New-York tribune., 1909-06-26
OIL ON THE FREE LIST
SENATE KEEPS IT THERE.
Consideration of Tariff Schedules
Nearly Completed.
from The Tribune Bureau J

Washington June 25-Crude petroleum and its
rro5lcts will not be dutiable under the Payne
AIdrich tariff bill This was settled when the sen
ate to-day voted down, 20 to 81 an amendment oy
Mr. Penrose to make crude oil dutable at p cent
gallon. L will be remembered that the House.
by vote of 322 A., refused to retain the couh-
tervafling oil duty the Dingley. act. The House
placed oil on the free the theory that It was
hitting the Standard oil Company. Immediately
the Independent oil producers declared that free
oil meant their ruin. and would beneht the SIalld
ard The Independents have maintained a lobpy
here for many months and have had several near
ings before the Finance Committee. That com
rnittee was unable to reach agreement, and the
Penrose amendment was not presented as com
rofttee measure. Seven of the nine Republicans on
the Finance Committee voted FOR the duty MI
McCumber voted against it. and Mr.. Lodge, who
was absent. was paired against. Only two Demo
Gratis. Senators McEnery and Owen. supported the
duty, Nineteen Republicans voted against lt-S7n-
ators Bristow Brown, Burkett. Clapp. crane
Crawford Cummins, Dillingham;, Dolliver Gamble
Johnson, Jones' La Toilette. McCumber. Nelson
Page Piles. Root and Smith, of Michigan.
Debate on the oil question surprisingly brief-
Mr. Penrose explained that the y cent rate repre-
sented the final conclusion Of the independent opera
tors He said that 50 per cent Of the crude oil pro
duction the United States controlled by the
independents. who also controlled 20 per cent OF the
refined oil He insisted that all practical oil men
were fearful of the menace Of oil production IN
Mexico and Canada Senators Bailey, Bristow. Nc
Cumher and Gore spoke briefly for free oil They
insisted there no real danger Of Mexican com
petition. and ntmated that the Standard Oil Gem
pany was putting forward independents TO fight its
battle Mr. Owen urged his Democratic colleagues
for the amendment. saying that the Wilson
bill carried duty Of 20 per cent on crude oil and
its products. which provision had the support of
every Democratic Senator
Before the roncall began Mr. Penrose tried 10
meet certain objections made by Mr.. Cummns by
offering proviso that drawback should be al
lowed on oil or its products. The question was
divided so that the taken on the original
amendment. imposing the L cent duty. When
this was voted down Mr.. Penrose withdrew the
proviso. The advocates of dutiabe oil among
the Democratic Senators followed the rollcaH
with great care and ready TO vote for the
Penrose amendment if their votes were sufficient to
carry Il. There was considerable cJfiosity on the
Senate floor TO know what position would be taken
by Mr. Beveridge. in view of the large oil pro-
duction in Indiana. This curiosity not salts
fed. for Mr.. Beveridge left the chamber shortly
after the Penrose amendment offered and
did return
After the defeat OF the Penrose amendment Mr..
Owen offered an amendment TO prohibit any oil
company from selling its products at varying
prices in different parts Of the country. variation
representing the difference in freight to he
allowed He gave notice that he would press this
amendment when the administrative features OF
the bill are taken up.