Omaha daily bee., 1909-03-28
Hide and Leather Schedules Dis.
cussed at Length Yesterday.
HARRISON ATTACKS IRON RATES
New Yorker Also Says Bill Levies
High Tax on Women's Clothing.
CONTENTION OF SHOE MAKERS
MIR. Gardner of Massach usetts Says
Free Leather end Free Boots and
shoes would Ruin Farmers
ahd Manufacturers.

WASHINGTON, March g7.-Debate on the
tariff bill in the house today was largely
devoted to an academic discussion of the
question and the political questions In
volved although MIR. Gardner (Mass) thor
oushly reviewed the question of free hides
and a tariff on leather goods. Mr.. Long
worth (OD and Mr.. Harrison &c New York.
the new democratic member of the ways
and means committee were the only rep
resentstiveS of the tariff framing commit
tee who made speeches.
Representative Ansberry (O.) advocated
free lumber and Mr.. Keiger Co) and Mr.
Slemp Cva.) concluded the speech making
for the day, the house adjourning at Sis
D. m. to meet again at 10 o'clock Monday
This was in accordance with the motion
of Mr.. Payne IN. " that until the con-
clusion of general debate on the tariff bill
the house meet for ten and one-hslf hours
each day. The hours agreed on are from
10 a. m. to .. m, when a recess of two
hours is TO be taken the house continues
in session from to lOsO at night. There
have been nearly 100 requests for time
der general debate made up 20 the present
time.
Harrison Opens Debate.
Declaring that there would be no
dissension in the democratic ranks Of
the house with regard to the tariff
and that the Fitzgerald amendment to
the rules made II possible for the
minority TO express its views upon
amendments TO the bill by a record vote
Representatives Harrison OF New York
today discussed various features of the
Payne measure
Many schedules of the Payne bill offer
ground for rejoicing among our psrtisans."
he said, '1n many cases they have not
listened TO the greedy clsmor of selfish
and unpatriotic men who have appeared
before the committee demanding prohibl-
tive rates upon their own articles" Under
republican management, said Mr. Harrison,
the nation was fast approaching bank
ruptcy.
'.This bin contains a heavy tax upon
the women of America he continued. In
many respects they seemed TO have been
singled out for attack
Mr.. Harrison declared that every item
on the steel and iron schedules should be
put upon the free list In order to cheaper
the prices OF the products to the American
consumer He attacked the maximum and
minimum provisions Of the bill. the
counterveing duty OF coffee and said
the democratic party favored an income
tax, rather than Inheritance tax, which
should be left to the states
Gardner on Hides.
The tariff on hides was discussed by
Representative Gardner OF Massachusetts
He gave history of the high tariff from
the time OF the civil war to the enactment
OF the Dingiey bill He said hides were on
the free list as the bill passed the house.
but that duty of Is per cent was fixed
in conference.
Mr.. Gardner said that he had lost pa
tience with those who claim that they can.
not vote for free hides because the leather
duty and the boot and shoe duty have not
been sufficiently touched. Ruin was
spelled by FIRE caltskin leather and free pat
ent leather, he argued. and by free boots
and shoes, so far as substantial minority
of maqufacturers was concerned. He said
that duty on hides does not encourage
the breeding of songie additional animal
and does not furnish a market for single
Ainerie y hide. He prophesied that the
price OF hides would gradually rises
whether the duty was removed or not
Mr.. Gardner said the ultimate consumer
would receive the benefit OF free hides
through the cheaper cost of production t,
the manufacturer, So long as the shoe
trade 10 not controlled by a trust he said
competition would keep the profits down
He argued the necessity for protection tS
the boot and shoe industry. saying that tht
American maker OF cheaper grades mus
he protected or so to the wall. He as
serted that the demand for free hides wa
based less on a desire for profit than ol
sense OF injustice
while Mr. Gardner was arguing for IN
retantion OF the duty on boots and shoe
and keeping hides on the free list Chaml
Clark (Mo) wanted TO know II he woul,
support bill which would compel the sho
manufacturers to stamp on the shoes the
make statement showing the ingredient
OF their manufacture.
"Oh. III vote for a." Mr. Gardner re
piled. ''but they'll take my head Off dow
In my district for doing it. But the gen
tlemAn Is right"
That the national wealth has doubled
one OF the effects which Mr.. Keifer 90
attributed TO the operation OF the DinEie
bill. Speaking OF the placing OF certai
raw materials on the free list OF the Pawn
bill, Mr.. Keifer favored a reasonable dut
on hides. III hides are not 10 be mad
dutisble then boots and shoes and leathe
manufactures must go on the free list" n
said ''why should not the raiser. breede
and feeder of cattle have the same protec
tion on their products as is given the sho
uctsY'
"Production and the South was dil
oussed by Mr.. Slemp CvA). who said tina
the protective policy. historically. had il
origin In the south.