Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1909-07-13
From Washington

bDlliNpg WCAO OIL Ah@N@
understood that the House conierees
spreed to the Senate's increased rates on
cbanpsgnes and still wines. The cotton
schedule was the next in order bot II was
passed over on account Of the fact that
Chairman Payne did not have with him
certain papers which he desired to use
during the consideration of this sub
iect. The conferees met at ten O'Clock
and sat continuously until l P. 10,
when recess wss taken for
lunch. At that time they were in he
middle OF the fax schedule. 1--WE have
oot locked horns on any single para
graph Is yet" said one of the commit
tee. awe are merely engaged on the
frst reading of the bill, agreeing to such
things about which there is no dispute
and passing over contentious items for
later consideration. We hope to COM
plete the first reading today" The con-
ferees will meet sgaiu at 2:9O this after
noon.
At2.SO p. NJ. the tariff conferees we're
promptly assembled. After completing
the reading of the fax schedule they
went back and took up that on cotton.
"Pretty soon the House coDferees will
be hearing from their colleagues and
then we may be able to make better
progress. There is not change that
we have made In the tariff bill that has
not one or more congressman back OF
it," Such was the significant statement
made todsy by one of the representatives
of the Senate on the tariff conference
committee. 10 this connection 1t is in
terestIpg to note thst it is now being
openly admitted by members of the
House ways and means committee that
the bill which they reported and passed
contains lower rates than they wanted to
see enacted into law. They adopted
them only in the confident expectation
that the Senate would have the courage
to face the criticism of raising them where
necessary. This admission only con-
firms suspicion long entertained BY the
Senate leaders and it tends to strengthen
them in the belief that in the end ma
iority of the Senate rates will stand
The situation in the conference commit
lee is not as satisfactory as 1t might be
at the present time. Very little actual
progress has been made. Practically
nothing has been done beyond reading
the bill over for the first time, aud even
this is not yet completed. A great
many amendments have, it is true, been
agreed to, bat they are only those oil
minor Importance. Not one Of the
really important matters over which
there is difference of opinion between
the two houses has yet been touched.
OF all the matters in the schedules it is
expected that the biggest fights in con-
ference will occur over the so.called raw
materials.
Senator AldriCh, chairman of the
finance committee, has had prepared a
statement comparing the tariff bill as
passed by the Senate with the existing
law. 1t is expected that this statement
will be made public today or tomorrow.
Ii will show that there are FIVE hundred
reductions in tariff rates in the Senate
bill from these now in force and sbou
one hundred increases. OF the increases,
a large msjority, the statement will show,
are merely the restoration to the rates as
originally interpreted under the Dingley
law. The only actual increases above the
DiDgley act are few in number and are
entirely upon luxurieS, such as wines,
etc.
A great deal of the discussion at the
Cabinet meeting today was devoted to
the subject of census appointments 10
the south, Earlier in the day Senator
Overman, of North Carolina, had talked
with the president, aud it is understood
received assurances from him that dem
ocrats would be given an opportunity to
secure the positions wherever available
republican material was not at hand.
Yesterday Senators Martin and Daniel,
of Virginia, also put in plea for the
recOgnit on of their party, and the presi-
dent told them likewise that he intend
ed to make a great many democratic
appointments south Of Mason and
Dixon's line. In the selection of census
enumerators Postmaster General Hitch
cock, who was Mr.. TsiPs political man.
ager in the south, will be freely con-
suited end his opinion will be largely
deferred to.
st. Louis wants President Taft to help
her celebrate the one hundredth ami
versary of her foundation which will
take place between October 3 aud 9.
The republican members of Congress
from Missouri called upon the president
in a body today to extend the invitation.
The president said that ii would be i'm.
possible for him tOgive definite answer
now, but he would be glad to receive the
st. Louis delegation when it appears.
II snemomeler atop the water tank at
Fort Myer stops whizzing so briskly this
is another way Of say
ing if the wind dies dOwn-Orvllle
Wright hopes to take fly In the aero
plane some time late this afternoon.
The Interstate Commerce Commission
decided today that discrimination eu-
Volved In the carrying Of the personal
baggage of a passenger by railroad
extra charge is not undue dis
as against passenger travel
ing without baggage. The case was
that of the Herbeck-Demer Company
against the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad |
and others.
President Taft will spend three days |
in the Yosemite Valley Of California
Turing bis western trip. The exact
late of the presidents excursion into |
Jalifornia's wonder land will not be |
given until the executive maps ont his
itinerary.