The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-07-25
CoNFEREES SAY THEY WILL BE
FREE BUT STATEMENT is
NOT OFFICIAL.
WILL WORK ON SUNDAY
To Spend the Sabbath Day Wrestling
With the knotty Problems That Con-
front Them--Forecast Made of Set
Element of Question of Oil, Hides,
Lumber, Coal and Print Paper.

Washington, July 24.The hide aues
ton was settled and unsettled today
and while there seems little doubt
that eventually hides will fall among
the unprotected articles on the tariff
bill, the contest over the schedule
cannot be regarded as closed With
the conferees adjourned for luncheon,
several Of them said that it had been
decided that hides should go on the
free list. Tonight the same conferees
declare that hides will be free, but
that the question has not been decided
officially.
4 None of the questions made promi-
nent throughout the country by Presi-
dent Taft's interest in them has been
adjusted, although the conferees have
been in strict executive session since
noon yesterday. The adjournment to-
night was until 10 o'clock tomorrow.
The conferees expect to spend a large
part Of Sunday wrestling with these
problems. The indications are tonight
that the conference rates upon the
important question still in dispute will
be settled as follows:
Hides and oil free; lumber, rough,
$1.25 a 1000 feet, with proportionate
differentials; COAL As cents ton,
without the house reciprocal condi-
tions; iron ore, 15 cents a ton; print
paper, $3.75 ton.
Practically one full week has been
occupied by the conferees in an ef-
fort to settle these questions. Most
of the time has been devoted to hides
This subject was complicated by rea-
son of statements coming from boot
and shoe interests that they were
ready. to agree to substantial reduc-
tions in the duties on leather goods
IL hides were put on the free list.
These interests apparently felt sure
that there could be no reduction on
boots and shoes below IL per cent ad
valorem, the house rate.
President Taft stated to number
of his callers that he would insist upon
a reduction to at least 10 per cent
nd valorem with proportionate de-
creases in the rates on other leather
goods. This further complicated the
situation. Reports reached the confer
ence room late today that Speaker
Cannon and Parlamentarian Kinds
had decided it would be impossible for
the conferees to adopt a rate on boots
and shoes lower than the rate adopt
ed by either branch of congress.
Advocates of protected hides de-
clared that there must be proper
tionate reduction on leather to offset
the abolition of the duty on hides If
their votes We're to be counted upon
to adopt the conference report. This
statement came from such men as
Senator Warren and Senator Smoot.
They said similar views We're held by
others, including Senators Carter and
Hepburn. AS a result of the declara
ton by the men interested in protect
ed hides, which amounted almost to
an ultimatum, some of those who are
looking for an early adjustment of the
tariff differences were filled with
Some of the western senators al
ready are said to be greatly dissat
isfied with the action taken by the
conferees in decreasing senate rates on
lead and it's products. 1t was stated
that it would take very little to in
duce them to vote against the con-
ference report. Senator Aldrich was of
the opinion that the conferees could
reduce rates below those fixed by
either house without the adoption of
a concurrent resolution. However,
canvass will be made of the two
bodies to ascertain whether con-
current resolution comforting jurisdic-
ton to lower rates below those fixed
o;t la aInnfnH
Iron ore was taken up at the after
noon session today, but the rate was
not fixed. A report that the conferees
had agreed upon a duty of 20 cents
a ton was accepted as true by sem
ators and representatives from states
in the iron ore question.