Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-07-27
SCHEDULE ON HIDES
|. IS CENTER OF FIGHT
Anti-Free Hide Element Begins
Vigorous Resistance to Any Re-
port From Tariff Committee
Which Will Remove Duty.

WASHINGTON, July 2e.-In both sem
ate and house the anti-free hide element
today prepared for a most vigorous re-
sistance to any report from the tariff
committee taking the duty off of hides.
Northwestern senators and members of
the house early engaged in conferences
among themselves.
Most active among the workers on the
senate side were Senators Clark and
Warren. of Wyoming: Carter, of Mon
tana; Borah, of Idaho. and Smoot, OF
Utah.
PLAN DEMOCRATIC COUP.
In case the conferees bring in
free hide report the opposition will re-
sort to the tactics of adopting a resolu-
ton of authorization to the conference
committee to place all kinds Of leather
and all leather goods on the free list
along with hides.
BY this course they count on obtaining
all but one of the Democratic votes in the
senate and all but four of the Democratic
votes in the house. The Democrats are
committed to lower duties, and while they
would not directly help the hide men by
voting to put a higher duty on their
product. they would be willing to force all
the duty off of shoes. The contestants
were engaged during the forenoon in
making a careful canvass of the senate.
Their scouts were busy making the
rounds of the committee rooms and inter-
viewing all senators, who for any reason
have indicated opposition to the bill. They
hope to pick up six or seven votes from
among the so-called progressive senators
who voted against the bill as 1t passed the
senate.
The free raw material men were not so
active today, but they were none the less
determined, and there was no evidence
that they had abandoned their fight. With
the president and large majority of the
Republican members of both houses Of
congress with them, the declared success
must come, and told the instructors"
that they must either take free hides now
or soon be asked to take free wool in ad-
dition.
BILL IN CRITICAL STATE.
Everybody appreciates that the tariff
bill is In a critical stare and not even it's
most enthusiastic supporters are as hope
full over the outlook as they were a week
ago.
Greatly concerned by reports of friction
between Senator Aldrich and Representa-
tive Payne at the Sunday night session
Of the tariff conference committee, many
members of the senate and the house
today besieged the offices of the two
leaders In EFFORTS TO learn IL possible WnaI
the outcome is to be. At both 1t was
stated that the ill-feeling engendered by
the attempt last night to compel vote
on making hides dutiable at 1-2 per cent
had not widened the breach between the
senate and house so much as had been
indicated by published stories of the con-
troversy.
Before the resumption of the sessions
Of the conference committee at 2:3O p. m.
today Senator Aldrich told all of his call
ers that there was yet a chance to patch
I'D all differences so that a report could
be made to the house tomorrow. Many
Of the conferees indicated a purpose of
insisting upon finishing their labors to-
night.
Senators who were seen coming from
the room of the chairman of the finance
committee said that it was certain that
Mr.. AIdrich would not consent to the
making OF a report until he knew what
the vote on the report would be in the
senate. Unless the advocates of protected
hides or Of highly protected leather goods
are willing to make material concessions,
no report can be made tomorrow, accord
ing to the western Senator'S. They do
not take a hopeful view Of the situation.
President Taft is standing pat" and be-
believes he will win.