Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-07-21
A WAY OUT
Tariff Conferees Striving to
Harmonize Differences.
EFFORTS AT COMPROMISE
Endeavoring to Meet the Wishes of
the President.
FREE HIDES sToUTLY OPPOSED
Proposed Reduction in Rates-Hopes
of Agreement on Hosiery, Gloves
and Print Paper.

! Determined to present to President Taft
tonight a program for the settlement Of
the disputes over raw materials, or at
least to define the issues SO sharply that
the executive may be put in a position to
weigh the merits of the cOntroverted
points. the tariff confereeS today took up
in earnest the five big subjects that had
been held In abeyance by the administra-
tive attitude.
The conferees were said to realize that
their position would be unenviable if they
were to go to the White House dinner to-
night and report that they had been un-
able to reach an agreement on iron ore.
lumber. oil. hides and coal and that they
could offer no basis for an adjustment of
any Of these problems. From reports that
have reached the Capitol it is said that
the President has not been successful in
getting sufficient votes to put hides or
coal on the free list. and that the inclu-
sion of free coal and hides in the confer
ence report would result in its rejection
by the Senate. Senator Aldrich told the
President as much yesterday.
The only obstacle in the way of max
ing a compromise report putting iron ore
and oil on the free list and making re-
ducttons In the duties on coal, hides and
lumber Is believed to be Representative
Payne, the chairman of the ways and
means. committee and head of the House
conferees> If he should refuse to sign
a report none couid be made 1t makes
no difference whether his signature is at
tached to the minority or majority report
but his signature must be had II there is
to be tariff legislation. If he exacts the
placing of hides on the free list and tn.
adoption of u reciprocal provision, which
would mean free entry Of coal from Can
ada as the price Of hts signature, the
Senate conferees say there is no possi-
bility Of an agreement.
Burrows Against Free Iron Ore.
Iron ore was talked. over Immediately
upon the conferees being called to order
today This ~iB- sne.1pf the subjects on
the administration program on which It
was expected that the Senate would have
to yield. Senator Burrows took strong
stand against placing iron ore on the
free list and a long discussion followed
It was apparent that a majority OF the
conferees would be willing to have the
article free.
1t was expected that oil would be put
on the free list. The fight for q counter
vailng duty was carried on In the Senate
under the leadership Of Senator Curtis,
but he has announced to some of the con-
ferees that In view of President Taft's
statement he would withdraw from the
fight.
could go to the Presidents dinner tonight
with the statement that they had been
able to agree to the proposition that Oil
and iron ore should be free it could not
made with the latest task imposed upon
them by the executive. There is little
hope of the adjustment Of the differences
over lumber. hides or coal today, and
these subjects in all probability will lit
orally be put up to the President"
Somewhat Slow in Assembling.
The conferees were somewhat slow in
getting together today. but by 1920 am.
practically all had arrived. Immediately
afterward they entered upon their labors.
Whatever may have been the condition
nside the conference room, they appeared
In better temper as they entered the room
this morning than they did when they
went in yesterday. Mr.. Payne wore
more so than usual, while Mr. Aldrich
was apparently in really genial state
OF mind.
AS an indication that President Taft
Will USS MS UcSl CJlOI 10 " SCL iiol IilOHy
out OF the chaos surrounding the tariff
bill at the White House dinner tonight
came the announcement that In addition
to the conferees the President will have
tors Root and Crane. Speaker Cannon
and Representative Dwight Of New York.
! the republican whip Of the House.
Probable Compromises.
Compromises on window glass. hosiery.
III ,.-;yy -
reached by the tariff bill conferees.
The disposition Of the Senate conferees
| Is to yield somewhat on the lower duties
which the Senate put on the cheaper
values in window glass. The House in
creased the Dingley rates on the smaller
| sizes and lowered them on the larger
| Sizes The Senate made slight reduc-
| ton In the House rates on the cheaper
values of the various sizes by providing
for a reclasSification so as to levy sep
arate duties on the low and high grade
| Of each size.
The compromise on hosiery. which in
creases the Dingley rates on the cheap
stockings and leaves the existing rates
on higher grades. was proposed by the
manufacturers, and IL is understood only
| REQUIRES the approval of Representative
| Payne to be adopted.
! The glove compromise also has been Of
| fered by the domestic manufacturers. 1t
I nTOElQcS IOT the 0HSiS ltSS ~ NolJ Vi luc
! ''Schmaschen" gloves. which Is the cheap
est grade. but proposes to prevent fraud
by Specifying that the gloves to be ad-
mitted free shall re made OF the skins
! Of stilI-born lambs. It is understood
| that other increased rates will prevail.
! With regard to print paper the House
conferees are about ready TO yield on the
| duty OF 81 q ton. and II Is probable that
a compromise OF So ton will be sug-
gested in conference and accepted.
Free Hides Opposed.
The possibility of free hides is arousing
the western senator's. and there is dis
tinct movement in opposition. Senator
Carter OF Montana is especially active
against hides being placed on the free
list and is doing great deal to enlist
the aid OF other senators. The situation.
az he sees IL, is not only menace to
the cattle industry. but involves princi-
ME which the west cannot AFFORD to con-
Taking tie position that hides are as
much entitled to protection as most OF
The manufactured articles. Mr. Garter
saws that if they are to be put on the
| free list other articles of tho same char
acter. such as wool. are liable 10 be next
attacked in the same way