West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1909-04-22
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER
Hish-handed Methods Pursued by
Majority.
TARIFF REVISION BY ITS FRIENDS
Income Tax Standard OIL
Joker" othins
Doing In the House.
From Our Regular Correspondent.

WAsuINGToN, April 2O.-The Aldrich
substitute for the Payne tariff bill has
finally been completed, or practically so,
and made public. The Democratic mem
hers of finance committee were given no
opportunity even 10 read the bill before it
was reported to the senate, the majority,
solely by virtue of superior numbers, vot-
ing down the motion 81 Senator Bailey TO
postpone report until time should DC
afforded the Democrats To examine the
measure and at least present their views
TO the committee. This course was typi-
cal Of the high-handed methods which the
majority has pursued throughout the con-
sideration of the measure The Demo
cratic members of the committee were
given no opportunity to examine witnesses
or even to hear their testimony, and, as
Senator Aldrich put il, "Thc majority ex-
poets TO assume the full responsibility for
the bill"
As was 10 have been expected the Aid
rich bill is not tariff revision in any sense
OF the word. In fact, the changes from
the Dingley law are so immaterial that
in the opinion of many experts IT has
been simply a travesty OH revision and q
wholly useless disturbance of business 10
attempt at all 10 revise the tariff. "Taril
revision by its friends" has proven total
failure.
There are, it is true, a few spectacular
changes in the Aldrich bill. A duty OF
80 per cent has been placed on foreign
built yachts and the duty on champagne
| and wines has been increased somewhat,
but on the other hand the duty ON woolens
has been increased, lumber is still taxed
at 81 a thousand feet, the tax on gloves
and hosiery is left the same as the Ding.
ley law, and, in a word, there are nc
material reductions from the Dingley law
on any of the real necessities of life.
There is serious question rs TO whether
the Aldrich bin will produce sufficient
revenue to carry on the government anc
Senator Bailey will introduce an amend
ment providing for an income tax which
is in accord with the views of President
Taft, although there is not the slightes
| likelihood that the senate will permit any
such amendment to be added to the bill
However, the Republicans are themselve.
considerably worried for fear the presi
dent will send a message to congress urg
ing that some form of income tax b,
adopted.
The house leaders having, as they sup.
posed, carefully concealed a little "joker''
i'm the Payne bill which would have en-.
abled the Standard Oil Company to i'm.
port the petroleum from its Mexican
mines free of duty and would have af
forded protection of from 20 per cent up,
wards on all products of petroleum, were
detected in their little game and were
compelled to adopt resolution recalling
the bill and adding the products of petro.
leum to the free list, TO the great chagrir
OF Speaker Cannon and his cohorts i'm tho
house organization.
The house, under a provision of the
constitution, will have 10 meet twice q
week while the senate is considering the
tariff bill, but these meetings will be Pre-
forma, practically no business will be
transacted. In fact, il is doubtful if there
Will be quorum present at any time, as
most OF the members have gone to their