The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-07-23
TAFT UNTANGLES
TARIFF MIDDLE
Harmony At Last Pervades
Conference Discussion
OPPOSITION TO FREE LIST
Insurgents of the House Meet and
Adopt Resolutions Protesting
Against the Plan To Admit
Certain Articles Free.
OPPOSITION TO FREE LIST

Washington, July 22.-with the effect Of
magic, President Taft has brought about
a tangible situation with regard to the
tariff where uncertainty existed before.
Today was one of conferences and con-
cluded with a consultation at the White
House tonight, participated in by the
President, Senator Aldrieh and Represer-
tative Payne, at which the chief execu-
tive was assured that a harmonious set
Element of the differences existing be-
tween the two branches of Congress Is
practicable. This conclusion was reached
from the fact that harmony pervaded the
various conferences held at the capitol
today. The senator's opposed to the free
raw material programme were consulted
by Senator Aldrich, and committee rep
resenting the same position in the House
met this afternoon to have the experts
of the Senate committee explain the SEN
ate changes in the cotton schedules. 1t
is evident that the President by inform
ing the conferees that the disputed points
were before them for settlement brought
about a condition that augurs well for
an early agreement on a conference re-
port the chief executive was able to get
a better insight into the obstacles to the
free raw material plan by his confer
ence with the two leaders than was pos
sible in so large gathering as that which
was present at the dinner last night.
No Encouragement.
Senator Aldrich met number of SEN
ators who are opposed to free hides, coal
and iron ore and no encouragement was
offered for the placing of any of these
articles on the free list. In fact were
1t possible to get those senators to yield
the situation In the House would have to
be dealt with.
The insurgents in the House met today
and adopted resolutions protesting against
the free material plan. They designated
Representatives Gaines of West Virginia,
Mondell of Wyoming and Kennedy of
Ohio as a committee to confer with Rep
resentative Payne.
The latter did not offer the insurgents
much encouragement.
Representative Dwight of New York, the
republican whip of the House, conferred
with Senator Aldrich late this afternoon
and informed him that the anti-free raw
material sentiment in the House was
serious consideration. He said that its
strength had grown to 45 members
The advocates of dutiable hides in both
houses declare that a compromise Is pos
sible, but that they cannot consider the
placing Of these articles on the free list.
Firm Stand on Coal.
With regard to the free reciprocity pro-
vision on coal In the House bill, there also
was firm stand. The members interest
ed in coal declared that such a provision
would make the situation with regard to
coal untenable for the operatives, and that
reduction In the Senate rate without a
clause for reciprocal free trade was more
acceptable.
That nominal duty on iron ore would
be agreed to by the conferees was the in
dication tonight. No determination as
to the rate has been suggested, but the
opinion is expressed by several of the
conferees that 1t will be one that will
place the domestic and imported ores on
an equal footing at the Atlantic seaboard
1t is understood that Representative
Payne is insisting on absolutely free ore
Owing to the diversified opinions ex-
pressed with regard to OIL 1t is more than
likely that the conference report will
place petroleum on the free list, without
countervailing duty provision.
me House insurgents have indicated
their willingness to concede free oil If the
other raw materials are made dutiable.
General discussion of the customs court
and of the duty on cotton and on gloves
and hosiery took up the time Of the con-
ferees at the morning session, and ad-
3ournment was taken to permit q separate
session of the House conferees
The entire time OF the House conferees
was taken up in the discussion of the cot
ton schedule