The Washington herald., 1909-06-26
Penr0Se Amendment Loses
by Safe Margin.
PARTIES SPLIT ON THE VOTE
Senator Bacon Offers Amendment
Putting Agricultural Implements
on the Free List and Declares Har-
vester Trust Charged ExtOr+iOnaae
Rates for Its Products.

II had been supposed for several weeks
that the oil schedule Of the measure
would provoke bitter and prolonged
contest. but as matter of fact the OIL
schedule was not debated much more
than ar hour
Senator Aldrich. Of Rhode Island chair
man OF the Committee on Finance, did
not participate in the debate. and did not
present the amendment imposing duty
on crude petroleum.
The amendment was offered by Senator
Pennrose. of Pennsylvania II provided a
rate OF one-halg a cent per gallon on the
product.
Senator Bailey, OF Texas; Senator Gore,
Of Oklahoma. and Senator Cummins. Of
Iowa. opposed the amendment placing pc
troleum on the dutiable list. Senator's
Flint. OF California, and Penrose and
Owen, of Oklahoma. supported IL
The Penrose amendment was defeated
by a vote OF 40 to 81. The roll call de-
veloped some surprises. II was disclosed.
for example. thet Senator Lodge. OF Mas
sachusetts. a member Of the Committee
on Finance, was paiSed against the
amendment Another member Of the
Committee on Finance that opposed the
amentnent was Senator McCumber, OF
North Dakota,
Party Split on Vote.
Nineteen Republicans voted in opposi-
tion and two Democrats sided with Sena-
tor Penrose.
Senator Beveridge. OF Indiana, one OF
the so-called Republican progressives
was not present when the vote was taken.
A majority Of the New England Senators
reported themselves as in favor OF free
oil
The Democrats who voted for the Pen
rose amendment were McEnery. OF Louis
lana, and Owen, OF oklahoma
The Republicans who voted against il
were Bristow. Of Kansas; Brown and
Burkett OF Nebraska; Clapp. OF Mime
sofa: Crane. of Massachusetts; Crawford
of South Dakota; Cummins, Of Iowa
Dillingham;. OF Vermont; Dolliva-. OF
Iowa: Gamble. of South Dakota Johnson
Of North Dakota; Jones, Of Washington
La Toilette. Of Wisconsin; McCumber
of North Dakota: Nelson, OF Minnesota
Page. OF Vermont: Piles OF Washington
Root Of New York. and Smith, OF Mich
igan.
while the debate on the Penrose amend
point.
FavOrs Independents.
Senator owen insisted that a duty
should be placed on oil. on the ground
that It was IN the interest OF the inde-
pendent producers. A few years ago. ht
said. Oklahoma didn't produce a gallor
OF crude petroleum.; now the wells Of thai
State are yielding 50OOo.0O0 barrels a1nu
ally The independent producers there. hs
contended. are in need Of protection, ow
Ing 70 the constantly increasing Outpu
OF the Mexican wells
Senator Gore took issue with his col
league. contending that the Mexican well.
were not as productive as had been con.
tended, and, IN any event. he would no
ask for protection for a product Of hil
own State as long as he denied It TO any
product OF any other State in the Union
NJ Gore announced that II had beer
his purpose 10 offer an amendment 10 tht
proposition under consideration providing
that the duty on oil should apply only Il
the product coming in from Mexico. Hav
ing been advised by Mr.. Root, formei
Secretary Of State. that such a provision
would violate treaty relations with Mex
the amendment
After the PenrOse amendment had beer
defeated Senator Owen. OF Oklahoma
proposed an amendment prohibiting any
concern engaged in the manufacture pro
ductiOn, or sale OF petroleum or any OF
its products, from discriminating between
persons and corporations. or selling IN one
community lower than Il sold IN another
Senator Owen contended that Standar,
OIL was enabled TO oppress its competi
tors by raising prices IN one community
and decreasing them in another. a prac
tice 70 crush out the independents
Senator Aldrich made the point tina
the amendment was not in order and IN,
schedule OF the bin under consideration
Senator Owen then gave notice that h
would offer the amendment later
Question Finally Settled.
The Payne bnl as q passed the Hous
placed crude petroleum on the free lis,
As the Senate has adopted this provision
OF the House bill. It cannot become a sub
ject Of consideration in the conference
committee representing the two brancke
Of Congress.
The new tariff Jaw. therefore. will admI
crude petroleum duty free. There is on
other section OF the OIL schedule tha
may excite a good deal OF discussion
This Is the provision relating to IN
products Of petroleum.
The products Of petroleum were ais
placed on the free list by the Hous
after a lively debate that excited a grea
deal OF bitterness. After the PAYNE Il
had passed the House II was discOvore
that through some blunder the product
OF petroleum remained on the 1utiabl
list although the House had voted I
place them on the free list. The mlstak
was later corrected by a formal resoIl
ton.
Discuss Agricultural Implements.
Just before the Senate adjourned ther
was a lively debate over that provislo
Of the bill imposing a duty of Is per Ger
ad valorem on agricultural implements.
Senator Bacon, Of Georgia, offered a
amendnISnt placing these products on n
free list He charged that agricultur,
implements were controlled by a tru,
monopoly which exacted extortlona-
prices. He was supported In this Opinio
by Senators Stone. Of Missouri. and Owe
man, OF North Carolina
Mr. Overman recalled that at the la,
session Of Congress Senator Hansbrouel
Of North Dakota, had introduced a res,
luton directing the Commissioner Of Co
porations 10 make an inquiry into n
activities Of the sO-aclled harvest tris
Mr. Overman said he called at Il
Office Of the Commissioner Of COrpori
tions. but he had been unable 10 get q
formation as to the results obtained
that official in his Investigation OF q
operations OF the harvester concern. Z
said that Senator Hansbrough hl
charged that the trust sold agricultur
implements at lower prices abroad ths