Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-08-03
While There Was General Conf
dence That the Bill Would Go
Through, Slight Uncertainty
Added Spice to Situation.
MEMBERS OF SENATE
DEMAND THAT BILL BE
READ IN EVERY DETAIL
When 1t Appeared That Clerk
Had Omitted Portions of Con-
ference Report, Senators Called
for Fuller Information.
CBy Associated Press.)

| WASHINGTON, Aug. with the
tariff conference report facing threat
ened defeat in the senate on account
/ OF an alleged Joker in the hide and
leather compromise it was decided to
reassemble the conference committee
at 3 O'Clock this afternoon to prepare
an official explanation.
TAFT DENIES JOKER"
The alleged Joker which a number OF
the progressive" Republicans in the SEN
ste are said to have discovered in the
leather schedule of the tariff bill as re-
ported to the conferees, and which some
of them have been quoted as saying con-
situted a betrayal of the presidents con-
hdence, brought out the declaration by
MIR. Taft TO callers today that the Ian
guage of the amendment as 10 boots and
shoes is exactly as agreed upon by him,
Senator Aldrich and Representative
Payne. 1t has been claimed by the pro
gressives'' that the language of the
amendment reducing the duties on boots
and shoes was made to apply only to
shoes manufactured from hides dutiable
under the Dingley bill. and did not apply
to shoes which are made in part OF kid,
thus violating the agreement for a gen.
TAFT BRANDS ABSURD"
President Taft told his callers today
that the talk of Joker in the leather
schedule was absurd. The president said
that the distinct understanding was that
in consideration of free hides, previously
dutiable, all articles in which such du-
table hides were component parts OF
chief values should have a reduction even
below the rates fixed in the house bill
except sole leather itself. which in the
house bill had been reduced from 20 to
per cent, that being considered low
enough.
When the senate convened to-
| day only seven or eight SEN
ators were in their seats. Senate.
Aldrich, chairman of the conference COM
mittee, was there, however, and urged
prompt consideration OF the conference
report on the tariff bin.
The committees record of it's long pro-
ceeding in conference was read by the
reading clerk during which a number Of
senators entered the chamber.
Moving rapidly over the amendments
agreed to by the conferees, the clerk was
interrupted by Senator Hepburn.
THE clerk has made no reference to
the maximum and minimum provisions"
said the Idaho senator, addressing the
CLERK CALLED DOWN.
He has omitted the cotton schedule
declared Mr.. Clapp.
1T is obvious that at least % pages
have been turned over without reading {"
commented Mr.. Culberson, joining the two
Republican senators in insisting upon A
careful compliance with the rules
Through the chair. the reading clerk pro-
tested that he had read all, but his pro-
test only called a Iebuke for himself from
Mr.. Hepburn.
BY this time nearly all the senator's on
both sides OF the chamber had taken
their seats, and the reading was resumed
the senator's who had declared themselves
in favor Of the reading Of every word of
the report apparently paying no further
attention TO II. --
BILL SURE OF PASSAGE
There was general confidence that the
bill would go through. but still there was
enough uncertainty to add spice to the
situation.
Renewed public interest in the pro-
ceedings was shown by the large attend
ance in the galleries.