Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1909-07-28
TARIFF TINKERS
ARE FAR APART
GOnterGeS Held Two Sunday
Sessions Without Result.
TAFT FOR FREE HIDES


His Stand, as He Regards Free
Hides as a Typical Case For Down.
ward Revision-Payne and Aldrich
Clash.
Washington, July 26.-Although the
tariff cOnferees held two sessions on
Sunday, the hides and leather sit
uation is just as badly entangled as
ever.
Bitter words between Senator AL
drich and Representative Payne, just
before the close of an hours session
of the tariff conferees Sunday night,
are reported to have followed an at
tempt on the part of the former to
compel a vote on a motion to make
hides dutiable at ~ per cent, half of
the existing rate.
From the variety of reports concern
ing the incident it appears that the
senate leader was angered by frequent
statements made by the house leader
that the country and the president
were in sympathy with the action of
the house in putting hides on the free
list, and that he did not propose to be
governed by what a majority of the
cOnferees thought about the question.
Mr. Aldrich is reported to have up
braided Mr.. Payne for his 'obstinacy,"
and to have said that he was tired of
dictatorial methods" to defeat the will
of a majority of the cOnferees. Mr..
Payne was unrelenting
When it was seen that nothing could
be accomplished, Mr.. Paynes sigma
ture being necessary for the making
of a report, the conference adjourned.
Until the senate members are as
sured of sufficient votes to adopt a
conference report carrying hides on
the free list they will permit this ques-
ton to be brought to a vote. The
house leaders insist that the cOnferees
are not empowered to agree upon du-
ties lower than the lowest rates fixed
by either branch of congress.
1t was argued that it was possible
to bring in a special rule in the house
declaring Gin order" rates on leather
goods below the duties fixed by the
house bill. Without such rule, it was
Ecilus lAlC SBCdhCl hOulA w OOAhpNAACsl
to decide that the conferees had ey-
ceeded their authority if they should
bring in a report naming rates upon
leather goods, such as boots and shoes
sole leather, calfskins and harness
lower than those fixed by the house
bill. It is not known whether such {
rule could be adopted.
Taft Stands Firm.
President Taft has not receded il
any way from his demand for free
hides. He is automatically represented
as regarding free hides as a typica
case underlying the whole principle o
downward revision and if free hide'
should be lost little Of encouragement
to the real revisiOnists remains.
A compromise duty of Z cents-a re
duction from 16 per cent under exist
ing law-would be of no benefit. &C
cording to the presidents views. Ur
less hides are made absolutely fire
there can be no reduction made o.
boots, shoes and other manufacture
articles of leather, and consequent
the basis of real revision in this EN-
nently important schedule is lost. Tn
president. it is said has been deepl
impressed by the representations tha
have been made to him by the leathe
interests to the effect that under tn
protection of the prohibitive Is cent
duty the leather and shoe manufactu
ers are practically at the mercy of tn
four or FIVE big meat packing concern
of the middle west.
Free Hides Don't Mean Low Prices
President Taft, according to thos
who have talked most intimately wit
him, does not suffer the delusion tn;
revision of the tariff downward is g
ing to bring reduced prices or wou
be of immediate benefit &c the muc
tslked-about ultimate consumer"
stead of a reduction, it is declare
that there will be actual increases du
ing the coming year on many of Il
necessaries of life, including wearir
apparel. Even the putting of hides {
the free list and the accompanying I
ductiOn in duty on finished leath
products is not expected to work a I
duction in the price of boots, she's
harness or any of the other myriad
things manufactured from leather. !
a matter of fact, the presidents advic
now are to the effect that hides a
rapidly increasing in price. and tn
the demand is so great that even t
large impOrtatiOns expected from
gentina under free entry clause "
not suffice to keep the prices at G.
rent figures.
It IS practically settled ttat coal v
be made GGtiable at 40 cents a I,
print paper at $3.75 a ton, IRON ore
Is cents a tn. oil free. luCber at 81
or $3.50 Tor thousand feet with {
senate difgercntials, and s.oves a
hosiery at rates slightly under
advances made by the house over
Dingley rates.
Carnegie French zero Fund Start
Paris, July 26.-Befofe leaving of