The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-07-24
BIC QUESTIONS
ARE up TODAY
Tariff Conferees Near End
Of Their Labors.
SESSIONS MADE SECRET


on so.called National issues"With
Exception Of Hide sehedule--West.
ern Senators Refuse TO Have Raw
Hides Placed on Free List Unless
Rate on Finished Product Is Re.
dueed-Leaders Confer.
Washington, July 24.-While no
agreement was reached by the tariff
eonferees on coal, lumber, hides, oil,
iron ore. the cotton schedule or wood
pulp and print paper, it was said by
the conferees after adjournment that
the prospects of settling these big
questions today are excellent. For a
time 1t appeared that these so-called
national issues" might be disposed
of by the conferees before the end
OF the days session. However, when
adjournment was taken. II was learn
ed that the matters under discussion
were still at issue.
Should the conference complete its
work today, 1t would be impossible
to report 1t before Tuesday. as the
house. which agreed to the confer
ence on the tariff bill and therefore
underline rules must receive 1t before
the senate, adjourned until Tuesday.
Heroic measures were put into OPP
Grafton in an effort TO compare diff
ferences existing between the senate
and house on the tariff bill and to
carry out President Taft's program
for a reduction of duties on raw ma
terials.
All except the actual conferees
were excluded from the chamber, and
II was agreed that discussions lead
ing up TO settlement of any of the
subjects familiarly termed national
issues" should be regarded as conf.
Dental. All of the conferees said
that the feeling entertained tor each
other was more pleasant than IL had
been for many days.
When Arthur b. Shelton, clerk Of
the finance committee, and William
X. Payne, clerk of the house ways
and means committee, were excused
from the conference, II was under
stood that votes would be taken on
all of the subjects in dispute before
adjournment. AS the question of
hides is giving the committee more
trouble than any other of the sched-
ules that have claimed the attention
of the president, 1t was di 'cussed
first. The discussion had not proceed
ed far before 1t was developed that
the differences between the two
houses was almost irreconcilable un-
less boots and shoes and other leath
er goods should be greatly reduced
II hides were TO go on the free list
Senator Aldrich had reports from
many western senators protesting
against the removal of the duty on
hides or reduction below 10 per
cent ad yalorem. The only terms on
which the western senators would
consent 10 consider the abolition Of
the duty involved the removal OF the
duty on leather goods. II is under
stood that the Rhode Island senator
said that there was no use in report
ing to the senate something that
stood no chance for adoption, and
that the hide interests and the shoe
interests must get together and make
concessions II an agreement was to
be reached.
After adjournment Senators Lodge
and Crane and Representative Nc.
Call Of Massachusetts had a long
consultation with Senator Aldrich.
II is not known what understanding,
II any. was reached, but IT would sur
prise very few people outside of the
conference chamber II an agreement
is reached today substantially re-
ducing the duties on hides and all
leather goods.
After the duty has been fixed on
hides and leather goods, little diff
Guilty is apprehended in reaching an
agreement to put oil on the free list
and in compromising upon duty Of
about As cents ton on coal, a rate
of $l.25 a thousand feet on rough
lumber, with proportionate differen-
print paper, Iron ore is expected to
give more trouble than any Of these
subjects except hides.
Many senators thought little objec-
tioD would be made to placing iron
ore on the free list, and this question
was generally regarded as good as
settled. Senator Burrows is making
a stubborn fight for the retention of
the senate Iste of 20 cents ton on
iron ore, and he is said 10 be conf
dent that he will prevent the aboli-
Hon OF the duty. II is difficult to pre-
dict whether the senate rate will re-
main. whether the ore will be made
! free orwhether a rate will be fixed in
the vicinity OF 10 cents a ton.