The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-07-26
PRESIDENT TAT I
 IS BUSY ALL DAY Desire to Finish Tariff Bill
 SpoiIs Day of Day SMALL RIFT IN THE CLOUDS
It Is Hoped That Tariff Bill Will Be Presented Tn the House Tuesday and Adjournment VIII Follow
 Soon After.

Washington, July 25.-Sunday brought no cessation of President Taft's tariff ao- tivities His conferences with House and Senate leaders covered practically the en- tire day. Even the customary Sunday afternoon ride through the parks was can celled.
 Although he admitted frankly to sev- eral of his callers today that the situation was not all that could be desired, he ex- pressed the hope that another 24 hours would suffice to straighten out the tangle in the conference. and that the report of the conferees would be presented in the House on Tuesday next.
 It is further hoped at the White House that the report will be accompanied by a definite plan of action which will be acquiesced in by the House and Senate. and that Congress may adjourn by the last of the week.
 President Taft, it was learned today. has not receded in any way from his de- mand for free hides. He is authentical- ly reported as regarding free hides as typical case underlying the whole plan of downward revision, and if free hides should be lost litte encouragement to the real revisionists remains.
 Compromise Useless.
 A compromise duty of cents, re- duction from 15 cents under existing law. would be of no benefit according to the Presidents views. Unless hides are made absolutely free, there can be no reduc- tion made on boots, shoes and other man. ufactured articles of leather, and conse- quently the basis of real revision in this eminently important schedule Is lost The President, 1t Is said, has been impressed by the representations that have been made to him by the leather interests, to the effect that under the protection of the prohibitive 15-cent duty the leather and shoe manufacturers are practically at the mercy of the four or five ,ig meat packing con a'rns of the middle ..ust The President. on the other hand, 1t Is de- clared, has not been very much impressed by the arguments of western senators that free hides would be followed by demand for free wool. Hides never were pro- tected until the enactment of the Ding ley law.
 Arbitrary Change.
 Although some of the House leaders are 1oath to establish the precedent, they have informed the President that 1t would be entirely possible for the conferees ar bitrarily to change the leather schedule to the lower prices agreed upon in the bargain for free hides, and that the change could be protected In the House against an inevitable point of order by the adoption of a rule providing that points of order should not lie against that par ticular item. The only question then would be the whipping into line of a ma- jority of the members to support the adoption of the rule. The President has heard considerable talk of the strength of the House insurgents" and their threats to defeat such a rule. But, if the leaders consent to the plan, it is believed it can easily be carried through.
 1t can definitely be stated that the Presidents chief concern now is as to hides. The other schedules apparently are being worked into acceptable shape, according to his information, and once the free hides and reduced leather goods programme has been agreed upon, the end of the fight Is in view.
 President Taft, according to those who have talked most intimately with him. does not suffer the declusion that revision of the tariff downward is going to bring reduced prices, or would be of immediate benefit to the h-talked-about "ulti- mate consumer" Instead of reduction, it is declared that there will be actual in- creases during the coming year on many Of the neceSSarleS or ll1e lnCluu1ng wear ing apparel. Even the putting of hides on the free list and the accompanying reduction in duty on finished leather prod ucts is not expected to work deduction in the price of boots, shoes. harness or any of the other things manufactured from leather. As a matter of fact, the Presidents advices are now to the effect that hides are rapidly increasing in price and that the demand Is greater than ever.
 An advance of 22 to 25 per cent in tho price of woolen goods already has been announced despite the fact that no change has been made in the woolen schedule. This schedule will not permit of a reopening at this time. It is a closed incident, as regards the conference. The difference between the House and Senate as to hides offers loophole for the reduction in the leather goods schedule, but this will have to be done in the way indicated above The President Is rep resented as regarding downward revision as a means of protecting the people from monopoly and excessively high prices.
 Even with hides on the free list the President has not admitted In any of his talks that he would be entirely satisfied with the bill. In fact, the President de- clared thatl he did not know of any body who ever had been really pleased with any tariff bill.