The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-07-26
'TAFT'S HOPE IS !
IN FREE HIDES
Admits Situation Not All He
Could Desire.
LAST WEEK OF SESSION

President Expects conferses to Sub
NIT Report Tomorrow and That
EARLY Adjournment Of Congress-
viii Follow--other Schedules Be.
Ing Whipped Into shape and With
Leather Items Satisfactorily Dis
posed Of Finish VIII Be In Sight.
Washington, July 26.--Although he
&C itted frankly to several Of his
callers that the situation was not all
that could be desired, the president
expressed the hope that another "a
hours would suffice to straighten out
the tangle in the conference and that
the report of the conferees would be
presented in the house by tomorrow.
II further is hoped at the White
House that the report will be accom-
panied by 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, II was learned. has
not receded in any way from his de-
mands for free hides. He Is authen.
ticaIly represented as regarding free
hides as typical case underlying
the whole principle of downward re-
vision, and II free hides should be
lost little of encouragement TO the
real reyisionists remains.
A compromise duty OF cents, a
reduction from Is per cent under the
existing law, would be of no benefit,
according to the presidents views.
Unless hides are made absolutely
free there can be no reduction made
on boots, shoes and other manufac-
tured articles OF leather, and conse-
this eminently important schedule is
lost. The president, II is said, has
been deeply impressed by the repre-
sentations that have been made to
him by the interests to the effect
that under the protection of the pro-
hibitive 15 cents duty the leather
and shoe manufacturers are practi-
cally at the mercy of Ave big meat
packing concerns Of the middle west.
The president, on the other hand. 10
Is declared, has not been very much
impressed by the arguments of west
ern senator's that free hides would be
followed by a demand for free wool.
Hides never were protected until the
enactment of the Dingley law.
Just how the boot. shoe and fin
ished leather schedules in the tariff
bill are to be revised. when there are
no differences between house and
senate for the conferees. TO act upon.
was one of the puzzling subjects un-
der discussion at the White House.
Although some of the house lead
ers are loath to establish the prece-
dent. they have informed The presi-
dent that It would be entirely posi-
BILE for the conferees arbitrarily to
change the leather schedule to the
lower prices agreed upon In the bar
gain for free hides, and the change
could be protected In the house
against an inevitable point of order
by the adoption of rule providing
that points of order should not lie
against that particular item. The
only question then would be the
whipping into line of majority of
the members to support the adoption
of the rule. The president has heard
considerable talk of the strength of
house insurgents" and their threats
to defeat such a rule. But " the lead.
ers consent to the plan II is believed
1t can be easily carried through.
II can definitely be stated that the
presidents chief concern now is as
to hides. The other schedules appar-
emily are being worked into accept
able shape, according to his informs-
ton. and once the free hides and re-
duced leather goods program has
been agreed upon, the end of the
fight Is in view.