The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-07-25
HIDE QUESTION CAUSES SPLIT Tariff Confefees Cannot
 Agree. LEATHER INTERESTS AT WORK Some Say Hides Will Be on Free
 List. oil Also, May Be Free, But Fight Is Being Made on Rough Lumber.
 Hale wants Paper Duty.

QuGSLlOu was 66tIioQ kna uhbSStAS0 hV- day. and while there seemed little doubt that eventually hides will fall among the unprotected articles on the tariff bill. the contest over It's status cannot be regarded as closed. When the conferees adjourned for luncheon. several of them said that 1t had been decided that hides should go on the free list. Tonight the same conferees declare that hides will be free. but that the, question has not been decided offi- cially.
 None. of the questions made promi- nent through the country by President Taft's interest in them has been ad- justed, although the conferees have been in the strictest sort of an execu- tive session since noon yesterday. The adjournment tonight was until 10 o'clock tomorrow and the conferees ex- pect to spend Sunday in wrestling with these problems.
 From a careful analysis of state- mants made by Senate and House lead CTS. taken In connection with the at- titude of President Taft. the indica- tions are tonight that the conference rates upon important questions still in dispute win be as follows: hides. free; oil. free; lumber (rough), $1.2b per l. GOO feet, with proportionate dineren- tials: coal, 45 cents per ton. without the House reciprocal clause; iron ore, 15 cents per ton; print paper. ss.7S per ton.
 Practically one full week has been occupied by the conferees in an effort to settle these questions. ; Hides Take Much Time.
 Most of the time has been devoted 10 the discussion of hides. This subject was complicated by reason of state- ments coming from boot and shoe in- terests, that they were ready to agree to substantial reductions In the duties on leather goods, if hides were put on the free list. Those interests appar entiy felt sure that there could be no reductions on boots and shoes below Is per cent ad valorem. the House rate. which Is lower than the Senate rate. or existing law.
 President Taft stated to number of his callers that he would insist up. on reduction 10 at least 10 per cenf ad vaiorem, with proportionete de. creases In the rates on other leather goods. This complicated the situation and asa result there were many econ- ferences upon that phasefof the sup- ject.
 late today that the Speaker and Far liarnentarian Kinds had decided that 1t would be impossible for the conferees to adopt a rate on boots and shoes lower than the rate adopted by the other branch of Congress-
 Advocates of protected hides deciar- ed that there must be proportionate reduction on leather to offset the aboli- ton of the duty on hides. if their votes were to be counted upon to adopt the conference report. 7s-f
 As result, some of those who are looking for an early adjustment of tariff differences. were filled with con. sternation. Senator Aldrich was ap- pealed to by other conferees to learn what chance there would be for the adoption of joint resolution, author izing the tconferees to adopt rates on leather goods lower than those fixed by either bill.
 House May BaIsx.
 Some doubt was expressed whether such a resolution would be successful In the House, and no one undertook to say what the outcome might be in the Senate.
 Senator Aldrich was of the opinion that the conferees could reduce rates below those fixed by either House wfth- out the adoption of current resolu' tion. He based that opinion on the ground that there were precedents for such action. but it was pointed out to- day that a point of order might be raised against such procedure being al-
 
 probably would be sustained in either branch. .F :.
 Therefore, a canvass will be made of the two bodies to ascertain whether resolution comforting 1urts- diction to rates below those fixed by either house could be adopted. Until this information is at hand, 1t Is in- probable that the question of fixing the duty on hides or leather goods will be closed.
 During the discusaon of the hide question, the other subjects embraced in national issueS" were neglected for the time.
 ternoon session today. but the rate was not fixed. A report that the conferees had agreed on a duty of 20 cents a ton was accepted as true by Senators and Representatives from States inter- ested in the iron ore question. Some of the conferees said tonight. however. that they did not think the rate would be above 15 cents ton.
 Flights for Paper Duty.
 Senator Hale is making a stubborn fight for the retention of the s4 ton rate on print paper. fixed by the Senate. He has figured out that the difference between the cost of paper manufactur- ed In. the. United States and Canada. transportation. labor and all other charges. is fully $3.75 a ton. It is generally believed that the lat ter rates will be named by the confer ence report.
 Little consideration has been given thus far to lumber. coal or oil. The Senate conferees are insisting upon s1. 50 on rough lumber. while the House members say they will hold out for S1 lumber Roth sides agree that they may have to split the difference. Coal 1t is said. will he made dutiable at 45 cents a ton. although some of the conferees think 1t should be made as low as 40 cents and others desire a Kn cent duty. It is settled that the re- ciprocal free trade provision adopted bv the House will he eliminated also that oil will go Ion the free list. through the rejection of the counter vailing duty provision adopted by the Senate.
 The glove and hosiery schedules which were materially increased by inc House over the DingIey rates, rec main unsettled. although compromises have been suggested with regard to each.
 Leaders See Taft.
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