. the latter probably on the
ground that the President believes it un-
constitutional.
II shall stand by my pledges to MAIN
tain degree of protection necessary to
Offset the differences in cost of produc-
ton here and abroad, and will heartily
approve Of any bill reducing duties to
this level" wrote Mr.. Taft.
Reasons for Vetoes Differ.
While the bill vetoed today and the one
disapproved last year were identical in
terms, the Presidents reasons differed.
He vetoed the former bill because it had
been framed before the tariff boards re-
port-the latter because. he said. it had
been framed with disregard for the
boards findings.
Most of the rates in the submitted
BILL wrote the President, ARE so low
in themselves that If enacted into law.
able injury to the wool-growing indus
try, the enforced idleness of much of our
woOl-cOmbing and spinning machinery
and of thousands of looms. and the con-
sequent throwing out of employment
thousands of workmen.'
The bill sent to the White House inn
posed an ad valorem duty of - per cent
on raw wool. and on cloths of 40 per
cent. Both rates, Mr.. Taft held. were
insufficient to protect the wool grower
and the manufacturer.
1t was predicted today that the wool
bill might be passed by the House over
Mr.. Taft's veto. but there was some
doubt as to it's fate in the Senate. Re
publican leaders were inclined to believe
that 1t would fail of passage there as it
did twelve months ago.
The Presidents message pointed out
that he was anxious to see schedule X
revised downward and that he would
be glad to see Congress remain In Wash
ington until bill he considered proper
was sent to the White House. He found
II impossible, he said, in view of the
platform on which he was elected, to ap-
prove the substituted measure, but de-
been drafted by minority members of the
House ways and means committee.
Desires to Reduce Duties.
II strongly desire to reduce duties.' -
read the message, provided only the
protective system be maintained and
that industries now established be not
destroyed. 1t now appears from the tar
III boards report and from bills intro
duced into the House and Senate that a
bill may be drawn so as to be within the
requirements of protection and still offer
reduction Of 20 per cent on most wool
and of from 20 per cent to so per cent
on cloths.
Il cannot act on the assumption that
| majority Of either House will refuse
to pass bill of this kind. 1 therefore
urge upon Congress that it not adjourn
| without taking advantage of the plain
opportunity thus substantially to reduce
unnecessary existing duties. 1 appeal to
Congress to reconsider the measure,
which L now return without my approval,
| and to adopt a substitute therefore,
making substantial reductions below the
| rates or the present act. which the tariff
| board shows possible. without DESTROYING
any established industry, or throwing
| any wage earners out of employment
and which / will promptly approve.
| Despite the efforts that have been
made to dlscredit the work of the tariff
| board, its report on this schedule has
| been accepted with scarcely dissenting
voice, by all those familiar with the prob
lens discussed including active repre-
sentatives OF organizations formed in the
interest OF the public and the consumer -
| The message sent to the House TODAY
| was drawn after conferences between
the President and Chairman Emery OF
| the tariff board. 1t was submitted tc
the cabinet yesterday at a special meet
l Ing. Reports that two members of the
| Presidents official family urged him to
approve this measure, were denied at the
/ White House.