The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-07-25
Efforts At Compromise Fail and Fresh Start Must Be
 Taken Al Once
TAFT CALLS OFF DINNER
 WHICH HE HAD PLANNED
President Was Going To Dine the ln- surgents But Failure of Conferees To Agree Causes Switch in
 Plans at Last Hour.

Washington, July 24--(Special )-Presi- dent Taft called off his dinner to the in- surgent senators late this afternoon. He had no compromise to offer for their votes in favor of the tariff bill.
 The conferees failed to make the re- euctions in schedules that influential members of the conference early in the day Indicated to the President would be made.
 Late tonight the agreement on the tariff bill seems further off than 1t appeared at inc beginning of the week. One of the conferees said that report from the conference might be ready next Sat urday night. He had no hope or ex- pectation that 1t would be ready before then. Aldrich and Payne will drive for the finish However.
 They adjourned this afternoon to meet nj le .go c clock tomorrow morning. They are deiermiied to keep the conference at work tomorrow until 1t Is apparent n, agreement can be reached when they win adjourn until Monday.
 Reports from the conference room were to the effect that all Is confusion, ur- certainty and indecision there. Each con fsree is hoiding fast to his ret scncoSie' rainy;nr tn budge an inch. Early today fl was reported that hides had heen torr, frrfn the blockade. Members or the oonerence reported that they had about agreed finally to place hides en t,e free l.st and to reduct the prices ca leather. harness. saddlery, boots and shpes.
 Effect of Compromise.
 n w,s believed that this cornprinlise would be m effect like cutting away the wcdged i5g that held back the ,aft--aaer it there would follow all the compro- mises- asked and the end would be at hand.
 The cheering news was carried to 'he President. He was assured that ne would get free hides, boots and shoes at 10 per cent instead of the House rate of To per cent and the Senate rate of 70 pe- cent: feathers for uppers sN "A per cent Instead of at 15 per cent; harness and saddlexy at 20 per cent instead of 45 per cent sole leather at per cent instead of 10 per cent
 These concessions being granted the President felt that others were to fol low. He believed that he could get free iron ore and a reduction in the steel schedules, especially on structural steel He believed it possible. also, to have the House rate on print paper Of s2 per ton substituted for the Senate rate of $4. This, with free oil, slight reduction in lumber and reductions Tn the cotton schedule gave him some thing to go on in peace overtures to the insurgents.
 The dinner invitations were issued and the insurgents were prepared to at- tend and to meet the President fairly to discuss the compromise. The Presi- dent wanted to get their votes for the conference report and for the bill. His plan was to offset the loss of votes that could not stand for free raw materials by the gain of votes from the insur- gents who had voted against the bill as drawn by Aldrich.
 Dinner Called Of.
 When he was informed that all schedules of compromise had miscarried he called the dinner off. He knew that the insurgents could not be brought to support the bill without such changes as suggested by the President. It Is a shrewd guess to say tonight that the President would not have the insur- gents forego their hostility to the tar fir bill in It's present shape The Pres jdent is strong for the changes he has asked and to all congressional callers insists that they must be made in the bill to put 1t in satisfactory shape.
 Members of the conference are pessi- mistic tonight over the possibility over an early agreement of the conferees. One and all asserted they could not tell when they will complete their labors. some reduction in tariff rates was an nounced this afternoon by the con- ferees. Automobiles are to be ad- mitted at 45 per cent duty instead of 50 per cent. There is pending also a proposition to cut out or to materially reduce the 15 per cent ad valorem duty on foreign built yachts when brought to this country by an American owner.
 The protest of the poor-rich has reached the councils of the conferees.