The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-04-10
Senate Is Ready for Action.

0CHdlC IS hCdby IOi ffSti0us
 Washington, April 9.-When the Senate committee on finance concluded its session tonight it was with the understanding that all avenues to the committee room had been closed and that the few sessions to be held prior to the reporting of amendments to the Payne bill would not be haInpered with suggestions from the outside. The committee is now prepared to insert rates on certain important mat ters.
 Among the schedules that are attract ing particular attention now are metals and manufactures of metals, lumber, bides, bituminous coal and sugar.
 No rates on steel and iron have been in- serted as yet. although it is practically settled that iron ore will be taxed 20 cents ton and a proportionate rate will be assessed against scrap iron and steel refuse fit only to be re-manufactured. The iron interests are concerned chiefly in getting an increase over the proposed rates in the Payne bill on rails and struc- tural steel. The Payne bill cuts the ex- isting rate on steel rails from $7.S4 to 1892, just one-half. Steel men contend that the Payne bill rates are too severe a reduction. They have asked that rate of s5.SS be fixed on rails. It is gener- ally believed that the committee will name a rate of about $5 per ton. On structural steel 1t Is likely that the Ding ley rates of # cent pound will be main- tained instead of adopting rate BIO of cent @ pound, as fixed by the Payne bill A number of reductions have been made on other articles under the metal schedule fin order to make the schedule symmetrical. These changes. it is said, have been approved by steel manufac- turers.
 The reciprocity clause of the bituminous coal schedule, which 1t is said would fr, ba al Ir1fh If a on coal in the trade between Canada and the United States, Is likely to go out of the bill. Senators Elkins and Dick were before the committee today in this con- nection taking opposite sides. Under both the Dingley law and the Payne bill bi- luminous coal pays a duty of s cents a ton. The Senate committee is consider
 ing a reduction of the duty to about 30
 cents In view of the elimination of the
 reciprocity clause. The Payne bill places
 culm or slack coal on par with biturni-
 nous coal, which would increase it's rate
 from 15 cents to 67 cents. Those who favor striking out the reciprocity clause want an ad valorem duty placed on slack coal which would equal specific duty of 30 or 40 cents a ton.
 Senator Ellxins submitted some data in- | dicating that the present rate of 15 cents | on slack is too low. He read letters | from American agents in Canada and
  | countries artiflcially crush bituminous | coal in order to make 1t admissible to i the United States at the 15-cent instead 1 of the 67-cent rate.
 l It Is reported that the Senate commit l tee will reduce the existing Dingley rates | on lumber one-half. A canvass of the l Senate indicates that an effort in the d. rection of getting free lumber, if made after the bill reaches the Senate, would
 be unavailing. The canvass of the Sem | ate on the question of hides was con | cluded today and 1t Is asserted that as a l result hides will be taken from the free | list as in the Payne bill and a duty be | fixed at IS per cent ad valorern. That 1 wool of all grades and wool tops would 1 be placed in the Senate bill under the l existing rates was stated today upon what | appears to be excellent authority. Many protests were filed with the committee
 against the Payne reductions in the wool schedule