Evening journal., 1909-07-19
HARD FIGHT
OVER TARIFF
Little Trouble is Now Ex-
peCted Over Free Iron
Ore
CONFLICT OVER LUMBER
HIDES AND COAL
sy United Press Leased Special win.

DJ OuAAtu 1ANcr ACbcNu 0RtilAl NAANs
WASHINGTON. July 19--This week
promises to be the crucial one In the
tariff fight. 1t will determine the ex-
tent of the concessions that the Presi-
dent can wiring from Congress in the
direction of lower rates. The members
of the conference committee. as
body profess to be with him in his
desire for reductions, but the very
practical question before them is to Sc
cure the votes to pass bill carrying
those lower duties, and in this lies the
hardest part of the work yet to be
done. it is there that the influence
of the President must be exerted 70
the uttermost. and upon his opinion
depends the outcome. The result un-
doubtedly viii be "A compromise.
on the question OF free iron ore.
there IS expected TO be little trouble
That this concession would be made
was announced in these dispatches n
week ago. Even Senator Penrose, of
Pennsylvania, admitted that this raw
material was on a different footing
from the others and would likely lie
traded to the House in return for coh-
cessions ton other matters from that
body.
It will make no difference TO the
steel trust whether iron ore is free or
not for it neither buys nor sells II,
and its great orc fields can defy
competition. II may benefit some At
lantic coast manufacturers by enabling
them IN draw upon the Cuban de-
posits. which are owned by Charles
NJ Schwab. of the Bethlehem Steel
Company. but whether It will benefit
the consumer in any way. dependa
upon whether reductions are made up
on the manufactured articles Of iron
and steel beyond those already agreed
( to by the conference committee.
Lumber Schedule.
The probability of compromise be-
tween the House rate Of 81 and the
| Senate rate OF Si.50 on rough lumber
has also been predicted. But the
situation is very different when II
comes TO the question Of free hides
and reductions in the rate on coal
ouFrteen Republican Senator'S from
the West, aided by several from the
Middle West and East are steadfas
In their declaration that no tariff bill
shall pass the senate which include
these things. The President IS still
optimistically hoping that he can over
come their hostility, but it is certaii
that they hold the fate Of the bill il
their hands, and can force a com
promise. if they maintain their presen
attitude. 1t was these Senator'S who
steadfastly voting with the hnanc
committee. made il possible to pas
the bill, and it was possible to holl
them in line only by the promise tina
their interests should he properly pro
tccted Under the circumstances. fra
hides seems to be an impossibility AM
if the President can induce them y
agree to accept a reduction 10 or l.
per cent. he will have accomplishe,
great deal. 1T is likely however
that this can only be done If ther
is also made some substantial reduc
tions in the rates on manufacture
leather.
Free Oil in the Bill.
Free oil is already in the bill, an
/ the only question with regard to that
) is whether the countervailing dut
shall be retained. This is one-half m
, amount of the duty which may be i'm
posed by country charging a tarii
on American oil and was put on Z
protect the independent oil operator
) from the possible competition Of IN
Mexican and Canadian fields.
The conference committee met at
o'clock to-day. with the expectation .
having before them the new draft q
the corporation tax amendment. Sew
eral Of the conferees have already see
! this. which has been prepared by Al
torney General Wickersham, and hev
expressed themselves as satisfied wit
it. No difficulty is. therefore, cN
peoted in securing its adoption.