New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-08-03
MAY AMEND REPORT
OF THE C0NFERREES
CONCESSIONS WON By
WESTERN SENATOR'S.
Proposed to Make AH Leather Boots
and Shoes DutiabLe at 10 Per Cent
and SaddIery at 20 Per Cent.
From The TrIhune Eureau. :


tIon tonight that the conference report on the
tarin bill will be amended to make all leather
boots and shoes dutiabfe at 10 per cent and an
harness. saddles and saddlery dutiable az % per
| cent The Republican conferrees indicated their
Willingness to make these concessions when they
! found themselves confronted with a growing in
surTection among Western Senator'S who
| though, they had been ~tricked~ by the confer
| ence committee
When the facts we're fully developed IT ap-
peared that while attempt had been made to
! trick or deceive anybody the Western senator's
! had agreed in good faith TO drop their hzht
against free hides in the belief that the rates
given above were the duties which had been
accepted by the tanners and shoe men IN ex-
change for the placing of hides the free Tst-
| Accordingly. it was the disposition Of the con-
ferrees to carry into effect the agreement as the
Western Senators understood it and plans are
being made to modify the conference report to
| this end
When the conference committee voted to pIac,
hides on the free list there vas added to the
hides paragraph a proviso that after OctoAer l.
1909. boots and shoes. the upper leather Of which
was made from hides dutiabIe under the Dingley
act, should be dutable at 10 per cent. All other
leather shoes were to be taxed under the House
duty Of Is per cent
NO ATTEMPT TO DECEIVE
1t was provided further that all harness. sad~
dies and saddlery made from hides dutiabis
under the Dingley law should Be dutiabie az 90
per cent and that ali other harness. saddles and
saddlery should pay IS per cent. This agree
ment was fully out ia The Tribune last
Wednesday. but the Senators from tine range
states in the multitude of their troubles over ths
duties on hides lumber. lead and other products
Of the West. failed to comprehend the signih-
canoe of the changes which had been adopted
They took it for granted that 81 boots and shoes
| would bear the 10 per cent duty, and that the
90 per cent rate would apply to all harness. sad
dies and saddery.
When the conference report was being consid-
cred in the House the Western Representatives
made no emphatic complaint against the pharse-
oloey which imposed different rates Of duty
different kinds of boots. Shoes harness. etc.
When the so-calIed discovery" as made by the
Western Senators. however. they we're filled with
anger They thought an effort was being made
| TO hoodwink them. and charges we're flying thick
and fast concerning the Joker the effort 90
make the West the seapegoat Of New England.
the fraud upon the President. etc.
I The storm broke IN all its fury when the sen
| ate met this morning and the FePublican lead
| ers found themselves face To face with a situa-
tion that threatened serious trouble The Re-
| publican members Of the conference COMMITTEES
/ explained that no attempt had been made to
! lower rates on boots. shoes and harness apply
only in case these articles were made from
| leather manufactured from hides heretofore
Gutiable was fully considered. and that they
supposed it was thoroughly understood BY those
who consented to accept free hides the
promise that further reductions on leather prod
ucts would be made.
THE PRESIDENT ACTS.
President Taft took occasion during the day
TO make similar statements to certain Western
Senators and TO write personal letters to two
Senators. telling them that he had not been
misled by the amendments made in the leather
paragraph
The Westerners we're full of fight and served
notice that unless the report was amended 20
meet their original understanding of its pro-
visions they would try TO defeat its adoption.
They said that by combining their strength
with the insurgents there would e eighteen
Republican votes against the report and that
its failure was certain. The leaders became
alarmed and a hastily called meeting OF the
Republican meTnt ers of the conference commit
tee was ordered Mr. Aldrch sent for the
angry range state Senators and an effort vas
made To pacify them. The Senators summoned
to the conference were Messrs. BOrah. Hepburn.
Warren. Brown. -}erand. Carter and Bourne.
After thorough canvass of the situation tbs
Westerners acquitted the conferrees of any pur-
pose 70 misIead them They explained how
ever. that the Western newspapers had taken
it for granted that all shoes had been reduced
TO 10 per cent and all harness and saddlery 70
~ per cent They said that had they known
that these reductions applied only to leather
manufactured from hides. heretofore dutiabIe
no promise to accept Tree hides would have been
given. They felt they explained that il was
due them and their constituents. who, after a
hard fight. had consented to the placing Of hides
the free list. that the TO and 10 per cent
rates throughout should be incorporated in the
conference report.
The leaders found the situation most embar-
RAISING They said that the proper way To meet
il was 10 have the conference report recOmmitted.
and the changes made in the conference COM
mittee. To do this now might prevent the en-
actment of tariff law. for il might reopen tho
entire controversy. II pointed out that
many members of the House had left for their
homes in the belief that the tarin hghS was
practically over. There vas some apprehension
expressed "a, that the organization might be
unable to muster enough votes 70 put through
the House amended tariff bill
Finally ii was suggested that the desired re-
suit could be accomplished by the passage Of
concurrent resolution directing the engrOssing
clerks 10 make the necessary changes Thu
plan seemed to meet with most favor. although
the conference committee adjourned without any
definite programme II was understood. how
ever that some step would be taken 20 meet
the wishes of the Western Senators. and Il Is
Senate Mr. Alirich will be able to present a
plan which vi be acceptable 70 all those IN
terested.
~ eorata ye.6arv v-aDta6 tro yy-eera-v, S.,.