Omaha daily bee., 1909-07-17
C%ONFEREES MAKE
RAPID PROGRESS


a small part in fixing the rate on a prod
uct Of one of the most important indus
tries of that country. Zante c%urrants,
which are dutiable at 2 cents a pound
under existing law, were advanced one
half cent by the senate when specially
prepared for consumption by Gaping and
stemmlng. As this is the form in which
currants are put up for export in Greece,
the effect Of this amendment would be
to raise the rate on the shipments from
that country.
The Grecian minister in this city set
forth these facts in a communication to
the State department, and his views were
communicated to the conferees. AS the
result of an investigation which followed
the senate increase was rejected. Zante
currants valued at more than 81, 500, 900
were imported in 1907, the revenues aggre-
eating $751;, 1876.
An agreement was reached today on all
Of the paragraphs under the head of Itho-
graphs; The adjustment represents a COM
promise OF the views of the two houses.
A number of the senate reductions, in
Guiding cigar flaps and labels and the
senate increase in the rates on post view
cards were adopted.
The latter increase is the greatest ex-
ample of revision upward in the entire
tariff bill, the advance being more than
ten times the existing rate 1t was made
necessary from the fact that Germany now
manufactures more than 90 per cent Of
the cards representing views Of American
scenery.
AEricuItura Schedule Complete.
The agricultural products schedule has
been completed, although many of the
rates agreed on are only tentative. The
senate was compelled to recede on a great
many of It's advances In this schedule. 1t
has been stated that a number of the in
creases were adopted by the senate with
out any serious intention of insisting upon
them in conference.
Because of the pressure brought to bear
upon the conference committee for the re-
tention Of many of these increases, the
conference committee decided not to make
any of these rates public. 1t is understood,
however, that there has been a COM
promise reached on barley and hops.
AS there has been no settlement of the
differences in relation to lead bullion, the
paint schedule and other lead products also
remain in controversy. The senate con-
ferees are determined that they will stand
by the representatives from the Rocky
mountain states, who demanded protective
rates on lead and lead products.
Rate on VarnisheS.
Varnishes have been made dutiable by
an agreement reached today in a manner
following very closely the existing law. A
rate of 81 per gallon and IS per cent ad
valorem is placed upon all spirit varnishes,
but an exception is made Of paints made
with varnishes containing 5 per cent or
more Of methyl alcoho, which are made
dutiable at IS per cent ad valorem.
1t was asserted tonight that the glove
question win be one OF the last to be
determined by the conferees. The house
materially advanced existing rates or
women's gloves. The senate denounced
this increase as being in the interest OF a
limited number of manufacturer.
Another subject giving the conferees a
great deal OF trouble is the advance made
on electric carbons. The senate is respon
sible for this increase and the house con
ferees raise the objection that the manu-
facture of carbons is already In the hands
OF one or two concerns.
The corporation tax amendment Is still
in the custody OF Attorney General Wicker
sham and vas not considered today by the
conferees.