The Washington times., 1908-12-24
Ways and Means Committee
Indicates Genuine Re
vision Bill.
MANY ARTICLES
TO BE HIT HARD
Hides Probably On Free List, AS
Will Be Philippine
Sugar.

Chairman Payne and the members Of
the Ways and Means Committee have
already discussed the proposed new
tariff bill sufficiently TO get some idea
as TO what the sentiment is in regard
To many Of the schedules. and il is safe
TO say that the Payne bill viii furnish
some surprises for those who believe
that tariff revision will consist largely
Of a juggling Of figures without much
real revision.
Unless 4 closer examination of the
great mass of evidence changes their
minds. it is probable that the committee
has already arrived at pretty definite
conclusions as to what should be done
with some Of the schedules. Free hides
and free shoes now appear TO be a Ger
tainty. This is due to the acknowledge
ment Of Boston shoe manufacturers
that they would take chances with for
eign competition if they could set their
raw material free, and Also due to the
apparent but evidently not real disiu-
terestedness of the packers and tanners.
Fight in Senate.
Their fight, il is predicted, will be
made i'm the Senate. So far as the
House is concerned. however. the die
Is practically cast, Chairman Payne
having frequently stated that he is per
sonally in favor OF free hides and op-
posed 10 the duty placed upon them In
the Dingley bill.
Other manufacturers in New England.
notably the woolen manufacturers, are
likely to receive Jolt when the PAYNE
hill is drawn up. The enormous prOtec-
tion given wooden manufacturers under
"A lou Fl- g. all a.,
with the sentiment now prevailing
among the committee members. This
Is especially true because Of the certain
1y that when the schedule is taken up
at the Senate end the work OF the Ways
and Means Committee is likely to be re-
vamped to suit the manufacturers The
part played by the National Association
OF Wool Manufacturers in revising the
schedule in the Senate ten years ago IS
being borne in mind and there viii be
bitter fight To have the schedule enact
cd into law practically as it is framed
by the Ways and Means Committee.
Other Problems.
Other problems in the bill involve
sugar. lumber, coal. steel, wool. pot
terry, chemicals, Isces, and silks. A new
item over which there is already much
AOIlIllllOl CDllNCLAlS ouAtAAAhtAA'of NAaANA+
were unknown when the Dingley law
was passed. and are now taxed as man
ufaCtures Of metals
The sugar schedule is very much in
the air, except that the Philippine end
of the problem has been partially set
tied by an informal agreement between
members Of the committee and Judge
Taft. that 10000 tons Of sugar a year
may come in from the islands free. A
similar arrangement will probably be
made for a limited amount Of Philip
pine tobacco and cigars.
So many people asCTibe the great in
crease in the price of lumber to the
duty of 3 a thousand feet, and the
movement for the conservation Of the
forests IS so strong. that a reduction
on that product may be accounted rea-
SOnably certain. lumbermen have told
the committee that they would be will
ing to have high grades Of foreign Ium-
Der admitted free, If a tariff shall b6
imposed on low grades, and the problem
may be solved on that basis
Coal Question.
The great complaint OF Ium bermeu las
been against the shipments of low
grades from CanaGa to the United
States Coal. as a fighting proposition.
is a relic Of ancient days. II is New
England against the West The yam
KEGS want the benefit of free Nova
Scotia coal Operators in Montana. and
Utah declare they will be ruined IL Brit
isI Columbia coal Is allowed TO cross
the border in their section free Of duty.
The coal producers in the Middle States
are willing 20 let Canadian coal in free.
i Canada will take the tarin from
American coal. Under that arrange
ment. these men would lose some bust
ness New ENGLAND M Ia,
sreatly benefited in the markets OF Cen
tral Canada.
The duty on steel VIII be reduced, but
lue chances are against il being placed
on the free list The bag CORPORATIONS
could stand il. but the argument will
pc made that the smaller mills need
some protection.
The glass manufacturers asked for an
increase OF the tariff on small sizes of
Class, which would inevitably increase
me price to the consumers, but Il is
doubtful whether the committee will al
low anything Of that sort to go through
Autos Stand Pat.
The main question as regards pottery
iaces and silks, IS to devise some plan
of preventing Undervauation. The tar
m on high class automobiles Cnow tax
ed as manufactures Of metals) will be
left at 10 per cent ad valorem. or win
he increased. That is considered a good
and healthy tax on the rich. The max
ers of cheap machines and of trucks
fear that these vehicles may be rated
as necessities. and the duty reduced.
They have the argument OF a new in
dGstry and higher wages. however, and
VIII make a lusty effort TO keen the
present rate Of duty in force
The infant industries OF other tariff
days were rather husky and we'll dress
ed as they lined up before the commit
Zee at its recent hearings and they
were prepared with new arguments to
take the place of infancy.