The Washington herald., 1909-04-25
AGREE TO OIL DUTY
Senate Committee Will Re-
port Amendment.
FIGHT WON BY INDEPENDENTS
Decision Also Practically Reached
20 Report Some Duty on steel Rails,
rs Was Provided by the House.
Much Time Devoted 10 Discussion
on wood Pulp and Print Paper.

At a meeting Of the Republican mem-
bers Of the Sesate Committee on Finance.
which lasted from early yesterday morE-
ing until o'clock last evening. with an
intermissi0n for luncheon, an agreement
was reached 20 report an amendment pro-
viding for placing an ad valorem duty on
crude petroleum
The rate 10 be fixed was not determined.
The House placed crude and refined
petroleum on the free list and struck out
the present cOuntervailing duty on the
crude product. Products Of petroleum
we're placed on the free list also.
Since then the Senate Committee on
Finance has been beset by opportunities
from oil producers and rehne-s not af-
hIIated with the Standard Oil Company
TO Put a. duty on crude petroleum or re-
store the counterrailing duty
Several hundred Of them gathered IN
Washington during the week. and ap-
pointed a committee, which appeared be-
fore a subcommittee OF the Senate Com
mittee on Finance The matter Of putting
crude petroleum and is products on the
free list caused much controversy in the
House. and as a result the Committee on
WAYS and Means gave way 10 the popular
sentiment The action OF the House was
intended as a blow al the Standard Oil
Company
Agreement on Steel Rails.
Republican members Of the Finance
Committee practically reached an agree
ment to report a duty on steel rails Of
30 OF a cent a pound. the same rate as
that fixed by the House The present
law imposes a duty Of 10 OF a cent a
pound. or double that agreed on by the
Senate committeeman.
Additional information was received
yesterday by the Republican members Of
the committee relating 20 wood pulp and
print paper duties Much time was de-
voted 10 q discussion OF this matter. but
no conclusion was reached The House
made wood pulp free and reduced the
duty on print paper from IS to S2 ton
II was agreed that an amendment shall
be reported to the Senate restoring the
Dingiey law rate OF Is per cent ad va
loren on hides. The House placed hides
on the free list.
AdMt 14ltcIuAlAEAAAH ~ The LAACAAAANd4 anu
earthenware schedules were agreed upon.
and viii be reported 10 the Senate early
next week
Considerate interest has been caused
by an amendment, proposed by Senator
Frye, Of Maine, 20 put a tonnage tax on
shipping Mr.. Frye seeks 10 tax all ship
ping coming into the ports OF the United
States from Canada. Mexico. the West
Indies. the Bahama Islands, Bermuda.
and ports Of South America bordering on
the Caribbean Sea at the rate of cents
a ton. the total tax in any one year not
to exceed 10 cents a ton. He would COM
pei vessels from other foreign ports 10
pay cents a ton. with a limit Of 50
cents in any one year. and would ex-
empt vessels in distress or not engaged in
trade.
Root Before Committee.
Part of the session OF the Republican
members OF the Finance Committee was
devoted 10 hearing Senator Root, OF
New York; Senator Curtis, Of Kansas:
Representative Lowden. of Illinois. and
Alvin Saunders. editor Of the Breeders
Gazette. in regard TO the administrative
features Of the tariff bill. The princi-
pal matter under discussion was a plan
for retaliation against European coun-
tries. notably France and Germany,
which. Il was alleged. discriminate
against the products Of the United
States, mainly dressed beef and -four.
Senator Root was present TO give the
committeeman the benefit Of his expe-
rience as Secretary Of State in dealing
with such questions. Senator Curtis
urged that the President should be
given authority 10 impose maximum
rates by way Of repriSal.
II was said afterward that the rlan