Omaha daily bee., 1909-07-25
Warren and SmOot Make Desperate
Struggle for Retention.
HOUSE RULES ARE OBSTACLE
They Do Not Permit of Reopening
Leather Schedule.
EALE IS URGING PAPER DUTY
Maine senator Refuses to stand for
Any ReductiOn-OiI 10 he Free
Probable Duty on
Iron Ore.

WASHINGTON, July 24.-The hide ques-
ton was settled and unsettled today, and
while there seems little doubt that event !
ually hides will fall among the unpro
tected articles in the tariff bill. the con-
test over their status cannot be regarded
as closed. When the conferees adjourned
for luncheon several Of them said that It
had been decided that hides should go on
the free list. Tonight the same conferees
declare that hides will be free, but that
the question has not been decided Off
cially.
None of the questions made prominent
throughout the country by President Tafts
interest in them has been adjusted, al
though the conferees have been in strict
executive session since noon yesterday.
The adjournment tonight was until 10
O'Clock tomorrow
The conferees expect to spend a large
part Of Sunday wrestling with these prob
LENS The indications are tonight that
the conference rates upon the important
questions still in dispute will be as follows:
Hides, free; OIL free; lumber. rough, 81
a thousand feet with proportionate diff
ferentials; coal As cents a ton. without the
house reciprocal clause; iron ore, 10 cents
ton; print paper RS.75 ton.
Hides Cause Much Trouble.
Practically a full week has been occupied
by the conferees in an effort to settle these
questions. Most OF the time has been de-
voted TO hides This subject was compli-
Gated by reason of statements coming from
boot and shoe interests that they were
ready to agree to substantial reductions in
the duties of leather goods II hides were
put on the free list. These interests felt
sure that there could be no reductions
boots and shoes below Is cents ad valorem,
the house rate, which is lower than the
senate rate on existing law
President Taft stated to a number of
his callers that he would insist upon
reduction to at least 10 per cent ad va
loren, with proportonate decreases In the
rates on other leather goods. This fur,
ther complicated the situation.
Reports reached the conference room
late today that Speaker Cannon and Par
Humanitarian Kinds had decided 1t would
be impossible for the conferees to adopt
rate on boots and shoes lower than the
rate adopted by either branch of congress.
Advocates of protected hides declared
that there must be a proportionate reduc-
ton in leather to offset the abolition of
the duty on hides II their votes were to
be counted upon to adopt the conference
report.
This statement came from such men as
Senator arren, who has been one of the
senate stalwRrts on tariff matters, and
Senator Smoot, who was the right hand
man of Chairman Aldrch in making up
the senate tariff bill. They said similar
views were held by others. including Sem
ators Carter and Hepburn. They had just
come from the hite house, where they had
gone to protest to President Taft upon
his lnsistenee that hides must be free.
UItimatum Makes Difficulty.
As result of the declaration by the
men interested in protected hides, which
amounted almost to an ultmatum, some
OF those who are looking for an early ad-
tustment of tariff differences, were filled
with CONSERVATION.
Senator Aldrich was appealed to by
other oonferees to learn what chance there
would be for the adoption OF joint reso-
luton authorizing the conferees TO adopt
rates on leather goods lower than those
fixed by either bill.
Some OF the western senators already are
said TO be greatly dissatisfied with the ac-
tlon taken by the conferees in decreasing
senate rates on lead and its products. II
was stated that IL would take very little
to induce them to vote against the con-
ference report.
Senator Aldrich was OF the opinion that
the conference could reduce rates below
those fixed by either house without the
adoption OF concurrent resolution. He
based that opinion upon the ground that
there are precedents for such action, but
II was pointed out today that point OF
order might be raised against such pro-
oedure being allowed TO stand, and that
the point probably would be sustained In
either branch.
May Amend Rules.
A.
two bodies TO ascertain whether a con
current resolution conferrinE jurisdiction
TO lower rates below those fixed by eithel
house could be adopted. Until this in
formation is at hand II is improbable thai
the question OF fixing the duty on hides
or leather goods will be closed.
icon ore was taken up at the Afternoon
session today, but the rate was not fixed
a EAport that the conferees had agreed
upon duty OF 20 cents ton was ae
cepted as true by senators and represents
tives from states interested in the iror
ore question, Some Of the eonferees said
tonight they did not think the rate would
be above Is cents ton.
Senator Hale is making a stubborn figh'
for the retention OF the 81 ton on prin
lpaper fixed by the senate. He has Figured
out that the difference between the cost
of manufacture in the United States and
Canada, considering transportation labor
and all other charges Is fully SS75 ton
Il is generally believed the latter rate viii
,e named by the conferences report.
Little consideration has been given thu,
far TO lumber, coal or oil. The senat,
conferees are insisting on $50 on rough
lumber. while the house members say thay
VIII hold out for 81 lumber Both Sidei
agree that they may have TO split the diff
ference.
Coal Il is said will be made dutiabl,
CONTINUED on Second Pase)