The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-07-25

That a serious situation confronts the
Republican leaders in the matter OF the
tarin bill now in conference was obvious
last night
Friday il seemed as If an agreement
would soon be reached that could be
safely pnoted through the House and
Senate.
Breakers appeared yesterday. and the
end Of the course Is not yet.
President Taft is sanguine. despite re-
ports TO The contrary. that he viii win
out upon substantially all OF the points
that he has brought into issue.
On the other hand. certain leaders In
sist that the President must submit 10
a compromise on his free raw materials
doctrine. which Mr.. Taft has lately modi-
fed. and accept reduction in fates in
stead Of a transfer Of raw materials TO
the free list. on viii be admitted free.
but coal VIII be taxed. AS to hides. that
Is stiH an open question.
Chaotic in House.
In the House. conditions are chaotic.
That body shelters high tarin Republican
Insurgents. low tariff Republican insur-
gents. and Republicans who are insur-
gents on general principles The low
tarin insurgents win. In all probability.
coalesce with the simon-pure insurrectos.
Il an depends upon the President.
II when the conferees reach a final
agreement the President O. ks Il. all
viii be well and the conference report
will be adopted. with votes 20 spare.
President Taft is bending every energy
to bring the warrias forces together.
RE IS pouring of on the troubled waters.
and he expects results satisfactory TO
himself % the Republican leadership
as a VIII
Another Dinner Planned.
A harmony dinner VIII be given at the
White House tonight or tomorrow
night AZ which the ten progressive Re
pubucans IN the Senate who voted against
the Aldrich bin and the near-progressives
I'm that body viii be the Presidents 5
guests
Early In the week the President wlned
and dined the conferees. among whom the
standpatters predominate. The same
treatment Is to he applied 10 the SEN
ators who voted against the Aldrich bill.
and three or four others who have shown
"a disposition OF late 20 line up with the
Ten Immortals"
II all goes well. the conference report
win be admitted 10 the House on Tues
day. If not IL viii be because the House
leadership is convinced that they have
not got the votes 90 pass II. Speaker
Cannon viii not let the conference re-
port go into the House until a count
of noses demonstrates that a majority
favOrs its adoption.
Time for Debate.
According 10 ;he present programme.
the bill Will first be taken up In the
House. Plenty Of time viii be allowed
for debale. although the House IS ex-
pected 70 finish consideration Of the con-
ference report IN a day. Il may take
longer 10 dispose Of Il in the Senate. But
according to statements made by pro-
gressive Republicans. no effort Will be
made to obstruct the report IN that body.
Most Of the work Of the conferees yes
terday was on The hides schedule OF the
bill. II hides are placed on the free list.
rs now seems probable there will be a
reduction in the rates Of duty on leather.
harness and boots and shoes
The President had a talk with several
Of those Senators and Representatives
ytri1 fr,a
subject OF hides with the result that the
terms OF a possible agreement in the con-
ference committee have been set forth.
Among those who called az the White
House We're Senators Crane and Lodge.
OF Massachusetts. who are fighting hard
Tor the removal of the hides duty After
consultation by long-dlstance telephone
with some of the leading manufacturers
OF boots and shoes in New England. the
Massachusetts Senators consented to a
reduction in the duties on boots and shoes
In return for free hides. The manufac-
turers proposed a reduction oi the duty
from Is per cent to 10 per cent.
Idaho Files Protest.
On the other hand. Senators Rorah.
Of Idaho, and Smoot of Utah. called on
the President to protest against the
proposition for free hides They declared
the cattle raisers OF the West were much
alarmed over the prospect OF free hides.
and vigorously insisted upon the lmposi-
ton OF at least a low rate Of duty on
these products.
Messages were exchanged between the
White House and the conference room
on the subject OF hides, with no final re-
suit so far as Is known The indica-
tiOns are however. that hides will go on
the free list.
The conferees are still In controversy
over many important provisions Of the
bill Tentative agreements reached ear
lier I'm the proceedings have been va
Gated from time TO time. Among the
schedules upon which final agreements
are yet to be concluded are cotton. lurn-
ber hides. iron ore. coal. hosiery. gloves.
and print paper.
AS TO cotton the indications are that
the Senate rates viii be slightly reduced.
Continued on Page 2, Column 3.