The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1911-08-15
FIX WOOL TARIFF
CODfereeS Compromise on
29 Per Gent.
WILL AGREE ON FREE LIST
Senate and House Conference Com
mittee Reach Agreement on
Bill and May Adjourn
Next Week.

Washington. Aug l2.-The full
house and Senate conference com
mlttce on the wood tarin revision bill
agreed on a fiat rate OF % per cent.
on raw wool The committee also
agreed on the house classification Of
aD.l The agreement on these two
points removed the greatest obstacles
in The way Of the final agreement.
As result of the agreement on
wool and expected understanding on
ne farmers free list, expectation Of
an early agreement was revived. II is
said the two tariff measures will be
sent 10 the president Monday, his veto
messages are looked for Immediately
amer. and adjournment Of the extra
ordinary session may come next We'd
nesday. II there is a slight hitch, the
end OF the session is expected Thurs
lay or Saturday at the latest.
The compromise came out Of ne
g0iiations between Senator La Fol
le,le, insurgent Republican, and Rep
lesentatiye Oscar Underwood, the
Democratic leader Of the house
The original house bill bearing Mr..
Underwood's name provided for a duty
al 20 per cent on raw wool and the
la Toilette bill, passed by the senate,
placed this duty at 30 per cent The
average between these two would
Therefore be 27is per cent. so that
apparently Senator la Toilette has
scored more heavily than NJ. Under
wood in the negotiations.
The other duties in the wool tariff
bills usually conform to that on raw
wool
Soon after the conferrees met 1t
was learned definitely that Represen-
sative Underwood and Senator La Fol-
lotte had been only 2ls per cent.
apart on raw wool Mr.. Underwood
held ont for a duty of 27ls per cent
ad valorem. while Mr.. Ia Toilette In
sisted upon 30 per cent. The full
committee split the difference and
compromised on % per cent
The farmers free list bill, It was
said. could he agreed upon in short or
Ter, but there seemed to be a dis
position IN the conference to hold 1t
back until an agreement was forced
on wool
As agreed on. the classification by
the conference provision Of the wool
bill reads.
"On wool OF the sheep, hair Of the
camel. goat, alpaca, and other like
animals and on all woods and hair on
the skin of such animals, the duty
shall be % per cent ad yalorem.'
The La Toilette bill called for two
classes Of wool-wool and hair on the
skiing being in a second class-where-
rs the house provision, accepted by
the conference. provides for only one
class for all woods.
Under the compromise the second
senate class Of wools, fixed in the
senate bill at 10 per cent, IS thus In
creased to 20 per cent These are
The coarse or carpet wools.
Much time was spent in comparing
the difference. In the beginning OF
the conference Mr.. La Toilette urged
30 per cent. on ordinary raw wool,
and Mr.. Underwood asserted that he
could not exceed the instructions OF
the ways and means committee not
to consent to a higher duty than 21l5
per cent.
There was much wrangling over the
classification. ultimately, Mr.. Bailey
suggested a compromise of 2SA per
cent Immediately Mr.. Underwood
said he would accept 29 per cent, II
the house classification should pre-
vail Mr. La Toilette assonted and
il was agreed to.
Continuing its work the conference
fixed the rate on wool wastes, noils
and shoddies at % per cent. to cor
respond with the rate on regular
wastes. This was an increase over
the house rate. which was 20 per cent.
The conferrces fixed the duty on
combed wool. tops, etc, at "a per
cent, an increase Of per cent. over
tho house rate, and a decrease OF D
per cent. from the senate rate. On
yarns. the rate was made 80 per cent,
against the house raet of 30 and the
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