Omaha daily bee., 1909-07-27

is to complete the conference report be.
fore presenting a rule to the house pro.
viding for the reduction Of the shoe and
leather duties below the house rates. II
is said that the conference report will bC
submitted to the house on the same day
that the rule is adopted. In order thai
the action of the house shall not result
in pressure being brought to bear upon
the conferees by those interested in the
leather schedule.
II is also desired that Representative
Payne shall have ample opportunity to
prepare an exhaustive statement which
will be presented to the house with the
conference report. This will rquire two
or three days, and on that account II is
likely that no effort will be made to get
a rule through the house tomorrow. The
house may adjourn tomorrow until Thurs
day.
Change In Philippine Tariff.
The Philippine tariff section was re-
opened today at the request OF President
Taft. An amendment adopted yesterday,
providing that goods manufactured in the
Philippines must be wholly Of ingredi-
ents grown or raised in the islands in
order to be admitted free into the United
States. The president took the position
that this amendment would stifle manufac-
ture in the islands. General Clarence r.
Edwards, chief Of the bureau of insular
affairs, called on several of the conferees
and urged that an amendment be adopted
providing for free admission when not
more than 20 per cent of such goods were
composed Of foreign material. The sug-
gestion was adopted.
The conferees today disposed of a great
many matters over which there was no
controversy, but which needed final con-
sideration to perfect the phraseology and
make certain that there was no ambiguity.
Among these were a number Of admins
trative features. There were also a num-
Der Of rates fixed on certain articles of
minor importanc, which had been left TO
various conferees for investigation and
recommendation. Steps we're taken toward
the final disposition Of the wood pulp and
print paper schedule, although II is I'M
derstood no rates were definitely fixed.
Representative Mann Of Illinois who was
chairman of the special house committee,
appointed to make a thorough study Of
the print paper situation, was called in
to explain the retaliatory provision which
he drafted. The purpose of this provision
is to obtain unrestricted expectation OF
wood pulp from canada to the United
States.
Print Paper Contest.
1t has been unofficially reported that a
duty Of 1915 a ton would be agreed to
on print paper, but Mr.. Mann, after coming
from the conference room, said:
II will not vote for the conference report
If II provides for a duty on print paper
that is above SO a ton, l don't know
whether 1 shall vote for or against the
report If it provides, for a duty as high
as that" ..
The SO rate is 81 lees than the senate
rate. and 81 more than the house rate.
While no rates nave been fixed positively
on coal, oil, lumber, hosiery, gloves, print
paper or iron ore the ,conferees have given
enough consideration to these subjects to
know that it would he able to dispose Of
them In one BRIEF session. 1t was said to-
night that none or these subjects Would
be closed untl the 'conferees were ready
to act on all Of them. 1t was generally
believed that vote Will be taken on these
questions tomorrow. 1t was announced
that If action is taken ali the conferees
will be sworn not TO divulge the conference
rate in advance OF the presentation Of a.
report to the house.