Los Angeles herald., 1909-06-26

working days and by the time
the session closed at Z o'clock so
many schedules had been considered
and disposed of that Mr.. Aldrich freely
predicted that by tomorrow night all
would be out of the way, leaving the
senate free to begin consideration OF
the corporation tax and income tax
amendments.
Beginning the session with an in
crease of 5 per cent over the house
rate of 35 per cent ad valorem on har-
ness, the senate marched steadily along
throughout the nine hours of its sit
ting, indulging in little. speech-making,
and acting upon many important pro-
visions.
Among the changes made were:
An increase of duty on scrap iron
from so cents to $3.50 per ton, thus
placing it on the same level as pig
iron.
An increase of one-fourth of a cent
per pound over the house rates on wire
nails.
An increase of from 4c to &c per
pound on monazite sand and thorite
and other articles used in making gas
manteis, and the substitution of spe-
cific for ad valorem rates on files,
rasps, etc.
No Tax on Crude Oil
Senator Penrose presented an amend
ment fixing a duty Of one-half cent
per gallon on crude oil, and after con-
siderable debate it was defeated, the
vote being "a to 40.
During the day the linoleum and oil
cloth schedule was recast to meet the
demands of the insurgents and was
adopted with the understanding that
If 1t should not be satisfactory upon
inspection in the record the schedule
could be reopened tomorrow.
There were many efforts to amend
the scrap iron provision, but 1t was
adopted without change.
Senator Penrose spoke at length in
support of his oil amendment, declar-
ing it met with the approval of the
independent producers and refiners.
The oil fields of Mexico figured eX-
tensively in this discussion.
Senator Gore declared they were a
myth.
Senator Aldrich presented the income
tax amendment, approved by President
Taft, and said he hoped the senate
would consider it Monday.
The retaliatory provisions of the wood
pulp and print paper paragraphs of
the tariff bill being referred by Sena-
tor Clapp today, Mr.. Aldrich indicated
that the finance committee still had
that matter under consideration, and
hoped to report a substitute that would
prove satisfactory to all interests con-
cerned.
AIdrich to Consider
Senator Brown offered two amend
ments which have the effect of elm
mating the automatic retaliatory fea-
lures of the committee amendments,
and of making retaliation depend upon
an order of the president allowing the
rates of duty to remain as in the COM
mittee substitute.
Mr.. Aldrich agreed to take up these
substitutes for final action tomorrow.
In the interest of American shipping.
Senator Elkins introduced the following
amendment TO the tariff bill: "On all
foods, wares and merchandise imported
on ships or vessels of the United States
there shall be allowed a reduction of 5
per cent in the duties prescribed by
law to be leYied, collected and paid on
such goods, wares and merchandise"
An amendment was adopted provid-
ing duties on oil cloth and linoleum,
varying from 6 cents a square yard and
Is per cent ad Valorem.
Senator Penrose then proposed the
amendment placing a duty of half a
cent gallon upon crude oil.
Replying to question by Senator
Borah, Mr.. Penrose said the finance
committee had seen a vast number of
oil producers of the United States, 100
of them being present on one day.
So Many Independents
There were, he said, from $4,000 to
100000 Independent oil producers in the
United States, many of them being his
constituents of Pennsylvania, who had
gone to Oklahoma, California and West
Virginia to develop oil properties.
Senator Gore spoke against the
amendment He had wished, he said,
to confine the duty to oil from Mexico,
but had been told such action was in
conflict with the treaty relations with
that country
He spoke of the Mexican oil fields as
a myth. If he believed, Mr. Gore said,
that the Standard Oil company con-
trolled the Mexican oil field and would
import Mexican oil and crush and de-
stroy the independent producers and
refiners he would vote to shield the
American oil producer and the Ameri-
cancan consumer. He spoke of the
STANDARD as a serpent whose embrace
is DEATH"
Mr. Flint expressed the opinion that
producers of California would be driven
out of business If duty of oil was not
levied
Mr.. cummins opposed the amend
ment, saying he did not believe the
producers of this country had anything
to fear from the Mexican production.
"The Standard Oil company is we'll
served with this duty" he said, be
cause there Is no suggestion of any
intention to repeal the drawback
clause by which the secretary of state
is permitted to import oil and then
upon exporting it have a rebate of the
duty"
Party Lines Broken
Mr. Penrose then offered an amend
ment providing that mo drawback
shall be allowed on the expectation of
petroleum or the products thereof"
The amendment fixing a duty was de-
feated by "a to 40. Party lines were
broken in this vote.
OF the 40 negative votes, 10 were cast
by Republicans.
The drawback amendment was with
drawn.
Mr. Owen sought to present as an
amendment a provision prohibiting the
Standard Oil company from crushing
Continued on Page Five)