Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1909-07-28
From Washington.
,Oorrsspondence Of the Alexandria Gazette.
Washington, July %

pieLeQ It's WOIks AuO iGpuOiOah hpm
bers put the finishing touches upon
their report at a final meeting begin
ming at 1890 this morning. Whether
the conference report will be SUBJ
mitted to the House when 1t meets
tomorrow depends upon Chairman
Payne. He is preparing statement In
explanation of the changes which have
been made and, as this is expected to be
quite an elaborate affair, it is possible
That the report may be delayed until
Friday. He Wss working upon 1t most
of last night however, and hopes to be
in a position to present it to the House
tomorrow. 1t will include full report
of what has been done on the lesther
schedule and will ask the approval of the
House for the reductions which have
been made in the rates upon manufsc-
,ured leather goods below those pre-
viously approved by the House. 1t will
also inclnde q request for the adoption
of special rule to prevent any member
from making point of order against
hose reduc ions which would otherwise
be possible under the general rules OF
the House.
In order to enable the representatives
from the cattle raising states to save
their faces on the free hides proposition,
it is understood that Speaker Cannon
has agreed to recognize one OF their num-
Der to make motion to recommit the
conference report with instructions to
put duty on hides. Such motion
would, of course, be defeated but 1t
would enable the westerners to show
their constituents they had fought to the
last ditch aud that they only voted for
final passage of the bill because further
contest was unavsiling and because it
vas 10 accord With the presidents desire.
In the Senate the campaign of COM
promise and Cancellation conducted By
Mr.. Aldrlch has resulted 10 securing
hedges of fifty republican votes for the
,ill. more than enough to ensure its
passage. This result was, however,
only obtained through insisting upon
the Senate rate Of 81. so per thousand
On lumber in exchange for the free hides
asked by the House. A compromise
vas also effected upon gloves and hosiery,
he high House rates being shaded
,omewhat. Even at that, however, the
Increases over present rates are rather
.tsrtling on paper. While 1t is not
possible to give the exact figures now
is declared by members of the con-
ference committee that they will not
affect the prices to the consumer, and
"a the other hand will ensure continued
employment to the American hosiery
mills and will transfer to this country
the business OF making women's long
cloves which are now practically all
imported. Iron ore has been fixed at 10
cents a ton; petroleum has been made
free without the countervsiling duty;
coal As cents per ton; print paper SO 90
per ton.
The conferees must bring the lumber
and glove rates down if they wish to Sc
cure the sanction of President Taft for
their report. This important decision
mas been made by the president within
the last twenty -four hours aud he made
no secret of his stand to q number Of
senator's and representatives today. Ac'
cording TO those who talked with the
president, he will insist that lumber be
placed at either 81 or 81 %. The House
forts to maintain the high rate on
gloves is regarded by the president as a
plan to help out little cOterie of glove
makers 10 New York state, chief among
whom is ex-Representstive Littauer,
1osom-friend of Speaker Cannon, prob
,bly the most persistent lobbyist that
has been fn Washington this session.
TIE conference committee on the
,sriff, it ia stated today, has agreed to
he Beverage changes in the internal
revenue Law on tobacco, with two ex-
ceptions. The tax on tobacco, cigars,
cigarettes, snuff and chewing tobacco
will be increased as suggested by the
Indiana senator snd the resulting in
crease in the government revenue ia
.stimated at $40, 900, 600 a year. The
time when the law shall take effect has
been changed from January first next to
July first, 1910. The committee has
disagreed to the Beverage provision
prohibiting the use of coupons and their
distribution will continue iu the future
~ at present.
The republican tariff conferees have
not yet been able to fully sgree. Lum-
Der and gloves we're still in dispute at
this mornings session aud when they
took recess for luncheon these items,
The last two still in controversy, we're
unsettled. This means tina! the demo-
Gratis will not be called into cOnsuta-
ton on the report this afternoon, as
bad been expected, and that it will be
impossible to present the report to the
House tomorrow as had been hoped.
The House conferees are finding it
difficult to obtain votes enough in that
body to secure the adoption Of the Sen.
ate rate of 81. so on lumber. Represen-
tative Tawney is heading coterie of
middle western congressman who are in
sisting on free lumber or At least the re-
tentfon of the House rate of 81, The
Senate conferees are sticking out for
their rate, hut there are indications that
they will eventually accept compro-
mise at 1925. The president has taken
a hand in the fight on gloves. He OBJ
iecis atrougly to the high rate which
bias been placed upon wOmen's gloves by
the House and is insisting that they
shall be reduced.
Chairman Payne, with the backing Of
Speaker Cannon, insists that these rates
are necessary in order to establish new
industry in this country. The confer
ence committee will meet again at 2:3O
Is. no. They hope to be able to finch