New-York tribune., 1909-04-11
DUTY ON OIL PRODUCTS
JOKER" IN PAYNE BILL.
Onlu Petroleum Itself Free-MeGs-
ure May Be Recalled.

xA-o Apr 10-InOSe Representatives
who have been fondly cheTishing the belief that
petroI.,,rn and all IF its products placed on
the free list by the Payne bill, passed yesterday,
we're rudely disillusoned this afternoon, when the
measure was Distributed in printed form. CRUDE
and refined petroleum. is specifically placed the
free list but there IS mention of its products
IN the bill although understood in the
House yesterday that the amendment adopted by
q vote of S33 TO 70 provided that all products OF
Detroleum should be nOn-dutiable. IN point OF
fact there IS a duty Of 20 per cent ad svalorem on
the prodcts of petroleum not specifically placed
on the free list BY bill. and paraffne and
certain classes Of oil grease alone appear in this
list the 20 per duty will be imposed unless
the bill is changed.
Section 9 Of the bill reads: That there shall be
levied collected and paid on the importation of all
raw or unmanufactured articles. enumerated
OF provided in this act, duty of 10 centum
ad vaIorem, and al! articles manufactured. in
whole or part. provided for in this act. a
duty Of 20 per cent ad valorem." The uncassihed
products of petroleum come under the latter part
of the section. and will in the opinion of many
experts be dutable Unless the House bill Is
amended
Under the leadership OF Representatives Norris
and Murdock. tie Republicans who worked for
reduction the duty oil are holding d series OF
indignation meetings tonight. They have not yet
concluded whether the omission made pur-
posely oversight OF the Ways and Means
Committee due to the confusion attending the clos
Ing hours OF the consideration OF the bill None
of the insurgents cared to express the opinion
that il was trick" of the House leaders, but
they all declared their intention of having the mat
ter explained when the House convenes on Mon
day.
The only products of petroleum which have
been able ind enumerated in the bill, SAID
Representative Murdock, OF Kansas tonight are
paraffine and certain kinds Of oil grease LLoIlca'
ing oil which is used on every railroad train ana
in many engines and other mechanical "oINs
throughout the country, is not classified so thdt 1t
will pa duty of 20 per cent and the same Is 'Ue
of axle grease and numerous other conliheic'al
products which l cannot recall Treasury Depart
officials say that there are at least TWO nun
dred products Of petroleum which would oe ou''"
bic under the Payne bill
That il vas the intention Of the advocates OF
oil put products the free list Is tieaE
from the Congressional Record, which contains
yesterdays proceedings. The Record also brings
out the fact that Representative Nreeand, of Ne"
York, OF those who opposed free OIL SO uiluei
stood the contemplated change. FOR in his remarks
he said: 1t said that the secret OF this pIopo
sition the by-products; that that was WheFe
the blow would be struck at the Standard Oh com
pany. It may interest these gentlemen tine adVo-
Gates OF free OLD know that the Standard Oh
Company rehneries in Mexico within the last
three months. have been fully equipped with every
facility for making all of the by-products that
come ont OF crude oil and to-day you nave given
them free entry into markets.
The Norris amendment, adopted on Wednesday,
petroleum and its products, but yesterday Mr..
PAYNE behalf of the committee, caused the
striking out Of the amendment, and left the pro
vision reading: Petroleum. crude or refined. lie
was asked several times whether this included the
products, and answered that il did. When tod
tonight that there was great uncertainty as TO
the actual meaning of the provision, he said the
products of petroleum included, for the most
part. the word refined and that the other
products were named in the free list Are there
not many products of petroleum not classified in
the free list?'' he was asked Il have not exam
ined Il critically yet" answered MI Payne
but my opinion IS that they are included Mr..
Dalzeil held the same view.
Mr.. Norris. the other hand, said: IT would
have been easy for the Ways and Means Committee
10 have specified the products of petroleum II they
desired 10 avoid complications and lawsuits when
ever the law is applied. I under the impress
sion that were voting amendment which
unmistakahle in this regard However, We
will bring the matter Up in the House on Monday
and have explanation
The present programme Of the insurgents" IS