New-York tribune., 1909-07-13
TO CUT IRON ORE DUTY
CONCESSION TO HOUSE By
SENATE CONFERREES.
Report May Contain Payne Rates
srith Senate Tar and Adn,in-
tstratiue Features.
From The r-sbune Bu-eau.l ]


sion 10 the House on iron ors. The present
duty on iron ore IS 20 cents ton. The House
rlaoed this article on the free list and the Sen
ate made 81 dutiable at 25 cents a ton. The
Senate conferreee have thus far been unwilling
TO Yield 10 the demand Of the House for free
iron ore. and are holding out for a duty, and II
will cause no surprise if a compromise is reached
or q rate Of Is cents less ton Formal ac-
tion on iron ore by the conferrees may not be
taken for several days. but in the general dis
cussion Of this question in the conference COM
snittee and at the White House enough has been
said 70 indicate that agreement is in sight
The influence Of the President is being exerted
an favor Of free ore.
Any reduction Of the duty iron means
2 scaling down Of many of the rates in the
metals schedule. A large number Of rates in
shis schedule were increased by the Senate
when II decided 30 place duty of q cents on
sron Although President Taft refrained
from discussing specific schedules with his call
srs from Congress when the Senate was consid-
sring the tariff bill II is no secret that he ap
proved the action Of the House in placing iron
ore on the free list. He was not alarmed at
the prediction that free iron ore would mean
great insportations from Cuba, and
zrised when q large number Of Democratic
Senators supported the duty Of 25 cents recon-
amended by the Finance Committee The Presi-
Sent felt that If the Cuban importations we're
aarge their only effect would be the develop
E1ert Of the iron and steel industry in the sea-
board cities Of the South. Under these crcum-
stances he thought that self-interest would
bring Southern Senators into lire for free ore.
There was some comment at the Capitol this
afternoon on the fact that two Of the most
dent friends OF dutiable iron ore were White
House callers to-day Representative Fordney.
had bvsa he
this morning. and Senator Burrows of that
state met Mr.. Taft by appointment this after
moon AS the metals schedule is under con-
siderstion by the conference committee, the iron
question doubtless was discussed at these
conferences. and an effort was made by the
president TO convince the Michigan men that a
little yielding by them would promote harmony
and assist in the framing of satisfactory tariff
bill
SESSIONS OF THE CoNFERREEs.
The conference committee held its first night
sessien tonight. Little business was transacted
at the morning and afternoon sessions. The
House oonferrees had TO leave the morning ses-
sion to attend session Of the House and the
afternoon session was brief owing TO the fact
that Mr.. Aidrich had an engagement to take
luncheon with the President. At all three ses-
Sions the metals schedule was under considera-
ton. and material progress was made. One Of
the downward revisionists of the House confer
ence committee said tonight that he was en-
rrely satisfied with the results UP TO date "Of
course" he said, we haven't taken 1p anv Of
. the big things. but have disposed Of some
n paragraphs Of fairly large importance. We have
accepted the few Senate reductions that have
been considered. and the Senate conferrees have
reoeded from many Of the increases made in the
Favne bill We are perfectly harmonious and
think we viii reach an agreement without seri-
Gus trouble"
There is general belief az the Capitol that
The rates Of duty in the conference report will
be largely those Of the Payne bill and that the
provisions OF the Senate bill as TO special taxa
ton the maximum and minimum clause and the
administrative features will be adopted. An
agreement on this basis would be highly pleas
ing 10 the President He was consulted by Mr
-Aldrich in the preparation Of the maximum and
minimum clause. 10 which he gave his approval
and also with reference 10 certain Of the admin
sstrative provisions. including the customs court
of appeals
Mr. Payne is too experienced in handling dis
sputed questions in conference TO accept without
q protest any Of the provisions of the Senate
amendments. He has indicated some hostility
70 the Senate's maximum and minimum plan
and viii not accept It until he has gained Nr.
sAld-ich's promise that certain other parts OF
1.-THE bill will be made TO suit him. Representa-
itives Of the National Association Of Manufact-
lurers are preparing 70 be represented in Wash
9sngton this week by large delegation. They
sdesre the retention Of that part of the Senate's
maximum and minimum plan which contains
she germ OF tariff bureau. Mr.. Payne has Jet
kt te known that if the Senate's maximum and
minimum clause is approved there will be ne
icess:ty for certain experts 10 make tariff inves-
stigations He does not believe in a tariff COM
mission. and at the present time is standing out
for the House maximum and minimum plan
which does not provide Tor the appointment Of
tariff experts by the President.
NO FIGHT on WOOL SCHEDULE
The report that there will be hard fight in
the conference committee on the wool schedule
Is not well founded II is believed that the diff
ferences On this schedule will be adjusted in a
seu hours Schedule K-wool and manufactures
of-wss prominent in the public eye in the Sen
e.e debate not on account of the amendments
made by the Finance Committee, but because
OF the amendments which were offered by Sen
ztors Doliiver, La Follette and others which
were defeated The wool schedule on which the
conferrees will agree viii be practically the
Dingley rates and classifestions. OF the thirty
eight paragraphs in the wool schedule thirty
one remain unchanged from the Dingley law in
both House and Senate bills The House low
cred the duty in six paragraphs These nara
graphs deal with third grade wool. or tops"
the portion of wool from which yarn Is made:
the waste from tops, and rags and shoddy The
Senate restored the Dingley rates in these para
graphs. and added one new paragraph providing
that fabrics composed Of animal hair combined
with cotton. or where vegetable fbre silk or
wool is used. shall be dutiable manufactures
rssV wool course he furfsd5cffop Of he ror-