The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-07-26
PRESIDENT STILL
DEMANDS FREE HIDES

Washington, July 25.-Sunday
brought no cessation OF President
Taft's tariff actSiues. His confer
ence with house and senate leaders
covered practically tho entire day
Tho President admitted frankly 10
some of his callers today that the
situation was not all that could be de-
sired. but expressed the hope that an-
other 2i hours would straighten out
the tangle and that the report OF the
coDferees would be presented in the
house on Tuesday next. II Is also
gress may adjourn by the last of the
week
President Tan has not receded IN
any way from his demand for free
hides, regarding free hides as under
lying the whole principle of downward
revision.
a compromise duty Of seven cents
"a reduction form Is per cent under
existing law-would be no benefit. ac-
cordng 10 the presidents views. I'm
less hides are made absolutely free
there can be no reduction on boots,
shoes and other manufactured articles
Of leather. The president II Is said,
has deeply impressed by the repre-
sentations that have been made 10
him by the leather interests to the Ell
feet that under protection OF the pro-
hibitlve Is cents dlity. the leather and
shoe manufacturers are at the mercy
of the four or Ave big meat packing
cnOcprDc Of thC middle WaSt
The president on the other hand.
it is declared. has not been much i'm
pressed by the arguments Of western
senators that free hides would he fol-
lowed by a demand for free wool.
Hides never were protected until the
enactment OF the Dingley law.
The presidents chief concern is as
to hides. The other schedules appaT-
emily are being worked into accept
able shape. according to his Informal
ton. and once the free hides and re-
duced leather goods program has
been agreed upon the end of the fight
is In vain.
President Taft. it is said does not
suffer the deluson that revision OF
the tariff downward is going TO bring
reduced prices or would be of Inn
mediate benefit TO the ultimate con-
sumer. Instead Of a reduction, it Is
declared there Will be actual increases
during the coming year on many of the
uecessar ries of life. including wearing
apparel Even the putting OF hides
ON the free list and the accompanying
reduction in duty on finished leather
products is not expected to work
reduction in the price of boots. shoes.
harness or other things manufactured
from leather AS a matter of fact.
the presidents adyices are that hides
are rapidly increasing In prices and
that the demand Is so great that even
the large importations expected from
Argentina under a free entry clause
viii not suffice TO keep the prices at
current figures.
An advance of % to 25 per cent in
wooden goods already has been an
nounced, despite the fact that no
change has been made in the woolen
schedule This schedule, the presi-
dent has been told, will not permit OF
! a re~opening at this time. 1t Is
closed incident as regards the confer
| ence.
In discussing the Slludllon VIII '"h
ers today. the president explained his
theory OF the principle of downward
revision from protectionist point Of
view. The Idea is not to reduce duties
TO the point OF affecting home indus
tries or to admit imports TO what
from the Republican standpoint, would
be unfair competition with homemade
articles. The president Is represented
as regarding downward revision as
means of protecting the people from
| monopoly and excessively high prices.
The president has declared that ne
believes the just comparison OF OLD
and new tariffs TO be one based on the
actual domestic consumption Of goods
upon which the duty has been lowered.
Even II the duty is not lowered sum
cientlv to admit OF imports upon a
large scale. the president is said 10
i feel that in lowering the tariff on ar
ticles of general consumption, a great
gain has heen made.