The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-31
.OiI and Lumber Schedules Are Cause of Much Live
 y Discussion
DANGER THAT TIE PAYNE
 BILL WILL BE DELAYED
Taft Holds Conference With Cannon, Payne and DaIzell in Endeavor To Suggest Plans for Hurry
 ing Up the Debates.

Washington, March 30.-When the session of the House today got well under way the tariff debate waxed warm. The indications were when the body met at 10 o'clock in the morn ing that the proceedings would be dry and uninteresting, but revival of the discussion of the oil and lumber sched ules was like setting match to both products, for the subjects proved of ab sorbing interest to the members, wh O entered generally into the debate. To MT. yreeland of New York was accord ed the privilege of explaining the po- sition of the independent rehners, who want the countervailing duty on crude petroleum retained while Mr. Kitchin of North Carolina, in an exhaustive treatment of the question, pleaded for the placing of lumber on the free list. He got Into frequent colloquies during his three and half hours talk with republicans and democrats.
 Others who spoke were Messrs Cox of Ohio. Sterling of Illinois, Hughes of Georgia, Bates of Pennsylvania, Par ker of New Jersey and Richardson of Alabama.
 At o'clock the usual recess for two hours was taken.
 There was large gath ering in the galleries when the House met again at o'clock, although there was only a sprinkling of members. Mr. Bor- land of Missouri opened the debate with 20 minute speech and was fol- lowed by Mir. Lowden of Illinois. MT. Byrd of Mississippi amused the mem bersfo over an hour devoting his re- marks principally to cotton and lum- Der. MT. Mckinley of California was the last speaker, the House adjourning automatically at 10:30 when he con- cluded his speech.
 There is imminent danger that the Payne tariff bill may be seriously delayed in its consideration by the House. Presi- dent Taft was in conference today with Speaker Cannon, Representative Payne, the floor leader, and Representative Dal- zell of Pennsylvania. Contrary to the usual practice as to such meetings the conference was not held in the executive offices, but in the red room, and it last ed an hour and half It is understood that the House leaders impressed the chief executive with the difficulty being experienced in getting the republican members in line to vote for rule which would expedite the passage of the meas ure.
 It is conceded tonight by several re- publican leaders that it would be impos- sible to pass a rule restricting amend ments to the bill until some time next week. and then only by granting the de- mands made by a number of members that certain important schedules be open to amendment.
 Those members who oppose the holding of a caucus do so on the ground that it would attract the attention of the coun- try to the fact that the members of the majority in the House are at odds re- garding the bill. As a means of settling the difficulties that exist, and securing general support to a rule which would re- strict amendments entirely to those which the ways and means committee will offer, they propose that the committee should recommend changes that would take the countervailing duty clause on coffee out of the bill and strike out the tariff on tea.
 It also has been suggested that duty should be provided for long staple cotton or some other products of the south The latter suggestion Is made means of securing the support of the southern mem- bers and as a political move. The re- publican whips are making a canvass of the majority members to learn whether greater number favor or oppose the hold ing of a caucus.