Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-12-12
TAFT WILL HELP IN
REVISION OF TARIFF
HEARINGS TO CONTINUE FOR
SEVERAL WEEKS
Carnegie Only Witness Yet Subpoe-
naed-PossibIe Action of Senate
Is Subject of Speculation.
House Bill Favored

WASHINGTON. Dec. 1.-The tariff
hearings before the ways and means
committee will continue throughout the
short session of congress, and President
elect Taft will have further confer
ences with the committee.
A compromise has been reached, it is
further learned, regarding the tariff on
Philippine sugar and tobacco, as a
result of the conference yesterday be-
tween Mr.. Taft and the majority mem
bers of the committee.
That the house of representatives
will pass a bill to revise thoroughly
the present schedules is generally adj
mitted.
At the conference yesterday Mr.. Taft
did not discuss any particular tariff
take up certain schedules at some fu-
ture conference. He also favored any
action on the part of the committee
that would bring before it those manu-
facturers who have expressed their
views publicly on the tariff question as
we'll as any persons who could furnish
valuable information in connection
with the proposed revision.
Chairman Payne said tonight Andrew
Carnegie was the only witness who has
been subponaed up to this time, and
therefore it undoubtedly will be neces-
sary for the committee to hold further
hearings after the Christmas recess.
With President-elect Taft and the
house in favor of a tariff law which
will meet present conditions and ma
terially revise present duties, mainly
downward, the discussion of the situa-
ton centers in the possible action of
the senate.
While some assert the senate will
not attempt to make any radical
l, l. - ,1f,
extent that Mr.. Taft would be likely to
veto it, this latter POSSIBILITY, 1t is be-
lieved. may have the effect of getting
through the senate the bill which the
house accepts.
1t is considered likely the extra ses-
sion of congress will last late into the
summer.
Agree on Free Trade
Free trade with the Philippines was
the most important matter agreed
upon by Taft and the Republican
members of the ways and means COM
mittee at the recent conference on tar
if revision.
While Mr.. Taft favors free trade with
the insular possessions without any re-
strictions, it is understood that in
order there should be no dissension he
has agreed that the amount of sugar
and tobacco which should be allowed
free entry should be restricted.
With the end in view. it is under
stood the sugar interests have agreed
to a compromise by which 100000 tons
of sugar will be admitted from the
Philippines annually free of duty and
that all sugar over that amount will
pay the present rate of duty, which
is rs per cent less than the duty i'm
posed by the Dingley tariff on sugar
from other countries.
Large beet sugar manufacturers
We're in conference with various mem
bers of the COMMITTEE today
What amount will be fixed as a
maximum has not yet been deter
mined.
The Democrats are understood to be
thoroughly in accord on the question
of free trade with the Philippines. It
is probable a number of sugar and
tobacco manufacturers and growers
will be subpoenaed by the committee in
order to obtain further information on
the question.
Herbert r. Mills of the National As
ISOLATION of Manufacturers, who has
appeared before the committee several
times, resumed the stand today. He
said the tariff plank of the Republican
platform was variously interpreted by
Republicans.
Mr.. Taft. he said, does not define It
as meaning that enough for a reason
able profit should be added to the duty
in addition to making the tariff suf-
hciently high to equalize the cost of
production in this country and abroad.
Mr.. Mills offered in evidence several
invoices which he claimed proved that
American manufacturers offer their
goods to foreign buyers at prices that
are 25 to 40 per cent lower than the
domestic prices.
]. A. Delfelder, representing Wyo-
ming sheep growers. gave further tes-
tlmony regarding the cost of raising
| sheep.