The San Francisco call., 1909-07-23
PRESIDENT TAFT
|. has EFFECTED A
CLEAR CUT PLAN
Tariff Situation Is Now Tan-
gible, Where All Before Was
Vague Uncertainty
Present Conditions Augur Well
for an Early Agreement by
House and Senate

WASHINGTON, July 22.-President
Taft appears to have brought about a
tangible situation with regard to the
tariff where uncertainty existed before.
Today was one OF conferences and
concluded with a consultation at the
White House tonight, participated In
by the president, Senator Aldrich and
Representative Payne. at which the
chief executive was assured that har-
monious settlement of the differences is
likely
This conclusion was reached from the
fact that harmony pervaded the various
conferences at the capitol. The sena-
tors opposed to the free raw material
program were consulted by Senator
Aldrich and committee representing
the same position on the house side
conferred with Chairman Payne. In
addition the house conferees met to
nave the experts of the senate finance
committee explain the senate changes
In the cotton schedule.
EARLY AGREEMENT PROBABLE
1t is evident that the president by in
forming the conferees that the disputed
points were before them for settlement
brought about a condition that augurs
We'll for an early settlement Taft
was able to get better insight into
the obstacles to a free raw material"
plan by his conference with the two
leaders than was possible in so large a
gathering as that which was present at
the dinner last night.
Senator Aldrich met large number
of senator's who are opposed to free
hides. coal and iron ore, and no en-
couragement was offered for placing
those articles on the free list. In fact,
were 1t possible to get these senators
to yield the situation in the house
would have to be dealt with.
! The house tariff insurgents, who op-
! pose free raw materials, adopted reso-
lutfons protesting against the plan.
| Representative Dwight, the repub-
lican whip, informed Senator Aldrich
! that the anti free raw material sentt-
/ meDt In the house was a matter which
required serious consideration He said
that its strength had grown to 45 mem
| bers
! The advocates of dutiable hides In
! both houses declared a compromise
| possible, but that they can not con-
slider placing hides on the free list
/ With regard to the free reciprocity
| provision on coal in the house bill.
| there also was firm stand The mem
| bers interested in coal declared such
| provision untenable and that re-
duction in the senate rate without a
clause for reciprocal free trade was
more acceptable. Is
That a nominal duty on iron ore will
| be agreed to by the conferees was the
! indication tonight
| The opinion is expressed that the
rate will be one that will place the
domestic and imported ores on an equal
| footing at the Atlantic seaboard. Rep
resentative Payne is insisting on free
! ore.
PETRoLEcM MAY BE FREE
| 1t is more than likely that the con-
| ference report will place petroleum on
| the free list without a countervailing
! duty proposition. The house "insur-
gents" have indicated their willingness
| to concede free oil if the other raw
materials are made dutiable. General
! discussion of the customs court and
| corporation tax provisions and of the
duties on cotton goods, gloves and
hosiery took UP the time of the con-
ferees at the morning session.
/ 1t was decided that the headquarters
of the customs court of appeals shall
| be located in Washington.
THE COTTON SCHEDULE
! General Sharretts and Marion de
| Vries of the board of general apprais-
| ers, and W. H. Parkhill an examiner
| In the New York custom house, ex-
/ planned to the house conferees the pur-
/ pose Of the senate changes In the cot
| ton schedule and their probable eff
fects. They pointed out that the speci-
! fc rates would not exceed the rates
which It had been the intention of the
! Dingley law to collect. but that in
| operation several of the senate rates
would be lower than those Of the house.
The entire time of the house conferees
was taken up In discussing the cotton
schedule.
Presidents Attitude