The Washington herald., 1909-04-24
CONGRESS WONDERS
WHEN IT WILLQUIT
Some Say the First of June,
Others August 10.
MANY AMENDMENTS PROMISED
Believed More Than Half of the
Paragraphs VIII he Subject of
Heated Debates-OI Men Confident
They VIII Get Duty, but II Is
Thought the Rate VIII Be Low.

When viii Congress adjourn?
That Is the question many Senators and
Representatives are trying TO answer, but
their prophecies date all the way from
the last Of May to the middle OF July.
Chairman Aldrich. OF the Finance Com
mIttee. and other Republican leaders are
expressing the hope that a vote can be
taken on the tariff bill May Is. This
would give two weeks for the bill 10 go
10 conference, and allow Congress 70
close ne J.
Others says the vote will be delayed IN
I'll the first OF June. and that the Senate
and House conferees viii spend a month
agreeing on the amendments 10 the bill.
sim others contend the thing is AL Cp
in the air" and assert that the greater
part OF the summer viii be taken Up with
the measure.
Senator CulIom. who has been one OF
the most optimistic members Of Congress
about an early adjournment, Is said to
have said in q somewhat Gisgusted tone,
yesterday, that be knew adjournment
could not be taken June I. and that II
might run TO August I5.
Many Amendments Promised.
Until Wednesday everything was run
nirg smoothly Tor tie Senate leaders. and
there was no apparent reason why the
bin could not be PASSED n the same
length OF tine taken up by the House.
But when the secretary began reading
the measure by paragraphs, Senators
arose IN al parts OF the chamber and
asked that certain parts be passed over;
that they wished TO offer amendments.
Now. II can be seen that fully half OF
the paragraphs are going to be the sub
/ yect OF more or less lively fights. and
. there Is no way Of reckoning when the
work viii be completed
The iron and steel. cotton. woolen. OF.
glass, and many other schedules were
/ passed over 10 be considered at another
/ time. and then there are the adnsinistrs-
| tive features OF the bin not yet reported,
which will be the cause for long
/ drawn-out debate
/ That the independent oil men viii be
/ successful In having a duty placed on
/ petroleum and its products is now gen
] eraIIv believed by the members Of the
I Senate. The independents have appeared
/ before The Finance Committee and said
+ free OIL would practically run them out
/ Of business, and II is said they have
I brought such strong pressure 70 oea'
4 upon members OF the committee tna'
/ they are almost certain 20 set soroetnng
: Rate of Duty TO Be Low.
II Is not believed. however. they viii
! induce the committee 10 Try 70 put duty
/ OF 30 Per cent. on petroleum. It is thought
the duty viii be from Is 10 3 per cent
/ Members Of the Senate are not so bitterly
/ Opposed to a duty on oil as are the mem
/ bers Of the House The House has nc
/ hesitancy in saying public sentiment Is
/ for free petroleum. and It is believed the
/ conferees will stand up for that when the
bill goes 20 conference However. it !:
/ thought they can be persuaded 20 accep'
1 a duty OF Is or . per cent.
/ Hide men are confident they VIII sue
/ ceed in getting a duty Of - per cent i'm
/ posed on this product The amendment
/ viii be reported Monday, and II is likely
/ that Il viii be considered az once The
1 hide men are said TO have been promised
! the support OF many Senators. who are fo'
/ a duty on petroleum. and unless present
/ pledges are broken, L Is said. they vii
4 have a safe ajority when the vote is
I taken.