The Washington herald., 1909-03-10


session. and all members VIII be pledged
TO support the fight against Speaker
Cannon. If they do, all very well and
good, say the knowing ones. while II they
do not. they will be put down on the list
of 'non-DemOcrats.' 1t Is not thought
many members viii fail 70 fall into line
when they stop to think what this viii
mean among their constituents Anyway,
that is the plan now, and the majority OF
the Democrats and the insurgents be-
lieve these tactics will be effective.
The Committee on WAYS and Means has
taken a vote on every item in the tariff
bill. and In most respects the bill is
ready to be reported. Several schedules
will be held open. however. for further
consideration. and IL is certain that an
other vote viii be taken on the ques-
ton OF what shall be the duty on iron
ore and on pig iron. 1t Is now probable
that small duty viii be placed on iron
ore. although there is a sentiment in
favor OF admitting IL free.
The present duty on pig iron IN the
Dingley act has proved 10 be perfectly
prohibitive. and there will not be any
material change in that schedule. The
committee has decided 20 reduce the duty
on lead ore 30 per cent. Il has also
voted to increase the duty on per-
fumeries, on the theory that they are
Injuries and should bear the burden Of
taxation.
WOOIen Schedules Open.
The woolen schedules are still open for
consideration. A delegation OF woolen
manufacturers from New England viii
H. -, xx-oebs-,--.o- tbsg neal ,rS -hsfa
they viii not be given formal hearing
their presence here will exert some in
fiuence on the final arrangement OF the
duties on manufactured wOolens.
The present temper OF the committee
is simply TO readjust the duty on wooden
goods TO correct certain alleged in
equalities in the rates as they are in the
Dingley law. For example. a duty will
be placed on washed woods that will De
proportionate to the duty OF unwashed
wools- There has been a strong demand
for a general reduction in the duties on
manufactured woolen goods. but the
judgment Of the committee at the present
time is 10 maintain the present rate on all
manufactured products of domestic wool
There was strong demand also from
carpet and rug manufacturers in and
around Philadelphia for the removal OF
the duty on the inferior foreign wocls
used almost exclusively in this country
for making cheap carpets and rugs. The
committee would have yielded 10 this de-
mand and placed this grade OF foreign
woods on the free list, II It had not been
for information which came to the COM
mittee that If the product came IN free II
might find its way into the manufacture
Of cheap clothing To provide against
such a contingency, this grade Of wool
viii probably pay a small duty under the
new law.
The Senators from the grazing States in
the West have served notice on Senator
Aldrich that the duty must be restored
on hides when the bill comes over from
the House. The Ways and Means Com
mittee has voted in favor OF free hides.
and there is now very little prospect that
the House will overturn this conclusion
and restore the duty.
Will Work Informally.
II was learned yesterday that Senator
Aldrich, chairman Of the Finance Com
mittee. was planning TO have that COM
mittee get to work on the tariff bill in
formally. as soon as the measure gets
before the House for consideration. and
20 follow the progress of the considera-
tion Of the bill day by day, so that when
the House has passed the measure the
Senate committee VIII be prepared 70 re-
port II without delay
II viii not follow from this that the
bill reported by the Senate committee will
bear any striking resemblance 10 the
measure that passes the House. But by
adopting the method outlined. the Senator
believes that he can save the time that
would be otherwise consumed in long con-
sideration OF the measure IN his commit
tee. If no action were taken until after
il came over from the House.
The leaders in Congress are very much
concerned over the outlook for a pro-
lenged session. There Is no limit to debate
in the Senate, and with the mutterings
that are being heard among the cattle
raisers and sheep raisers from the inter
mountain States, over the prospect Of
free hides, prolonged debate In the SEN
ate is assured.
The Western Senators are declaring.
with much show OF confidence. that the
bill will never pass the Senate II hides
are put upon the free list