The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-07-24

Unless some one throws a monkey
wrench into the legislative wheels, the
tariff bin VIII be reported to the House
and Senate early next week The points
in controversy IN conference have mar
rowed down and an agreement IS expected
to be reached by tonight
Indications are that President Taft viii
be successful in effecting some reductions
Of duties on raw materials. That Presi-
dent Taft viii sign the tariff bill If it
is approved by both Houses IS generally
believed, although there continues 10 be
lot OF talk about an Executive veto in
the event that his entire programme Is
not adopted.
The progressive Republican Senators
continue 10 hold daily conferences In the
north end OF the Capitol. while the high
tariff Republicans hold counter demon.
stratlons in the south wing Of ths Capitol
In Executive Session.
The conferees on the tarin bin failed
to reach an agreement yesterday, and the
conference will be continued to-day in
executive session.
When the conferees met for the after
noon session. an agreement was reached
by which everybody. including the COM
mittee clerks. was excluded outside OF
the membership Of the conference.
It was the intention TO take Up the
! disputed questions. most Of which are in
cluded IN President Taft's list OF raw
materials" and vote upon them sepa-
/ rately. But the afternoon was spent IN
I discussion, and according 10 the best
/ Information Obtainable, no vote was
taken on any single issue presented.
Duty on Steel.
The only important question that was
finally settled was the duty on structural
steel, punched but not assembled. and in
that the Senate amendment prevailed.
At the morning session the time was
taken up almost entirely with the cotton
schedule. and with the drawback pro-
vision. Neither was definitely settled.
but in the main the Senate had It's way,
and with few exceptions the Senate "spe-
cifics" on the higher grades OF cotton
| cloths were adopted.
| In the lower grades there were a num-
I Der OF reductions from the rates given.
in the Senate bill But the general sub.
/ ject was still open IL IS understood
/ that the Dingley law drawback pro-
visions WIN be re-enacted with a slight
! modification
Fight over Hides.
The most obstinate point Of contention.
is the paragraph relating to the duty on.
/ hides. There was a report last night.
/ that the couferees had agreed 20 post
pOne vote on the hide paragraph until
I Monday After the conclusion OF the con-.
ference Senators Lodge and Crane were
/ sent for and the two Massachusetts Sena-.
tors had a long interview with Senator
Aldrich and Senator Smoot
I The Senators from Massachusetts are
I the most ardent advocates OF free hides,
and they are still confident that with the
aid OK the President they will be able 10
/ have hides placed on the free list. It
was made clear TO the Senators that II
the duty was 20 be removed from hides
/ it would be necessary to submit to
sweeping reductions in the duties on boots
and shoes. sole leather. and al leather
products
( This information was not agreeable to
! the advocates Of free hides. and II is
! derstanding that they want TO confer
TO consider the matter. and It is the un-'
! derstauding that they want TO cOnOferI
! with the boot and shoe manufacturers
before giving a fnal answer.
! There Is not much doubt that the con-
] o. r-H~~
I every other controverted point II the hide
question were out Of the way. There is
/ every reason to believe that the duty on
1 print paper will be So a ton; that lumber
/ viii carry duty OF S125 per thousand:
/ that there viii be a nominal duty on iron
! ore; that coal VIII be made dutiable at
I - cents q ton. with no reciprocal pro-
vision for free coal. and that oil win 90
upon the free list.
! CnnDnn Takes Hand.
( ~-.,.-1osiery paragraph IS nor
yet settled. Speaker Cannon is exercls-
Ing powerful influence in favor Of the
retention Of the House duties on gloves
and hosiery which are higher rates than
those given In the Senate BILL
The tobacco schedule has not been anal-
ily settled. but there has been a change
IN the sentiment OF the conferees, and Il
Is now predicted that the coupons which.
are used by tobacco dealers will not be-
abolished. The Increased duties On to-
bacro carried by the amendments report
ed from the Finance Committee by Sena-
tor Smoot viii IN all probability prevail
The conferees viii hold their sessions
tG-daT behind closed doors. and every
body except members Of the conference
/ conference committee have agreed that
\ they wiu not make public their conclu-
I sious on any Of the disputed items IN the
ltariR bill until al Of them havr been
finally settled.
When the conferees entered the after
noon session they had hopes OF reaching