The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-11-09
VIII Begin Before Ways and
Means Committee Tomorrow.
Maximum and Minimum Rates
of Duty Find Favor.
DRUG TRADE CONTENT
No Change Desired Except to
Make Certain Duties Specific.
Reduction on Raw Materials De-
sired by Paint Men.

| Washington, Nov. 9.-The committee
on ways and means of the house Of
representatives, which tomorrow will
| hold its first hearing on the proposed
revision of the tariff, will direct it's ef-
forts at these hearings toward the
gathering of information which chiefly
concerns the cost of production in this
country and the manufacturing condi-
tlons here as compared with foreign
| countries, Information regarding which
! mas peen obtained through the depart
ments of state and commerce and la
Dor. changes in the reading of certain
paragraphs of the present law to con-
| form with decisions of the courts and
| of the board of appraisers will also re-
qu1re considerable attention as will the
propoSltlon to arrange the new tariff
Schedule with maximum and minimum
rates of duty, similar to the existing
tariffs of France, Germany and Russia.
AS Judge, Taft, Speaker Cannon and
| the majority of the ways and means
committee favor a protection policy in
the framing of the new tariff If is
hardly likely that the free list will be
materially increased or that any very
essential reductions will be made in the
tariffs on manufactured goods. Repre-
sentatives of the manufacturers pro-
ducers and importers of the country
VIII be given an opportunity to present
their views to the committee at the
numerous hearings arranged for.
Tomorrow's hearing VIII be devoted to
schedule A of the tariff covering chem
fcals, oils and paints. This schedule
covers large number of articles on a
number of which the rate of duty was
increased when the Dingley tariff was
enacted 1t is generally understood
that the members of the drug and
chemical trade do not desire any
change in the tariff at the present time
and there will probably be no repre-
sentatives of the two leading organiza-
tions of the trade-the drug trade sec
ton of the board of trade and trans
portation of New York and the ma
tiOnal wholesale druggists association
at the hearing. There is a general
desire though to have as many articles
as possible listed at a specific rate OF
duty instead of at an ad valorem rate.
The members of the National Paint,
Oil and Varnish association, however,
greatly desire to have the duties on
raw materials for their trade reduced.
The color manufacturers will strongly
urge an increase in the duties on color,
claiming that the percentage of duties
on the manufactured articles are not
in conformity with the duties on the
raw materiaK.
The president is being urged by
some legislators to recommend in his
message to congress that tariff revis-
ion be taken up at the coming short
session, while on the other hand
there are those who say it can not be
considered at this session.
Senator Scott Of West Virginia. ad
vised the president today that he
thought the tariff legislation should
be taken up at the coming session. He
told the president that he believed
measure could be gotten through at
this session and that it should be done
as soon as possible. Congressman
Dalzen of Pennsylvania also confer
red with the president and told him
that the tariff could not be revised al
this session. He said the Republican
platform had decided for revision at
an extra session and that they should
stand by the platform.