Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1909-07-14

of the Senate leaders that they will be
able to conclude their lsbOrs and report
the result TO both House and Senate by
Tuesday of next week. The first read
ing of the bill WAS concluded at late
session last night. Today when the
conferees met st ten O'Clock they took
I'D the schedules from the beginning in
order to dispose OF those matters which
we're passed over earlier. There are 3
number OF these ia the chemical, oil and
paint schedule, the first in the bill.
Some of them, like the rates on paints,
red and white lead, etc, are dependent
upon the disposition to be made OF lead
ore and lead bullion, recognizing bullion
as 50 advance in the stage of manufac-
ture. The first real contest in the con-
ference is expected, therefore, to come
up on this subject In considering ways
and means of beating the pending bill or
of so threatening its existence as to force
the acceptance Of the reductions for
which they have been c)ntendiug, the
progressive republicans 10 the House
have about reached the conclusion that
the question of the duty on oil offers
them the best opportunity Of attack.
The Honse not only pu. crude and
refined petroleum on the free list but
also made free all OF the products of
petroleum. This was IN response TO the
sentiment against the Standard Oil %.
It raised big howl from the indepen-
dent producers OF oil throughout the
country. They showed that they pro-
duced all but ii per cent OF the crude
oil 10 the country and that the Standard
merely refined it. So the Senate insert
ed a proposition to the effect that when
ever foreign country charged q duty
upon the importation of American crude
oil, petroleum coming from that country
should bear a tariff on entering the
United States of one-balf the amount of
that duty. Refined oil was left Oh the
free list by the Senate but sll of the PR
ducts were restored to the dutiable
list. There are hundreds Of these.
They are not mentioned specif-
cally by name in the bill. Some
of them are medicinal preparations,
some are dyes etc. They are msds du-
table, IS IN existing law, at various
rates in "bssket clauses at from Is to 80
per cent ad valOrem. Because of the
character of these products they we're
taken from the free list 10 the Senate
with practically no word of protest. The
House insurgents believe, hewever that
in the present temper OF that body to-
wards anything in which the Saudatd
Oil Company is even remotely interest
ed, they will be able to secure enough
votes among the republicans added TO
those of democrats ID upset any confer
ence report which includes these oil pro
visions. They are at least preparing to
make the effort.
1t is reported thst the tar fl confereCs
may not only reduce the corporation
tax from 2 to per cent, but may de.
feat 1t altogether.
William J. Bryan's letter to President
Taft urging him TO submit to Congress
bill calling upon the states to change
the constitution 30 that senators may be
elected by direct vote of the people, bas
not yet reached the White House. J.
is the general belief however, that Mr..
Taft will ignore the communication en-
tirely as far So making public reply is
concerned If he gets the letter he will
probably authorize Secretary Carpenter
to write Mr.. Bryan a courteous note to
the effect that he has received it and
will give its contents due consideration.
He will, however, very carefully refrain
from discussing the subject and will Ger
tainly not send Mr.. Bryan a letter
through the newspapers airing his views
on the senstOrship subject.
Speaker Cannon had half hours
conference with the president today and
when he hurried out of the White
House asserted empbsticslly that he
had not discussed the tariff bill in any
way, shape or manner. When he was
asked what be thought of Mr.. Bryan's
letter to the president, Speaker Cannon
threw up his hands and exclaimed
ooh, good Lord; Pm not thinking Of
Bryan and don't believe the president
is either"
President Taft will attend the Con-
federate reunion at Fishers Hill 10
Shenandoah county, Va, on July 2lst,
unless his presence Is required in Wash |
ington that day to sign the tariff bill.
The president gave this promise to |
Senator Daniel today and told him that
he hoped to be able TO spend most of the |
day with the veterans on the battlefield.
The OOnfedeIates of Virginia hold an |
annual reunion at Fishers Hill.
The threatened shake-up in the immi- |
grafton service ia near at hand, Com
missioner Williams at Ellis Island came
here today for a conference upon direc.
ton of Secretary Nsgel. Among the
subjects under discussion is that of weed
ing ont of the service those against whom
reports of iuefieieDcy have been made.
1t is expected that when Commissioner
Williams leaves for New York he will /
have pretty accurate idea of just what
Secretary Nagel will insist upon. Com
missioner Williams took up also the case
of Merke Drozinski, the l6-yesr-old
niece Of millionaire Jacob Seidemsn, of
Louisville, recently deported because
she did not have with her when she
Landed the $25 required to be in every
immigrants possession. She will re-
return to this country amply supplied
with funds, and will be admitted. Will
Jams claims he acted entirely within
bis authority in deporting the girl.
President Taft today attended the