Los Angeles herald., 1909-07-24
COAL, LUMBER, HIDES, OIL AND
IRON UNDER DEBATE
SCHEDULE PROBABLY WILL BE
SETTLED TODAY
If Committee Completes Work, Bill
Cannot Be Reported Before Tues
day Next, as House Has Ad-
journed to That Day
(By Associated Press)

ldTlI conference IOudy On COAL,
lumber hides, oil, iron ore, the cotton
schedule or wood pulp and print paper,
it was said tonight the prospect of set
Ting these big questions tomorrow were
excellent.
For time 1t appeared these so-called
national issues" might be disposed Of
today. Should the conference commit
tee complete its work tomorrow, 1T
would be impossible to report the bill
before Tuesday, as the house, which
under the rules must receive the bill
first, adjourned today until Tuesday.
Heroic measures were used in an
effort to adjust differences between the
senate and house, and to carry out
President Tafts program for a reduc-
tion of duties on raw materials.
All the conferees said tonight the
feelings entertained toward one another
were more pleasant than they had been
for many days.
When Arthur B. Shelton, clerk of the
finance committee and William K.
Payne, clerk of the house ways and
means committee, We're excused from
the conference, 1t was understood that
votes would be taken on all subjects in
dispute before adjournment. Hides were
discussed first. The discussion had not
proceeded far before it developed the
differences We're almost irreconcilable
unless IIle duties OH DOOlS anu SIlOtS
and other leather goods should be
greatly reduced If hides went on the
free list.
Want Duty on Hides
Senator Aldrich had reports from
many western senators protesting
against the removal of the duty on
hides or a reduction below 10 per cent
ad valorem. The only terms on which
the western senator's would consent to
consider the abolition of the duty in
volved the removal of the duty on
leather goods.
1t is understood Mr.. Aldrich said the
hide interests and the shoe interests
must get together and make conces-
sions If an agreement We're to be
reached.
Discussion then turned on the amount
of reduction the leather trade could
stand without serious injury. Sem
ators Lodge and Crane and Representa-
tive Mccall of Massachusetts had a
long consultation with Senator Aldrich.
AS result 1t would be no surprise If
an agreement is reached tomorrow,
substantially reducing the duties on
hides and all leather goods.
After the duty has been fixed on
hides and leather goods, little difficulty
is apprehended in reaching an agree
ment to put oil on the free list, and in
compromising upon a duty of about
As cents a ton on coal, $1.25 a thousand
feet on rough lumber, with proportion
ate differentals, and a rate of about
SO a ton on print paper
Little objection to Free Iron Ore
Many senators thought little objec-
tion would be made to placing iron ore
on the free list, and this question was
generally regarded as good as settled.
SapatO~s RurrOWS however. is making
a stubborn fight for the retention of the
senate rate of 20 cents ton on iron
ore
The anti-free raw material "in-
surgents' of the house met today.
There were only twenty-seven present,
and although several speeches were
made. no resolutions were adopted
The cotton schedule was considered
at the morning session of the commit
tee. While this schedule was not dis
posed of. the conferees are practically
in agreement to adopt the senate in
creases on mercerized cottons, but to
reduce a number of the senate rates
on lower grades. 1t is said that most
of the specific duties which were
adopted in lieu of the existing ad va
lorem for the purpose of preventing
under-v valuation, will be accepted.
1t was announced the increased in
ternal revenue tax on tobacco, adopted
ator Beveridge, would be accepted.
1t was reported yesterday this to-
bacco amendment would be eliminated
and Senator Beveridge protested with
good result to President Taft and Sec
retary MacVeagh.
The conferees accepted a senate
amendment imposing a duty of As per
cent ad valorem on structural steel,
punched for use. In determining this
rate, the house members had their first
roll call of the conference. This method
of disposing of the question was re-
garded as significant in view of the
statement by Representative Payne
that he would not be governed merely
by the will of a majority of the Re-
publican conferees of the house. AS
Mr.. Payne voted with the majority in
favor of the senate increase, however.
no issue was raised.
May Make Report
During the consideration of the mo-
ton to adjourn until Monday, Senator
CuIberson asked Senator Kean who
made the motion, "if there is a proba-
bility of report on the tariff bill"
Mr.. Kean replied, 'I think So"
AFTER adjourning some business was
Transacted in open session. 1t con-
sisted in the presentation of petitions
and the introduction of bills. Among
the petitions was one from Senator
Dick of Ohio, from the chamber of
commerce of Youngstown, protesting
against the admission of iron ore free
of duty.
Mr.. Dick also presented letter from
former Governor Harris of Ohio who,
the senator said was a representative
farmer, protesting against the free ad-
mission of so-called raw materials and
specifying hides and wool. These Gov
ernor Harris declared to be the finished
products of the farmer and he asked for
a duty upon them as a square deal.
1--WE are going to have a bill, and
soon," said Senator Elkins of West Vir-
ginia, after a brief call at the White
House today.
"The fight is over" said a member of
the house who was an earlier caller at
the executive offices. Because" he
added. Senator Ekins was over to the
house side this morning raising the
devil with us for not standing by the
senate"
President viii Win
All of the congressional callers at the
White House today left with the i'm
preston that the president would win
most of the concessions in. his fight for
downward revision, especially on raw
materials, so as to make sure bill
would be devised which would warrant