New-York tribune., 1909-07-12
RAW MATERIAL FIGHT
ADVANCE GUARD 4RRIPES
At WASHINGTON.
President BcHeUes the LO7cer Rates
of the House Bill Can
BE Defended.
From The Tribune RnreaM- !

Washington, July 1.-THE probable fate in
the conference committee of the so-called raw
materials is attracting more interest in Wash
ington than almost any other phase of tariff
speculation The advance guard of the free
hides advocates is already here the supporters
of a high tariff lumber will come this week,
while those who interested in the coal iron
and pulp wood rates are now here to see
that their interests are properly safeguarded.
President Taft is deeply interested in all these
questions and in a general way believes that
the lower rates of the House bin can be de
Tended. Up to this time the President has not
discussed specific schedules with the conferrees
but that he will do before the close of this
week goes without saying.
The advocates Of free hides bearing down
on Mr.. Taft to take direct hand in the fight for
them. A large delegation of New England shoe
manufactur called at the White House yes
terday and explained to the President why the
Dingley duty of Is per cent could not be de-
Tended protective legislation. The tanners
and shoe manufacturers of the Middle West will
be here tomorrow to add the weight of their
influence to the efforts Of the New Engldnders.
The vote in the House for free hides was an
overwhelming one In the Senate many of the
so-Called regulars" on the Republican side
voted for free hides. but some of the down
ward revisionsts" of the Middle West. includ-
ing Senators Cummins. Bristow. Burkett. Craw-
ford and Brown, made an abrupt about-face on
this question and voted 10 restore the - per
cent duty.
WILLING TO YIELD ON FREE HIDES.
The truth is not a single member Of the Sem
ate conference committee is deeply interested in
the retention Of the duty on hides. If the Sena-
tors from the cattle states Of the West who stood
by the Finance Committee throughout the tariff
fight can be pacified Mr. Aldrich and his asso-
ciates will not hesitate 10 yield to the demand
OF the House for free hides. The Western Sena-
tors have indicated their willingness to accept
a reduction TO 10 per cent. and probably would
not raise serious objection if the rate were fixed
at 71a per cent.
There two items besides hides In the tariff
bill which are OF great interest to the tanners.
AS to one Of them they prefer the House rate.
and as 10 the other they desire the Senate rate.
The principal tanning extract now IN use in the
United States is quebracho, which is imported
in large quantities from Argentina. The Ding
ley duty this extract IS one-half a cent a
pound The House increased this rate TO seven
eighths Of cent. the Senate restoring the Ding
ley rate Bichromate of soda is absolute
necessity in every tannery in this country. The
Dingley rate this article Is cents a pound
the House rate l cent and the Senate rate l..
cents. tanner from a Middle Western state
who is in Washington in behalf Of free hides
estimates that his plant alone uses 10000
pounds of bichromate of soda annually. I'VE
in embarrassing position" he said to-
day. Neither the House bill nor the Senate
bin satisfies us. We desire the hides and bi-
chromate OF soda provisions OF the House bill
and the quebracho provision Of the Senate bill
FORDNEY A THOROUGH FIGHTER
The appointment on the House conference
committee of Representative Fordney. of Nlchi-
gan. has encouraged the advocates OF high lum-
ber duty to believe that the 81 10 rate on rough
lumber in the Senate bill will be retained The
pingey duty Is 81 and the House rate 81. Mr..
FoTdney the leader OF the high lumber
forces in the House. He is a practical lumber
man of long experience a thorough fighter and
is we'll equipped TO present the case Of the lum-
bermen in the conference committee Repre-
sentative Tawney and other strong men Of the
House organization determined that the
lumber duty in the House bill shall not be in
creased. 1t has been suggested that a compro-
mise duty of 81 % be fixed but this does not
seem to meet the approval of either side
1t is believed that the House will resist 20
the uttermOst the action of the Senate in placing
a duty of 25 cents a ton on iron ore The Ding
ley rate is 40 cents. the House placing iron ore
on the free list Senator Burrows is deeply in
terested in this question on account Of the great
iron ore industry in the upper peninsula Of his
state.
The conferrees do not think II viii be difficult
10 settle their differences as TO bituminous coal
The House retained the Dingley rate of e. cents
a ton, but provided for reciprocity with Canada /
The Senate struck ont the reciprocal proviso |
reduced the duty coal to 60 cents a ton and
on slack to Is cents ton. 1t is believed that /
the Senate conferrees viii be willing to make Il
further reduction in the coal duty, probably to /
so cents ton If the House will consent to this /
rate. there is little doubt that compromise can /
b. reached.
1t will be more difficult to adjust the differ /
ences between the two branches of Congress on |
print paper pulp wood and wood pulp. Rep !
resentative Mann, who chairman of the spe- |
cial committee that Investigated the pulp and /
paper question. has served notice on the House |
that he will vote against their report
If they accept the rates in the Senate bill. Mr. |
AldTich and his associates the Finance Com !
mittee are convinced that the rate of 81 a /
on print paper, which is a reduction OF 81 from /
the Dingley law. is none too high. He has said |
that the 81 rate Of the House bill would be |
ruinous to the paper industry. and lie will not |
consent to this rate without a struggle
nO0 nm F0P CANAL. 1Q11