The Washington times., 1909-04-11

getting the products of petroleum put
on the free list In the printed bill is
that there will be a bitter fight.
Representative Norris of Nebraska has
been working ever since the discovery
was made that petroleum products were
not free to find a parliamentary way
TO correct what he considers was a mis-
take or a thwarting in some fashion Of
the will of the House. He has found
a way to do It. he said today. He was
not willing to make public what his
exact motion will be. But to his sur
prise and that of various other men,
bers, ne has run into opposition to max
ing the correction.
Payne Refuses to Help.
Chairman Payne has been asked to
take charge of the matter and get the
correction made himself. He has re-
fused to do so. on the ground the refin-
ed petroleum includes all the products
of petroleum. 1t should be said in this
connection that paraffine is one of the
/ important products of petroleum and
this is on the free list by name.
Speaker Cannon is also looked on as
opposed to making the cor. ection- L.
White Busby, private secretary to
Speaker Cannon, when asked about the
matter, said the bill would do jus
what If was intended to do, that is,
to put petroleum. crude and refined, on
the free list. He said that was all thu
House Intended to do, and that II did
| not intS.4d to admit petroleum products
free
| Statements Different.
This, however, does not agree with
various statements OF Chairman Payne
as they appear I'm the Record to the
effect that petroleum and all its prod
ucts would be made free Moreover,
the Record Of Friday shows that Speak
or Cannon himself told the House that
in his opinion the effect OF the Payne
amendment adopted in Committee OF
the Whole earlier Ia the day had beer
10 put petroleum and its products on
the free list.
The temper of the House on the mat
ter is such that If the leaders attempt
to balk the effort To rake the cnr ecUoi
in the bill. a revolt of unheard Of pro
portions is likely. This revolt will not
be made any the less by talk that the-'
is a long and interesting chapter -
written concerning the consideration o.
the petroleum question In the Ways and
Means Committee
II Is learned that most of the Repub.
! licans IN the committee were opposed
. to the retention of the countervsilinE
duty. Chairman Payne himself IS un
derstood 10 have de- med II unwise, anf
il is known that one Republican com
mittee member was on tie point OF re
signing l-vc.luse sc what developed. Thu
member has told friends that the coun
. tervailing duty was kept on In com
l mittee because Of pI assure from "highe
! up"
! Secrets May Come Out.
The interesting question now i
whether the row over the petroleum
products ''joAer" will become of sucl
proportions as to lead 70 the revelation
, of the inside facts regarding the reten
tim of The counterva.: rg provision b,
the committee.
/. An examination of the record show
that on Wednesday, against the per
sonal appeal of Speaker Cannon, tn
. House adopted the Norris amendment
which put a duty of ! per cent on pc
trolelIm. crude and refined, and IL
= products II also abolished the counter
I vailing duty. -.
: / Whole, the House adopted amendment
proposed by Chairman Payne. He Gale
. attention to the uselessness Of a duty o
per cent and got unanimous consen
, TO change this to free duty. In reSpons
] to questions, Mr.. Payne, as shown b
= the Record, said his amendments woCA
e put petroleum and all It's products o.
the free list.