The Washington herald., 1909-06-05


Of big importers in New York TO engage
attorneys and agents trained IN the Gus
toms business. with the result that the
intent Of Congress in framing provisions
of tariff laws have been defeated, with
loss Of revenue 10 the Treasury and the
removal OF protection supposed 10 be Of
fered 10 particular industries. Senator
Aldrich. OF Rhode Island. chairman OF the
Committee on Finance. last night made
his long awaited statement in expIana-
ton Of the changes in the cotton schedule
of the tariff bill now pending IN the
Senate.
Mr. AIdr!ch's speech was devoted in
part TO charges repeatedly made by Sen
ators Dolliver. Of Iowa. and La Toilette.
Of Wisconsin. that the rates in the cotton
schedule as compared with those in the
Dinsley law had been increased ma
terially.
Senator Aldrich couabated the proposi-
tion. He declared that as a result OF de-
cislons in some Instances by the board OF
appraisers AZ New York. and In others by
the Federal courts. the rates Of duties in
the Dlng!ey law as passed have been
quite generally reduced.
Galleries Are Crowded.
Senator AIdrich spoke for nearly two
hours and a half Word had gone out
that the Aldrich forces were shattered
by she onslaughts on the cotton schedules
made by Senators Dolliver, of Iowa: "a
Toilette. cf Wisconsin, and Nelson. Of
Minnesota. When the Senate met al 5
O'Clock a roll call disclosed that sixty
Senator's were present TIE galleries
were packed.
Most Of those present came 10 hear Mr..
Aldrich speak. while others were expect
ait that another row would break out
between Senator'S Penrose and La Fol-
Iette Mr.. Aldrich was followed with the
closest attention.
The ovation given Senator Aldrich
when he had concluded was one Of the
most remarkable witnessed in years. Re-
publican Senators crowded around him.
and with keen delight plainly depicted on
their countenances shook his hand and
slapped him on the back. all expressing
satisfaction with his effort.
Mr.. Aldrich began By saying that x
was his purpose TO correct misapprehen-
sicns arising IN the Senate by reason of
misinformatlon and misrepresentation
concerning the cotton schedules He said
only a few amendments were made to
tins feature OF the bill Ninety per cent
Of the rates had not been touched at all.
Changes had been made in only 10 per
cent of them.
He asserted that the cotton rates IN
tariff bills had steadily declined since the
passage Of the Calhoun act in 1916 up TO
the present day. He then took up the
question OF the effect Of court decisions
and decisions OF the board Of general
appraisers upon the Dingley law as il
was approved by President Mckinley In
1897 The Dingley law. as passed. fixed a
duty on cotton Of about 60 per cent
one court decision had reduced this 10
4 per cent, and another decision 10 %
and . per cent. The schedules had been
so changed by these decisions that under
a recent Interpretation Of the law a yard
OF cotton cloth valued at p cents had
been made dutiabIe at ] cent.
Judicial Interpretation.
It was pointed out by Senator Aldrich
that as a result Of judicial interpretations
% the Dingley act large sums OF money
have been refunded from the Treasury
OF the United States. representing the
difference between the assessed valuation
a. the port of New York and the amount
which the courts declared 20 be the legal
rate OF duty.
Resumlng the discussion Of rates. Sen
ator AIdrich said the rates in the cotton
schedule were lower than those OF any
other schedule in the bill. except that re-
lating TO chemicals. They are even low
err" he said. than the average Of the
bill as a whole"
sOuth Is Reminded.
Addressing the Democratic Senator'S
Senator Aldrich said thai the South had
as much at stake in this schedule OF the
bin as any other section Of the country
One-half Of the cotton manufactured was
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