The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-07-20
TARIFF TANGLE.
Hard Problems Can No Longer
BE Put Aside.
The Voting Stage Is Certain to
BE Reached Soon.
ONLY REPUBLICANS.
OF the Two Houses Sit in the
Conference.
Paper and Pulp Fight Promises
to Be a Hard One.
ONLY REPUBLICANS.

Washington, July 2O.-When the
conference committee of the two
houses on the tariff bill met today the
duty on thorite and Monazite sand
received first attention. These arti-
cles are constituents of gas mantles,
and Notwithstanding they are stran-
gers to the lexicography of a large
majority of people, the difference be-
tween the two houses as to the rate
of duty has been very sharp.
The house imposed a tariff of four
cents and in addition inserted a pro-
vision for duty of 60 per cent ad
valorem on thorium and gas mantles
treated with chemicals.
Heretofore the conferees have been
putting aside the hard problems after
discussing them, but today they
started with the intention of settling
their disputes insofar as they pos
sibly could do so.
For time after the presidents
activities began, he occupied the
center of the stage and attention was
that his attitude has been defined, the
conferees have begun again to give
attention to the problems that pre-
sent themselves and which the con-
ferees of the two houses must work
out among themselves regardless of
the White House.
Voting Stage Is Near.
No votes have been taken but when
business began today it was under
stood that stage must soon be reach
ed During the last 10 days of tire
existence of the conference, many
agreements have been arrived at, but
most of the differences left to be ar
ranged are fundamental in character
and it is believed can only be settled
by the process of the ballot.
n1,IV ,I,Ts< .
the two houses are sitting and the
representatives of each branch vote
separately. AS there are five senators
and six representatives on the con-
ference, the votes of three senators
and four members of the house will
be necessary to carry any proposition
The disposition on the part of the
conferees of each house, is to allow
the majority to rule, and it is appre-
hended that there may not be so
much difficulty in reaching a conclu-
sion in either branch as there may
be in bringing the two branches to-
gether.
Wood pulp. print paper and lumber
to say nothing of hides, iron ore and
other so-called raw material are re-
ceiving the most serious attention from
the conferees. The paper and pulp
fight bids fair to be especially stubborn
md probably Will be somewhat prolong-
ed.
Much Progress Made.
Much progress has been made on
the cotton schedule. but hosiery and 4
humber of other leading items of cot
ton manufacture are causing the tariff
1rbitrators much concern. The draw
back provision is practically the only
administrative feature that
remains unsettled. Although the rates
Of duty have been fixed on practically
all of the steel products, there has been
4 protest against the increased rate
1n structural steel punched for use.
It was thought that a compromise
on lead and its products was IN view, |
out this schedule has also proven diff |
cult of adjustment. The duties on
zinc in blocks and pigs which were
increased by the senate over the house |
ates is another matter which is delay |
ng the settlement of the metal sche- |
lule.
An agreement as to whether there !
hould be reciprocity provision for /
he free entry of agricultural machine !
" does not seem to be near at hand |
md the same may be said with regard |
G the differences existing between the