The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-07-17
THE TARIFF BILLS NEARLY F|NISRyzI:S, Great Progress Is M'' By Conferees on Schedules DIFFERENCES SQUARED UP Cotton Schedule Comes Up But Is Not Settled As Representative
 Payne Asked for More
 Time On Subject.
SQUARED UP

1 Washington, July 16.-Twenty -four hours will see the end of the work of the Sen ate and House conferees on the tariff i bill and a substantial agreement upon the questions at issue except the five propositions-iron ore. coal, hides, oil and lumber-upon which the President stands | firm for radical reductions or even aboli- ton of tariff This is the way the con ferees describe the propositions, the na- tional issues.'
 Great progress was made by the con ferees today. A preponderance of the differences in nearly all of the schedules have been adjusted. In each schedule. however, there are some few items that have necessitated investigation in order to enable the conferees to get together A number of these inquiries have not been completed. This IS true of lead pro- ducts, such as paints, in the chemical schedule; numerous articles in the metal | schedule, on which the rates depend upon 1 the settlement of the iron ore question: the demand for change in the classi- ficatfon of wool tops; the change from ad valorem to specific rates on cotton goods; the increase made by the House on gloves; and the wood pulp and print paper contest.
 The rates on silks and woolen goods were determined today. The Senate won on both of these subjects. On silks there will be a considerable advance over ex- isting duties, and on woolens there is l to be no change from the present law except in regard to the wool tops which are to be given a new classification. The duty on tops is prohibtive now, and it is predicted that 1t will continue so, even after the reduction is put into force.
 Woolen Schedule.
 Adjustment of the wooen schedule is the result of conference today between various congressman who represented the views of the House and senators who represented the demands of wool growers for continued protection. The Senate pro- vision re-enacted the Dingley rates of the whole woolen schedule, while the House provided for material reduction. especially in the interest of the carded wool industry
 Holding out stoutly against the various reductions the Senate view prevailed ex- | cept in regard to wool tops No decision has been reached definitely concerning tops. The acceptance of the Senate silk schedule provides specific duties instead of the existing ad valorem rates. The change was made chiefly to prevent the under valuations of silks, velvets and che niles, manufactured in Japan at a very | low cost.
 been reduced, but an increase was made on the more costly silks, velvets che niles and chiffons. It is estimated that ! the new rates will yield more than $3,OO0,- 900 above the revenues from importations of silks under the Dingley law. | Cotton Schedule. | It was expected that the cotton schedule would be disposed of today, but Repre- sentative Payne was not ready to pro- ceed, desiring to digest the Senate spe- cific rates before agreeing to accept them. It is charged that the Senate rates will 1 result In heavy increases on many high | grades of cotton goods, but the Senate conferees have insisted that the specific ! rates will operate to carry out the intent ! of the Dingley act. They say that court decisions have resulted in bringing down | the duties paid by importers on cotton goods to figures ''ridiculously low
 Another important schedule disposed of i today was wines, spirits and liquors The | to the class of luxuries and made an in- crease amounting to about 15 per cent on 1 most of the articles under the head of | spirits. 1t is estimated that these rates 1 Will produce about 8, 900 annually moro than Is derived under the Dingley rates. . France exhibited considerable concern over the advance on champagnes and rep 1 resentations against the increase were made 1 to this government Tariff experts who had assisted the Senate committee on finance reported to the conference com mittee that they were of the opinion the higher duties would not result in de- creased importations. In consequence of this report the conferees accepted the | Senate amendment
 Rates On Products. The Grecian government also has played i small part in fixing the rate on A prod- uct of one of the most important indus 1 tries of that country. zante entrants. l which are dutiable at 2 cents pound under existing law, were advanced # q /, cent by the Senate when specially pre- pared for consumption by capping and l stemming.
 | As the result of an investigation which l followed the Grecian minister's protest. the Senate increase was rejected. Zante entrants valued at more than $1. .5Oo. 900 were imported in 1907, the revenues az 1 gregating $7S7.195.
 l An agreement was reached today on all of the paragraphs under the head of litho- graphs
 The agricultural products schedule has been completed, although many of the rates agreed upon are only tentative The Senate was compelled to rt.,ede on a great many of its advances in this schedule Be cause of the pressure brought to bear upon the conference committee for the re- tention of many of these increases, the conference committee decided not to make of any these rates public.N There has been a compromise reached ] on barleys and hops, however, 1t is said