The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-07-15
LOCK HORNS ON HIDE DUTY Western Republican Sen
 ators Revolt. DEMAND A HIGHER TARIFF New England Pennsylvania Steam
 Roller at Work. AldricA Clans Generally Get wAat They Co After-Prcsident Taft h Enbarrassias Position
 Between Tanners and
 CapataIists.

| some tall talk is heard among MeSt- | ern Republican Senators about what | report on the tarif bill if 1t shows when submitted to the Senate that hides have been placed on the free list. Indeed, the threat has been made that the measure will be held up many days If not actually blocked complete ly until the cattle growing section of l the country gets the duty either re- | stored or compromise made with the House that will place duty of at least 1l-2 per cent. on the article. When the paragraph relating to hides was being discussed in the Sen- | ate by MT. Lodge his contention for the removal of the duty was sharply | resented by Senator Tom Carter of Montana, speaking for the big cattle industry of his section, and he was | backed up by Senator Warren and oth- CTS from the far West.
 MT. Carter, 1t will be recalled, read the riot act to the New England Pennsylvania com mbination, and told them that he was tired of hearing propositions advanced to put the things produced by farmers on the free list, and to consider these products in the nature of raw material and therefore should be given to manufacturers to enable them to build up their busi-
 
 classes. Mir. Carter then warned the New England people that they were fixing to have their whole system top- pie over if they were not careful, in- sinuating that he and others would retaliate by insisting that if hides and the like were put on the free Iist ar- ticles manufactured from leather would have to stand very heavy reduction in duty.
 Cannot Make Good
 But if these Western Republicans carry out their threats 1t will be a sur prise to most people who are watching the situation. They know just as well as they know that they have noses on their faces that the New England Pennsylvania combination is playing the hog game when 1t comes to dis tributing favors. They saw that amply demonstrated over and over again while the bill was being forced through the Senate under the leadership of Mir. Aldrich and the other "highbinders" when 1t comes to getting advantages over other sections of the country. The power of Mir. Aldrtch Is not only great by reason of the fact that he is able to dictate committee promo tions for Senators who are looking for such favors from yearto year. but in Senators Hale, Frye, Gallinger, Lodge and Crane he has keen, determined assistants who seldom lose a trick when a game Is to be played for the benefit of the six New England States New England has been strong In leg islation because that section has kept It's men longer in Congress than any other section. They are in the habit of going after everything that Is not nailed down, and they usually get 1t.
 New England wants right now free hides. It w:li, from all accounts, be a wonderful lift for the boot and shoe manufacturers of those States. When MT. Aldrich consented to have the 15 per cent. duty placed on hides 1t was evidently with view of yielding to the House conferees when the bill was sent to conference. If much of racket was raised his plan was to at- tempt to make a compromise that would probably satisfy both sides to the controversy.
 Taft Keeps silent.
 As Is well known, President Taft is daily having heart to heart talks with the Republican conferees. He tells 1t that he is simply discussing rates. L." The head of the nation is careful to refrain from giving away his actual stand in this fight. because he will not say whether he is working for down. ward rates as general thing. The truth of the matter is the President is very much embarrassed over the tariff situation. He realizes that the revolt of the insurgent Republican Sem ators has had a tremendous effect up- on the country, for 1t shows that in the States from which these Senators come there is intense opposition to the Aldrich bill.
 President Taft is generally under stood to be in favor of the free hides proposition, and it is reported that he is on the side of the manufacturers making this demand of Congress; but MT. Taft has got to handle this mat. ter delicately to prevent fresh rumpus among his political brethren in Con- gress.
 If the conference report provides for free hides. Senator Tom Carter can be relied upon to make a stormy speech No doubt about that. He will also be heard from if a compromise is reached and the duty is cut from 15 | to 1-2 per cent, or some such low | figure. There is some talk that a mod crate duty of about 5 per cent. may be the final arrangement. That would | make Carter fairly snort. This Mon- tana man once talked river and har- bor bill to death during the closing. | days of session.
 It will be very interesting to watch a number of items that are in dispute between the Senate and House con | ferees. Alfred J. Stofer.