The new era., 1909-08-12
OPPOSITION SEEMS TO HAVE COL.
LAPsED AND GIVEN UP
THE FIGHT.
CHANGES IN LEATHER
WILL REDUCE DUTIES ON BOOTS
AND SHOES, HARNESS AND
sADpLERY.

Washington. = The complete col.
lapse Of all important opposition to
the conference report on the tariff
bill was evidenced Wednesday when
the Senate agreed to vote on that
measure at o'clock Thursday.
Half an hour after unanimous con.
sent had been given for that course 4
general disinclination on the part of
senators to speak brought an early
adjournment until noon Thursday.
The lack of interest in the proceed.
ings was evident. This was caused by
an agreement by western senators to
vote on the conference report and to
correct the hide and leather schedule
by means of concurrent resolution
to be acted upon separately.
The form of the concurrent resolu-
tion wa agreed upon in an informal
conference in Senator Aldrich's COM
mittee room. Instructions are given
by this resolution to the enrolling
clerks OF the Senate and House to
change the language of the provision
reducing duties on boots and shoes
and harness.
The change will make dutiable at 10
per cent. boots and shoes, the upper
leather OF which is made wholly or in
chief value from the hides or skins OF
cattle. including calfskins." A oimi-
lar change will be made in relation to
harness, saddles and saddlery.
The effect is to make the reduced
duties on boots and shoes and hat
ness and saddlery apply to articles
composed of leather from the hides
and skins of cattle and calfskins, in
stead OF confining the reduction to
articles made from hides which have
hitherto been dutiable.
The range of the reduction is
greatly increased.
The suggestion for an agreement To
vote was made in the Senate by MI.
Bailey, representing the minority, and
at once concurred in by Mr.. Aldrich.
The Texan intimated that there might
be considerable debate on the concur
rent resolution, but it Is not believed
that the discussion can be continued
many hours.
Questions by Senator Newlands in
the debate on the conference report
called forth statement from Mr. Aid
rich that he believed the provision
giving the President authority to
gather information relating to the en-
forcement of the maximum and mini
mum clause was broader and would be
found to be more effective than con-
templated by the clause as originally
adopted by the Senate.
Announcing that he could not vote
for the report Senator Clapp spoke at
length in denunciation of the meas
ure and Senator McCumber spoke
briefly in its support.
Many of the Senate leaders are
seeking to make the Republican vote
against the adoption of the conference
report as small as possible. Sena-
tors with grievances are being asked
to support the bill from motives of
party loyalty.
President Taft, it is said, has joined
in this campaign. He invited Sena-
tors Borah, Brown and Beveridge and
Dolliver to lunch with him. 1t was
rumored about the Capitol that all of
the senators would be asked to vote
for the conference report.
Messrs. Borah and Brown have al
ready decided that they will vote for
the conference report and it is gen.
orally believed Mr.. Dolliver will do
likewise.
On the assumption that Congress
will adjourn late Thursday night or
Friday morning President Taft is MAX
ing his plans to leave Washington for
Beverly late Friday afternoon, arriv-
ing at his summer home early Satur-
day morning.