Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1909-07-24
FREE OIL PRACTICALLY SURE
All Other Disputed Schedules Are
Still Up in the Air.
HARD FIGHT FOR HIDE DUTY
Far-Western Senators Bitterly Oppose
Cutting It.
BURROWS FOR IRON ORE RATE
COnferees Dismiss Their Clerks and
Go Into Absolutely Secret Ses-
sion to Discuss Most
Important Schedules.
FOR IRON ORE RATE

WASHINGTON July 2S,-while no
agreement was reached by the tariff con-
ferees today on coal, lumber, hides. oil,
iron ore, the cotton schedule or wood
pulp and print paper, 1t was said tonight
by the conferees that the prospects Of
settling these big questions tomorrow
were excellent.
For a time today It appeared that these
socalled national issues" might be dis
posed of by the conferees today, but
when adjournment was taken at p. m,
it was learned that the matters under dis
cussion were still at issue,
Should the conference complete its
work tomorrow it would be impossible to
report it before Tuesday, as the house
which agreed to the conference on the
tariff bill, and, therefore under the rules
must receive II before the senate, ad-
journed until Tuesday.
Heroic measures were put in operation
today in an effort to compose differences
existing between the senate and the
house on the tariff bill and to carry out
President Tafts program for a reduc-
tion of duties on raw materials. ALL ex-
! cept the conferees were excluded from
the chamber and it was agreed that dis
cussions leading up to a settlement of
any of the subjects Familiarity termed
national issues" should be regarded as
! confidential.
Hides Great Sticking Point.
Several conferees said tonight that the
! feelings entertained for each other were
more pleasant than they had been for
many days When Arthur B. Shelton,
| clerk of the finance committee, and Will
| liam L. Payne, were excused from the
conference, it was understood that votes
would be taken all of the subjects in
dispute before adjournment for the day.
AS the question of hides is giving the
| committee more trouble than any other
of the schedules that have claimed the
attention of the president, it was dis
| cussed first
The discussion had not preceded far
Ibefore it was developed that the differ
ences between the two houses were al
most irreconcilable unless boots and
shoes and other leather goods should be
greatly reduced If hides were to go on
the free list
Western Senator'S Protest.
Senator Aldrich had reports from many
western senators protesting against the re-
moval OF the duty on hides or a reduction
below 10 per cent advalorem. The only
terms on which the western senators would
consent to consider the abolition of the
duty involved the removal Of the duty on
leather goods. 1t is understood the Rhode
Island senator said there is no use in re-
porting to the senate something that stood
no chance for adoption, and the hide in
terests and the shoe interests must get to-
gether and make concessions if an agree
ment to be reached.
Discussion then turned upon the amount
of reduction the leather trade could stand
without serious injury. On this question
! Of inf
Of which appeared to some Of the con
ferees to be inconsistent, considering the
relations sole leather bears to boots and
shoes and that harness bears to finished
! leather.
Soon it was developed that the conferees
would have to confer with associates aot
: on the conference committee, and there
, fore an adjournment was taken until 10
o'clock tomorrow, The strict executive ses-
} sons inaugurated today will be resumed to-
morrow.
After adjournment Senators Lodge and
Crane and Representative Mccall Of Mass
achusetts had a long consultation with SEN
ator Aldrich. 1t is not known what under
standing, If any, was reached, but 1t would
surprise very few people outside Of the
conference chamber If an agreement Is ar
rived at tomorrow substantially reducing
i
OIL Going on Free List.
After the duty has been fixed on hides
and leather goods little difficulty is APP
q pretended in reaching an agreement to put
e oil on the free list and in compromising on
Y a duty of about 45 cents ton on coal, a
It rate Of $l25 a thousand feet on rough lum-
II Der, with proportlonate differentals and
k rate of about 80 a ton on print paper. Iron
ore is expected to give more trouble than
- any Of these subjects except hides.
Many senators thought little objection
would be made to placing iron ore on the
free list and this question was generally
regarded as good as settled. Senator Bur
rows is making a stubborn fight for the
: retention Of the senate rate Of % cents a
, ton on iron ore and he is said to be conf
dent that he will prevent the abolition Of
the duty. 1t is difficult to predict whether
the senate rate will remain, whether the
e ore will be made free or whether a rate
y will be fixed in the vicinity of 10 cents .
y ton.
e The news that the conferees had ex-
e cluded the clerks OF the committe and
+ were trying to reach decisions on the i'm
y portant items in dispute caused confusion
a among the hordes OF lobbyists In the cor
rldor leading to the conference chamber.
The representatives Of special interests
, used, without success, every sort of artful
: dodge in their anxiety to learn something
" Of the nature OF the proceedings
Several times the voices Of the cOnferess
D. sounded through the walls at a high pitch,
. which indicated anything but harmony and
this added to the excitement II there was
Il any friction # was smoothed over before
the conference was adjourned. All Of the
e members came out OF the chamber smiling.
e There was some disappointment when Il
y was learned that the house had adjourned
n until Tuesday, as that action makes II Inn
IS possible for the conferees to make . report
g before Tuesday.
Representatye DWIGHT Of New York. d