Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-08-02
TO EXPLAIN ACTION TARIFF BILL IS SAFE
Tariff Conferees Summoned Adoption of Conference Report
for Another Meeting Confidently Predicted.
WESTERN SENATORS BALK HOW THE SENATE STANDS
Schedule Charged Opposition Violent Lacking
With Hiding Joker" in Conference
ACCUSATION rs DENIED ENOUGH VOTES ARE IN SIGHT
Administration Situation Likely
Over changed and o
the End Wednesday O Thursday.
Tariff C0nferees Summoned
for Another Meeting.
WESTERN SENATORS BALK
Hides and Leather Schedule Charged
With Hiding Joker"
THE ACCUSATION Is DENIED
Administration Forces at Capitol
Alarmed Over Result of
Canvass of the Votes.

With the tariff conference report fac
ing severe criticism in the Senate on
account of an alleged Joker in the
hide and leather compromise. II was
decided early this afternoon to reas-
semble the conference committee this
afternoon for the purpose of preparing
an official explanation.
The action of western republican SEN
ators. aided by the democratic members,
In compelling the reading of the con-
ference report in full In the Senate en-
abled the supporters of the conference
report To take a new poll of that body.
Much to their surprise. they found that
their previous canvasses were value
less.
An Alleged "Joker."
There seemed to be a revolt among the
westerners on account of the phraseology
that had been adopted by the conferees
In adjusting the differences in the hides
and leather paragraph.
Since Saturday there had been murmur-
ings of discomfort, but these had not been
regarded as serious. Charges that the
leather compromise harbored a Joker"
had been heard. but such intimations are
not unusual in connection III the settle
satisfied senators said that the duty on
boots and shoes had not been reduced to
10 per cent, as claimed by the conferees.
The language of the conference report
and shoes is as follows: THAT boots and
shoes, the upper leather Of which is made
wholly or in chief value from such hides
thides admitted free Of duty shall pay a
duty of 10 per centum ad vatorem''
Senators from cattle states assert that
there are no shoes of that description
used In the United States and that the re-
ducion therefore is valueless, as all other
shoes of leather are made dutiable at Is
per cent.
Members of the conference committee
said that the language employed had been
made necessary by a parliamentary situ-
alton, making it impossible to reduce
duties below the lowest rate fixed by
either body, unless by a proviso adopted
in connection with a paragraph in dispute
such as that relating to hides. 1t is as
serted that'it was necessary. therefore. to
limit the reduction to leather goods made
chiefly from hides of cattle.
Result Of Canvass.
canvass of the Senate during the
reading of the conference report developed
the fact that a number of senator's who
were believed to be in sympathy with the
conference were inclined to leave the
reservation as the act of joining an in
slrgent force is commonly termed in the
Senate.
That the regular republicans were
alarmed at the showing would be putting
II mildly. There followed hurried round
ing up OF senators in the finance commit
tee room. The general understanding is
that the informal conferences in Senator
Aldrich's room did not restore confidence.
Senator Aldrich went to the White
House shortly afternoon. Several other
senators had preceded him there. All of
In% xl,o
President had declared that the language
used in the conference report was not a
Joker" and that he had understood that
the phraseology employed had been nee
essary to meet the situation.
AS soon as the chairman of the finance
committee returned to the Capitol he
called meeting of the conferees. The
call included the House members as well
the Senate members.
Realizing that some heroic measure
would have to be taken in order to re-
store public confidence some of the con-
ferees before the meeting expressed a
willingness to adopt resolution permit
ting the conferees to revise their action
in regard TO the hide and leather ques-
ton.
Explanation Deemed Sufficient.
The older and more conservative mem
bers said that this would not be neces-
sary They believed that if an explana-
i; in good faith especially if President
TAFT gave the explanation his indorse-
ment.
There were several things about the
settlement OF the differences between
The House and the Senate over the lum-
ber schedule that were the subject OF
condemnation the part of the sena-
tors from middle western states and II
Was reported that the conferees may in
ciude in whatever statement they make
some explanation of their action in re-
gard TO that schedule The increase above
Dingley rates made shingles is OBJ
iected 70 particularly by the insurgents.
The President Satisfied.
The President has given the greatest
cave 10 reading over the hides and leather
s,:hedule and today made it known in the
most emphatic manner that its language
IS exactly as II was agreed upon by him
in his final conference with Chairman
Payne of tho House ways and means
committee and Senator Aidrich of the
Senate finance committee That the
schedule will accomplish what he sought
Is tho positive conviction of the President,
VINO VIII have the Interpretation and exc
cution of the law.
The distinct understanding between the
President and the two statesmen in
charge OF the tariff bill was this In con.
sideration Of free hides, previously duti.
were component parts OF chief value
should nave reduction even below the
House bill except sole leather itself
which. in the House BILL had been re.
duced from 10 to ) per cent which was
considered low enough.
The President, judging from the infor.
nation impaired to him during the day
by leading senator's: does not believe
many votes will be frightened from the
tariff bill by alleged discoveries OF
jokers. Such discoveries are regarded
by the President as inevitable beinc
sprung after the passage of practically
every bill of Importance. That the
President would be among the first "a
ask his friends to defeat the bill IL he
felt he had been betrayed Is not doubt
ed by all, and the fact that the Presi-
dent is satisfied. with the schedule he
fought SO hard ito get. and upon which
he met such determined opposition, viii
no doubt have the effect Of allaying the
disturbed nerves of some "progressives'
and other forms of senator's who ars
seeking some excuse to vote against
the bill.
Reassembling Unopposed.