The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-04-25
MAKING TARIFF BILL
SENATE COMMITTEES BEGINS PICK
ING UP LOOSE ENDS.
The Wood Pulp and Print Paper sched-
uIes VIII be settled I'm the Ma
ture of a Com-
promise.

Washington. April 24--The import
ant work of picking up loose ends In
making the tariff bill. was begun to-
day by the Senate Committee on FL
nance.
Wood pulp and print paper. which
have been the subjects of considerable
dispute. were the items considered
and II was agreed that an amendment
should be drafted by a subcommittee
in the nature of q compromise between
manufacturers of print paper and
those who are demanding free pulp
and reduced duties on paper.
The question of the duty on coal was
not considered, but the committee has
decided to recommend the continuance
of the present rate OF Is per cent ad
vaIorem on hides. Steel men have In
sisted ever since the reporting of the
Payne bill from the House Committee
on Ways and Means. that the rate of
S3.s2 ton on rails 10 too low to give
American manufacturers adequate pro-
lection. It had been expected that an
Increase to s4.25 would be made on
rails. Although no decision has been
reached. II 10 regarded as practically
settled that the rate adopted by the
House, will stand.
No action was taken on the crude
petroleum schedule. but II is admitted
that some protection would be provid-
ed I0E Dy the 6GHdtt SVitAAthittSo vi VA
the floor OF the Senate. giving protect
ion for the independent producers. II
is not likely, however. that the nifty
per cent ad vaiorem rate desired by the
independents will be allowed. There
was some sentiment in favor of con-
tinuing the present rate Of % per cent
ad vaiorem. The House placed petro-
leum on the free list.
Senators Root and Curtis were adj
mitted to a meeting of the Republican
members of the committee today, to
aid in the preparation of ahministra-
tive features of the bill. These Sena-
tors, although not members OF the
committee, have devoted much time to
the study of the maximum, and mini-
mum provision, which has been sug-
gested BY Senator Aldrich as substi-
fute for the system proposed In the
Payne bill. This feature has been COM
pieted and viii be submitted TO the
Democratic members of the lcommittee
late next week. Senator Aldrich ex-
poets at that time to issue statement.
explaining In detail the operation Of
this feature
Becauss of the criticism in the Sem
ate that the Senate bill does not pro-
vide for a revision of the tariff down
ward, the committee has prepared q
tabulated statement showing Just what
articles have been increased and what
articles have been decreased, ana the
amounts OF the changes In every In
stance. 1t IL expected that state
ment Of this character win have the
effect OF giving the Senate better un-
derstanding OF the bill and VIII result
in a great saving Of time In passing
It.
Threats by Holland to assess q heavy
duty upon American -four In retalia-
ton for alleged discrimination by the
United States against Holland on rare
lower bulbs. may induce the Senate to
place specific rates on bulbs instead OF
the rs per cent ad valorem rate In the
present law Bulbs from Holland are
valued much higher than those import
ed from France. and the ad valorem
rate has been declared by Holland to
he a discrimination. The bulb industry
is very important in Holland. and a
large amount Of the trade Is with the
United states. Growers in Holland de-
clare. however, that 1t is difficult TO
compete with France. II the specific
rates are adopted. they will give Hoi-