New-York tribune., 1909-07-17
WORK OF CONFERREES
SENATOR'S YIN ON MANY
AMENDMENTS.
agreement Practically Reached on
All Questions Except Those an
Presidents Hands.
From Tho Tribune Bureau.

From The Tribune Bureau
Washington. July Is-With the exception of the
cotton schedule and those paragraphs which are
in the hands OF Taft for settlement, prac-
ticaTy all the disputed portions Of the tariff bill
have been agreed 20 by the conference committee.
Here and there throughout the schedules are a
dozen more paragraphs in addition TO those men
toned on which action has been taken. They
include those relating to zinc and lead and their
products pulp and print paper and sundry miscel-
laneous items in the earthenware. metals and ag-
ricultural schedules When adjournment for the
week is taken tomorrow night it is the expecta-
ton Of the conferrees that substantial agreement
will have been reached on practically everything in
controversy except those questions which. in the
language OF Senate conferree, are now up TO
the President"
Most Of to-norrows session will probably be de-
voted the cotton schedule. Mr.. Aldrich is hold
ing out for the specific which the Senate sub
sttuted for the ad valorem rates of the House bill
At various times this week the schedule has
considered informally. Mr.. Payne is giving espe-
cial attention TO this part of the bill and at to-
days meeting he asked that il go over until to-
morrow in order 10 give him further time digest
the Senate amendments and figure out the effect
Of the specific rates. There was so much criticism
Of this schedule in the Senate that the chairman
Of the Ways and Means Committee is moving eau
uously. He vents TO be certain Of his ground and
in the event Of his acceptance Of the Senate's
change desires 10 be prepared to defend the new
SENATE WINS ON WOOL
Rapid progress on the hill was made to-day: The
WOOL schedule was considered by special sub
committee consisting Of Representatives Mccall.
Fordney and Boutel and Senators Carter Warren
and Snoot The Senators named are not members
Of the conference committee but as all of them
represent wool growing states and gave special
tent'on 10 Schedule h when the bill before the
Senate, Mr. AIdrich willing that their Judgment
NnTro T.Fc
the House should from its amendments 70 the
wool schedule and accept the Senate amendments,
which restore 'he Dingley rates and cIassfcations
The disputed questions in the wool schedule related
TO waste, shoddy, rags. tops third class wool and
one or two other matters of minor importance.
The committee did not reach a final agreement
on the paragraph relating TO wool tops. Ever
since the enactment OF the DIngey law there has
been criticism of the classification OF wool tops,
and in the hearings the tariff bill before the
Committee on Ways and Means it was asserted
that the provision covering tops was "sneaked'
into the Dineley Law by underground route.
The Democratic members OF the Ways and Means
committee, especially Champ Clark the minority
leader directed their against the cassifca-
ton Of tops II may be explained that wool tops
consist OF secured wool which has been Combed
and advanced in manufacture to point ready
ior conversion Into warn. The House reduced the
duty tops from 81 cents A pound and ~ rer
cent sd valorern, when valued not more than
~ cents pound, and ~ cents pound and 80 per
cent ad Valorem when valued above 20 cents a
pound and not above 20 cents. the duty i'm
posed on secured wool and cents in addition
The Senate bill provided for the re-enactn7ert of
all the provisions Of the Dingley law relating to
wool thus restoring the present classification Of
tops The House conferrees were unwilling to ac-
cept this classification, and insisted on a reduction
OF the duty tops An agreement was reached
By which new paragraph covering tops will be
written into the bill which will provide for A rate
on tops below the duty on spun warn and above
fIrpd Tl,fg
substantial reduction of the duty
HOUSE RECEDEs on SILK SCHEDULE.
The House conferrees accepted the Senate amend
ments TO the silk schedule. These amendments
substitute specific for ad vaorern rates throughout
the schedule. The effect of the substitution is 10
increase the rates The higher grades and 70
lower the rates Tho cheaper silks on the
whole. the average duty in the silk schedule Of
the senate bill IS slightl greater than in the House
bill hut II is insisted by he Senate conferrees that
all the increases are on what may properly be re
garded pure lJxuries' It is estimated that
the new silk duties Will increase the revenues
nearly z.10000 year
The House accepted practically all the Senate
amendments 10 the spirits schedule. These amend
rents provide far substantial increases on wines
and other liquors. is estimated that these in
Creases viii add $4,000 year to the customs re
cepts. most OF the additional revenue coming from
champagne.
The paragraph relating 70 uthograpbfc rrIn+e Vas
rewritten. but Of the higher rates of the Sen
ate Dill were adopted, including those cigar labels
and flaps. Probably single paragrap ph of the bill
has given the tariff makers more trouble than that
dealing with photographic prints Iithograrlers
especially manufacturers Of postcards have deIugcd
members % Congress with petitions and letters
asking for higher duties They asserted mat their
business was being ruined by German competition
and that they would be forced out Of business un-
less the new tariff gave them substantial assistance
The now duty postcards is ten times that i'm
posed by existing law, and is the greatest increase
Of Tho entir. tariff bin
Another Senate amendment accepted by the House
co'ferrees to-day that relating TO beams grid
'rs and other structural steel The present duty
IS 80 Of cent, and III, House rate 30 Of a
cent The S"nat@ bill provides that the $40 of a
should apply 20 steel valued at SIS q Ton
or less. with rate Of 40 OF a cent where the
value Is more than SIS The Senate bill also
transfers TO the basket clause of the metals scho-
ule steel whcn is punched or fitted for use thus
making this class Of steel dutabIe At A. per cent
? valorem.
The tentative agreement announced in these dis
patches this morning that scrap iron would be
made dutiabe at 81 a ton formally approved
by the conference committee to-day The present
duty on scrap iron is 81 the House rate 20 cents
and the Senate rate g %.
Thprr Th5pnpTC IN TINT