The Washington herald., 1909-03-19

and cattle raisers from the Northwest
and Middle West has been formed in
Washington. and is now using every ef-
fort TO have the House Of Representa-
tives put back the duty on hides. and
place timber and lumber products OF
the free list
The men at work IN washington are
said to represent more than half a BILL
Ton dollars. and are planning TO have
their way in the new tariff schedule. re-
gardless Of the fight that is in store for
them
They are calling on members OF Con-
gress. Democrats and Republicans alike,
II is said. and telling them Of the great
dangers in store for the country II these
duties are not made in accordance with
their wishes.
Many Of the Western membes OF Cen
gress have long stated openly they would
advocate no duty on lumber and higher
duty hides. Instead Of regarding their
wishes, the Ways and Means Committee
put hides on the free list. and cut the
duty on lumber 50 per cent.
Planning for a Fight.
Il is hinted IN some quarters that mem
bers from the Southwest and South. who
wspt these schedules to stand as they
are in the Payne bill, are planning 70
make a vigorous fight against the work
OF this combination. and will resort 10
all kinds Of maneUvers 70 prevent them
from carrying their point II the West
erners make a break. it is probable some
Of the Southerners viii yell them ont"
on the floor Of the House and openlv
accuse some OF the members OF having
listened TO the appeals OF a professional
lobby. anyway the majority OF the
nF. pbers OF the House are awaitinsfvvith
in.srest the discussion on the hide and
lumber schedules. and expect a sensa-
ton viii be sprung when that part OF the
bill Is reached.
Free hides. as proposed in the PAYNE
bill, do not sound well to members from
the South and Middle West. They ,aJ,e
comparisons with the reduced rates sxad
on boots and shoes.
The rates on boots and shoes are re-
duced from - 10 Is per cent ad valoreu,
while hides are admitted free e,-can+
from countries that refuse TO grant prod
ucts from the United States the a6-
vantage or minimum rates Delegations
from the South and Middle West believa
the Argentine Republic Will give the
United States the advantage OF minimum
rates TO get its hides in al American
ports duty free
As TO coffee. Many members conn1a,-
that under the terms OF the bill that
product will not come in fra. as would
appear. Ihey direct attention % the fact
that under the maximum and minimum
system, coffee may be taxed ar the rare OF
- per cent ad valOrem I'm the event cof-
Reproducing countries fail 10 give prod-
ucts from the United States the advan-
tage OF minimum rates. Furthermore
coffee would still be taxed at the rate
should the coffee-producing countries fail
70 remove export duties now fulDosed
This Is specifically provided fer in the
bill
Object to the Method.
Objection is made 70 that provisfon NJ
the bill fixing wholesale prices as a
method Of valuing imports. This. Il IS
contended. was done in order 70 increase
the revenues in a roundabout way. II is
charged the wholesale price list NAV be
manipulated: that it is fictitious, and is
not a just method OF valuation for the
consumer.
The drawback provision comes IN for
its share Of criticism. Under the present
law great precautions are taken to fden-
tify materials imported for manufacture
and subsequently exported The PAYNE
bill provides no means Of Identification.
il Is charged. The case Of wheat is cited
as an example in poInt
IL Is said that under the new drawback,
law it would be impossible 10 impo-+
high-grade wheat from Canada EXPORT
-four made from low-grade American
wheat. and yet the miller would be able
to collect drawback amounting 10 80 per
cent of the duty paid on the foreign
wheat. thus depriving American wfeat
growers of protection. through the failure
Of the proposed law 10 provide a method
whereby IL could be ascertained without
doubt that the American instead of the
foreign product was used by the miller
Approximately $7.000.000 a year IS now
paid out Os the Treasury IN DRAWBACKS.
Il Is estimated that under the Pavna
drawbacks the expenditures made in mis-
connection would be doubled. and prob
ably trebled.
Letter 10 Mr.. Payne.
Hon. Wayne MacVeagh has written the
following letter to Representative Serene
f. Payne. chairman Of the Ways and
Means Committee of the House.
Palm Reach Fla. March Il 1ooo
Dear Mr.. Payne; ] have been surprised hv ,o-.;..
eut reports that your committee was serio1lsiv .
sidering adding 10 the already too heavy i15;-..
taxes which find their final resting ulaes - -
bowed backs Of the men and women ,rbo -
their livelihood. when they can earn II bv The .o;i
of their hands To my mind, IL is not too hprvb a
word 20 call the existing tax on sugar infamous -
it e1torts from the laboring man barely sbie -
support himself and his family on the s1,r.r 49,
sary 70 support their lives an actual sum of,a, :;
excess II the sum TIE same tax e1torts fro., ,be
richest mulu-millonaire in the land
Sincerely yours. WAYNE MacVrAcEy
To the Hon. Serene z. Payne.
Mr.. MacVeagh's letter. It VIII DO oh
served. was written before the tariff biU
was reported 10 the House