The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-07-19
Through Wilderness Of Many
Conflicting Political
Interests
CONFERENCE COMMITTEE
NEAR END OF ITS WORK
Report Is Expected To Be Completed
Latter Part of This Week-Taft's
Message Perhaps Facilitates
Work of Committee.

Washington, July 1s.-The tariff bill
is nearing the end of its adventurous
journey through the wilderness of
conflicting political interests on which,
so to speak, 1t has been an imperilled
wayfarer since the beginning of the
extraordinary session of Congress con-
voked by President Taft Immediately
upon his Inauguration nearly five
months ago.
The conference committee is now near
the end of it's task and its report is
expected to be completed the latter
part of this week. How long 1t will
take the Senate and the House to pass
finally upon the work of the conference
committee and what will be the ulti
mate fate of the measure as a whole
is the subject of varying conjecture.
but the general impression in quar-
ters usually well-informed is that the
report of the committee will be adopted
by both houses and will reach the Pres
ident early next week.
Most people here expect President
Taft will sign the bill. He, however,
caused furry last Friday night by
the issuance of what amounted to an
informal message to Congress in which
he reiterated his conviction that the
national platform of the republican
party meant, and the sentiment of the
people as whole demanded a bona fide
downward revision of the tariff. After
all is said this statement really sur
prised nobody as the President had
said substantially the same thing In
his recent speech at New Haven, but 1t
served to crystallize somewhat fiuc-
tuating sentiment in the committee
of conference, and it may have ex-
pedited the committees action.
Five Leading Subjects.
In all probability the five subjects
which have received President Tafts
personal attention-rion ore, COAL oil,
hides and lumber-will be taken up
by the conferees during the latter
part of the present week. There are
a number of paragraphs in the bill
which cannot be disposed of until the
rates are determined for the subjects
named.
Acting upon the assumption that iron
ore and oil will be placed upon the
free list and that existing duties on
coal. hides and lumber will be ma
terially reduced, the conferees are pre-
pairing amendments to be offered on ar
ticles related to the foregoing raw ma
terials. In consequence, all of these
subjects may be disposed of Immediate
ly after duties have been determined
for the more important subjects.
Greatest Difficulty.
Outside of the questions which are
receiving the personal attention OF
President Taft, the greatest difficulty
anticipated relates to the wood pulp
and print paper schedule. The House
rate on print paper was fixed at ~ a
ton The Senate rate Is "a ton as
against the existing rate of So ton.
The general impression is that the Sen
ate conferees will offer to compro-
mise with the House by agreeing to
accept rate of 49,
The Senate conferees are insisting
upon the increase made in theduty on
lemons. The existing rate is 1c
pound The House increased this to
1Nc and the Senate to NC more in
the interest OF the California growers.
This is one of the questions to be
taken up early this week.
The House will be in session tomor-
row and will probably adjourn until
Thursday. The Senate meets Tuesday
and may adjourn until Friday unless
there appears a prospect of report
from the conference committee by
Thursday. No business of Importance
except the emergency deficiency bill is
before either branch of Congress. This
measure may be passed by the House
tomorrow. but IL it Is not 1t Is planned
70 have n session on Tuesday.