Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1909-07-31
~N1~- y
TARIFF TIMERS
ARE FAR APART
COnfeTees Held Two Sunday
Sessions Without Result.
TAFT FOR FREE HIDES

His Stand, as He Regards Free
Hides as Typical Case For Down
ward Revlsion--Payne and Aldrich
Clash.
Washington, July 26.-- Although the
tariff conferees held two sessions or
Sunday, the hides and leather sit
uation is Just as badly entangled as
ever.
Bitter words between Senator AL
drich and Representative Payne, just
before the close of an hours session
of the tariff conferees Sunday night,
are reported to have followed an at
tempt on the part of the former toI
compel vote on motion to make
hides dutiable at IA per cent, half OF
the existing rate.
From the variety Of reports concern
ing the incident ii appears that the
senate leader was angered by frequent
statements made by the house leader
that the country and the president
were in sympathy with the action of
the house In putting hides on the free
list, and that he did not propose to be
| governed by what majority of the
conferees thought about the question
Mr.. Aldrich is reported to have up
braided Mr.. Payne for his 'obstinacy.
and to have said that he was tired OF
| dictatorial methods" to defeat the will
| of majority Of the conferees. Mr.
| Payne was unrelenting.
When II was seen that nothing could
be accomplished. Mr.. Payne's sigma
ture being necessary for the making
| OF report. the conference adjourned
Final Appeal to Taft.
Today's session began at 230 p. m
This morning was occupied by advo
| Gates of protected hides in making o
final appeal to President Taft that he
| stand just as firmly for material re
auctions in the duties on boots and
shoes and other leather goods as he
is standing for free hides.
| Until the senate members are as
sured Of sufficient votes to adopt a
conference report carrying hides on
the free list they will permit this ques
! ton to be brought TO a vote. The
| house leaders insist that the conferees
are not empowered to agree upon dus
! ties lower than the lowest rates fixed
by either branch OF congress-
1t was argued that 1t was possible
to bring In special rule in the house
| declaring ain order" rates on leather
goods below the duties fixed by the
house bill. without such rule, 1t was
said. the speaker would be compellea
to decide that the conferees had ey
ceeded their authority II they should
bring In report naming rates upon
| leather goods, such as boots and shoes
sole leather, calfskins and harness
lower than those fixed by the house
| bill. 1t is not known whether such q
rule could be adopted.
| Taft Stands Firm.
President Taft has not receded II
| any way from his demand for free
| hides. He Is automatically represented
as regarding free hides as typical
case underlying the whole principle 81
1 downward revision and II free hides
should be lost little OF encouragement
to the real revisionists remains.
A compromise duty of z cents--a re
duction from 16 per cent under exist
ing law--would be of no benefit. ac
! cording to the presidents views. I'm.
less hides are made absolutely free
! there can be no reduction made on
boots, shoes and other manufactured
articles OF leather, and consequently
| the basis of real revision In this emf.
nently important schedule is lost. The
| president. 1t is said, has been deeply
impressed by the representations that
have been made to him by the leather
interests to the effect that under the
protection of the prohibitive is cents
duty the leather and shoe manufactur
ers are practically at the mercy OF the
four or five big meat packing concerns
of the middle west.
President Taft, according to those
| who have talked most intimately with
| him, does not suffer the delusion that
| revision of the tariff downward is go
| ing to bring reduced prices or wonli
| be of immediate benefit to the much
talked-about ultimate consumer" In
| stead OF a reduction, 1t is declared
! that there will be actual increases dur
| ing the coming year on many of the
necessaries OF life. including wearine
apparel. Even the putting OF hides en-
the free list and the accompanying re
| duction In duty on finished leather
| products is not expected to work re
duction in the price of boots, shoes
harness or any of the other myriad o.
| things manufactured from leather As
| matter OF fact. the presidents advices
now are to the effect that hides are
rapidly increasing in price, and that
the demand is SO great that even the
large importations expected from Ar
! gentina under a free entry clause will
not sufice to keep the prices at cur
rent figures.
Child Drinks Kerosene.
Millville, NJ j., July 24.-The small
daughter Of Mr.. and Mrs. Mickey. OF
West Millville secured some kerosene
II