The Oskaloosa herald., 1909-07-22
TARIFF PRESENTSi
/. =. CURIOUS FACTS
!GEsfwI
Leeches and Dragons Blood I'm.
. portant, Say Statisticians.
c0NFEREEs NEARLY THROUGH
Expected to Complete Work on the
Bill This Week - Believe
Taft VIII Not
| Veto II.

washington, July 19.-The bureau
of statistics is not inclined to treat
with levity some of the articles ap.
pearing in the tariff bill which have
been made the basis of many jests by
the congressional humorists. w.
The bureau maintains that these ar.
ticles, which have a recognized value,
illustrate the scope of the commerce
OF the United States and present some
curious facts. For instance, reference
is made to divi divi, leeches, rose
leaves, dragons blood, palladium,
musk, birds, wild animals and ohicle.
Value Of the Imports.
The value of the imports of the last
decade of divi divi, which is used for
tanning purposes, is placed at $S5, 900.
In the same period the value of
leeches brought in was $4,000; rose
leaves, 100000, and chicle, largely
used in the manufacture of chewing
gum, 100000.
During the year 1908 the musk i'm
portations exceeded $4,000, while the
quantity of palladium, rare metal
used in the manufacture of astronomi.
cal instruments and by dentists, repre-
sented value of $500.
Pains have been taken to explain
that dragons blood is really not drag
on's blood at all. but a mere name for
deep reddish resinous substance OBJ
tanned from a variety of trees in the
orient, and used extensively as an in
gredient in varnishes, stains and den
tifrices. The value of the importa-
tons of this article during the last
decade is placed at 100000. The value
OF birds imported in 1908 is placed at
100000, mostly canaries and parrots
conferees Nearly Through. &.
The conference committee on the
tariff bill is now near the end of its
task and its report is expected to be
completed in the last part of this
week. How long it will take the senate
and the house to pass finally upon the
work of the committee, and what will
be the ultimate fate of the measure as
whole, is the subject of varying con.
lecture, but the general impression In
quarters usually well informed is that
the report of the committee will be
adopted by both houses and will reach
the hands of the president early next
week. g..
Most people here expect that Presi-
dent Taft will sign the bill He him.
self caused furry throughout con-
gress by the issue of what amounted
to an informal message to congress In
which he reiterated his conviction
that the national platform of the Re-
publican party meant, and the senti.
ment of the people as a whole de-
manded, bona fide downward revision
of the tariff. After all is said this
statement really surprised nobody, as
the president had said substantially
the same thing in his recent speech at
New Haven, but it served to crystalize
a somewhat fiuctuating sentiment in
the committee of conference, and II
may have expedited the committees
action.
Must Determine the Rates.
In all probability the five subjects
which have received President Taft's
personal attention-iron ore, coal, oil,
hides and lumber-will be taken UP by
the conferees during the latter part
OF the week. There are paragraphs
In the bill which cannot be disposed of
until rates are determined for the sub
Jects named. Proceeding upon the
assumption that iron ore and oil will
be placed upon the free list. and that
existing duties on coal, hides and lum.
Der will be materially reduced, the
conferees are preparing amendments
to be offered on articles related to the
foregoing raw materials In conse-
quence all Of these subjects may be
disposed of Immediately after duties
have been determined for the more i'm
portant subjects.
Outside Of the questions which are
receiving the personal attention of
President Taft, the greatest difficulty
anticipated relates to the wood pulp
and print paper schedule. ...gal+
The paragraph affecting women's
gloves. on which the house advanced
the existing rate, is among those on
which action has been deferred. The
senate conferees are holding out for az
amendment restoring Dingley rates.
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