The Washington times., 1908-11-16
Boutell Says Only Importers
and Jobbers Would Profit
Under Change.
WITNESSES FAVOR
HIGHER SCHEDULE
Only Plug Tobacco Men Ask Re
duction Before the Ways and
Means Committee Hearing.

1t is the height Of folly to expect
that tariff revision will benGdt the
consumer. No matter what the Ways
and Means Committee does, and no mat
ter what Congress decides TO do with its
report on the subject, the individual
consumer will find himself paying just
as much for the necessities and luxuries
Of life"
This startling assertion was made to-
day by Representative BOutell Of Ill-
nois. one Of the leading Republican
members OK the Ways and Means Com
mittee Of the House Of Representatives
which is now wrestling with tarin hear
ings.
The only classes that viii benefit to
any extent If the tariff schedules are
reduced continued Mr.. Bouteu, will
be the importers and jObbers. They
will be able 10 make a little more profit
on the goods they bring into the coun-
try, but the man who eventually con-
sumes the article will find no appreci-
able difference in what ne has 10 pay.
The most marked effect Of a general
tarin reduction viii be the loss OF reve-
nue. to the Government"
As Representative Bouteu is in thor
ough accord with Chairman Payne and
the other Republican members Of the
Ways and Means Committee. his inter
view may be accepted as a fair index
Of the sentiment Of the majority
Champ Clark Sarcastic.
That the Democrats on the committee
do not expect anything radical 70 be
accomplished through the hearing was
indicated when Champ Clark sueeriugIy
exclaimed to one OF the witnesses:
why, you don't suppose, do you, that
committee is going to do anything 10
the tariff"
1t may be a coincidence, but il is,
nevertheless, a fact that nine out Of ten
witnesses thus far examined by the
committee have declared IN the most
emphatic, If not fearful, manner against
any reduction whatever in the tariff
schedules.
You viii ruin our business" they
cried. We are just getting on our
feet, and if you lower the tariff on our
goods. you viii force us into bank
ruptcy."
This has been the wall Of the tobacco,
wine. and chemical producers. The
miners and manufacturers OF baryIes.
a mineral found IN Missouri and North
Carolina. and used principally in the
adUlJeratiOn Of paint. demanded an in
crease ia the tariff from 70 cents to s.
a ton.
Coke Men Seek Tariff.
The retOTt coke oven people who pro-
duce coal tar products used largely in
the manufacture Of dye c7lors think
they can set along better IL the tariff
on German chemicals is doubled. and
the California wile-growers think that
the American vineyard will pay II the
benefits OF the reciprocity treaties be
taken away from the wine Taisers Of
Italy, France, Spain, and Portugal
The Connecticut. Florida. and Georgia
leaf tobacco growers told the committee
that they are IN a pretty bad way finau-
Cialiy just at present, but as the crop
this year IS a good one and prices are
fair. they think they can manage 10
exist IL the tariff on sumatTa and Ha-
Vana tobacco is not reduced
Champ Clark attempted 20 prove that
the reason the tobacco men needed the
tariff was because they had abandoned
to living like nabObS." In the old days
they raised Tobacco down South and
made money at IL WheTt the prevailing
price was Z cents pound.
Make No Money Now.
Now. when the average price Of wrap
per tobacco Is 81 a pound. the growers
claim they are making nothing.
The only witnesses up to date who
have advocated a reduction OF schedules
were two or three importers OF Scotch
and English ales, a couple o. manufac-
turers OF dye cOlors who want 20 get
certain raw materials IN free, and John
w. Yerkes, representing a number OF
plug Tobacco manufacturers
who are smarting under the exactions
Of the American Tobacco Company
which has absorbed all the iicoTice paste
factories in the country and charges ex-
prices for the sweetening that
goes into chewing tobacco.
It is quite possible that a terrible eX-
ample will be made Of the Tobacco trust
by cutting of the duty of ~ cents per
pound on lcOFice paste.