The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-04-30
TARIFF ON LUMBER
ELEVATOR RAYNER ATTACKS RE
 PUBs' PRoTEcTTdN POLICY.
He Dsclares That Lumber Trust Ex- jsts Net In Name But h Fact
 Laborers In LumbeF

washinston. April ss.--Consideration of the tsrif bill was resumed by the Senate today.
 After Mr Rayner had made an ex- haustive speech in opposition to the general protective tsrir policy of the Republican Party. Mir. Wilson took the hoor to present his obtecsions to some
 He manifested special satisfaction over the discovery by himself of what he said were numerous "jokers" in the lumber schedule. While ostensibly the rates of duty on lumber were lowered. he said they in fact were higher even than the pingiey rates.
 Speaking especially upon. the lum- Der schedule. he quoted prices to show that in seven classes of lumber, the in- crease of prices from 1900 to 1907 was more than sT per cent. while the inc crease of wages was only from i5 to go per cent.
 "They say we have no lumber trust" he said. We know that we cannot show that the iumbermen have any written agreement among themselves, but wa who are the consumers of lum- one or smother Of them. 1t is all the same--there ia no difference in price,"
 MT. McLanrin inquired how 1t hap pened that If. as had been stated. the labor in the lumber camps of Canada was cheaper than in the United States. such iaborers do not move across the horder into the United States.
 ''rhey do." said Mir. Gaiiinger. "They are coming here in awarms."
 "Then if brings them in competition with our labor" suggested Mir. McLau- rin. "Is that fair to them?''
 Mir. McCumber declared that a tax on lumber was tax paid on the ex- tinction of the American forests
 You develop the industry in lum- ber." he said. when at the present time the most extreme men will tell ed in less than thirty years"
 Mir. EIkfns, obtaining the floor. as- serted that the Senator from North Da- kota was .commftted to free trade on those things which his state did not produce''
 "Did I not vote for sixty per cent: protection for your steel productss"
 "But what have you against lumber? Why don't you want to protect that in- terest7"
 Mr. Mccumber replied that he voted for products that could be increased by the protective tariff.
 "As this seems to be an experience meeting" said MT. Aidrich. T would l llAc tO aHk tic Ctu&tON AhVul SAhaet9- sippi whether he is for q duty on lnm- Der or for free lumber"
 T am not for a protective duty on lumber" said Mir. McLaurin. placing emphasis on the word "protectiyc, amid general laughter. "Ir an effort is made here" he added. "to raise the duty on lumber above the rate proyid- ed by the House. will vote against 1t and I am not sure will not vote for free lumber"
 awir you agree to six per cent ad vaIoren duty on fice?" asked Mir. Gal
 .Cut it down" said MT. McI.aurin l "cnt 1t down one-haif. would agree l to six per cent ad vaiorem on rice" .'This debate reminds me of story of Mark Twain. who was asked if he I have it." said Mir. Scott. interpasing 1 '.He replied that he would rather hays It on hte wifes relatives. So here ev, cry one agrees to a reduction of ths tariff on everything that somecod, else produces"
 Mp. McIaurin said the lumber of hii l State needed no protection as 1t wal too far from the Northern part of th' | country to compete with the Canadian I in Europe and in Africa He added tha Itf the Senator from Rhode Island wish ed to. benent the South he eoull do it by placing cotton bagging an' cotton ties on the free list and so ia as he was concerned he did not car If cotton seed oil should be treated il like manner.
 I MT Aidrich said he propobed to d. anything within his power to promot the development of the South. T am glad to see that Senators ol I the other side" said Mir. Aldrich. lar 1 willing to cooperate with us to giv such protection. I care not what yo' l call 1t. whether protection or encour l agement. l want to dc anything tha I will make your country what 1t ough to be. country that shall blossom a | compared with the wilderness whicl I existed there twenty-five years ago"