The Washington times., 1909-04-29
RAYNER AT TTACKS
THE TARIFF BILL
In Eloquent Speech, Mary
land Senator Denounces
Aldrich Measure.
FOUR OBJECTIONS
RAISED AGAINST 1T
Speaker Tells How He Would
Solve This Exasperating
Subject"

In an eloquent speech in the Senate
this afternoon. Senator Rayner of Mary
land attacked the Aldrich tariff bill He
denounced IT Ia a number of particulars.
His objections TO the Aldrich measure
were on these grounds:
F1rst-That. being a bill to provide
revenue, it fails to provide 1t.
Second-That It does not provide the
additional revenue needed. simply be-
cause It's main object is to furnish pro-
lection and not revenue.
Third-That 1t affords no relief to the
consumer.
Fourth-That the bill contains moth
ing TO weaken the grasp of the trusts
upon the commerce of the country
In Deep Water.
Senator Rayner prefaceo his objec-
tions to the bill by an interesting dis
sertation upon the confusion in which
he and other Senators are plunged by
the tariff question.
II have arisen mainly for one pur-
pose" he said, "and that is to try to
ind out where 1 am in this bewildering
confusion upon the subject before us,
want to locate myself. if possible. in this
wild night of tumult and commotion
and see IL there is any light upon the
horizon that will lead me 10 an anchor
age out of the gloom
Senator Rayner- denied that the Dem
ocratic party had become a convert to
The doctrine of a tariff for protection.
lie threw scue hot shots in the direc-
ton OF those Democratic Senator's who
have apparently gone over to the pro-
lection theory.
Am I m favor OF a tariff for rev.
enue with incidental protection or OF a
tariff for protection with incidental rev.
enue7' he asked. Am 1 a Democrat,
.Sor instance on free hides Pnd Republi-
can on groundnuts? Am 1 a protec-
Zionist on zlno ore and pig iron and
revenue reformer on citrons and pine
apples?"
Raw Material
And where do I stand when the
faith Of my fathers strikes the subject
Of raw materials? What has become
OF the epic poem that we chanted dur
ing the Cleveland Administration or
free wool and other kindred produets2''
Senator Rayner said the recent de-
bates had conclusively demonstrated
that wool was not a raw material at all
and even sheep were manufactured
products. In a great grafton lately. he
said, q gentleman had asked whether
gnules were raw materials.
Devoting some attention to Senator
1Slkins. he said that he felt sure the
Senator from Rhode Island would come
10 the conclusion IL was better 10 keep
West Virginia in the Republican column
than to give New England Canadian
coal.
The Maryland Senator congratulated
Senator Aldrich upon ''the tremendous
work he has accomplished"
Il 90 not believe" he said, that in
the whole history Of tariff legislation
such an amount Of labor has ever de-
vowed upon single individual"
'ExasPerating Subject"
Humorously referring TO his long years
OF study on the tariff, Senator Rayner
disclaimed much acquaintance with this
eXasperating subject" Once. he said. he
had written a fine work on tariff OF I6O
pages. and he was beaten for Congress
after ii came out by 160 votes. ''I
always thought that If the book had
been a thousand pages 1 might have
been defeated a thousand votes"
In the strongest terms, Senator Ray
ner said he did not believe in free trade.
I think from every practical stand
point II is perfectly preposterous TO
talk about IT," he said. Il believe in
customhouse taxation, and ! do not be-
heve any other system will ever take
its place 20 the satisfaction of the
American people"
senator Rayner declared that IL the
Democrats now abandoned the doctrine
Of tariff for revenue there was no issue
lett between the parties.
Going into mis- objections to the bill
ne said one could study the Aldrich bill
day and night and IL was impossible 10
see where It would produce revenue
framed for protection first and for
revenue afterward. he said.
lie denounced the system OF raven
Gus rapacity that does not seem willing
70 leave open a single avenue OF escape
from its penalties and infections"
Offers Solution.
''Now the. question win be asked. how
could the necessary revenues have been
obtained without destroying or at least
impairing American industries? I will
answer that by saying that if I had a
hand IN the framing OF a tariff bill 1
would be guided by the following pro-
cess:
summOning to my aid the best prac-
ucal experts that I could procure i
would take the schedules and divide
and apportion them in this manner:
would separate the schedules into four
divisions; In the first place. / would
take the necessarfes Of life and pIace
thsm ifF separate column: in the next
place. L would take the luxuries and do
likewise; In the next place I would take
the lawful industries and enterprises
that are represented IN the list: and ia
ihe last column. j would place the mon
opoles that are practically cont rolling
the American output and arc command
ing their own prices IN the American
market. ] would levy the lowest tax
possible upon the necessities Of life and
tne highest tax possible upon the lux
urieE. and would protect American la
hor so as 10 maintain at all times the
standard OF American wages
Throughout the whole or tie bill
/ would look out for the consumer
You may examine this bill outside Of
The free list, and 81 is almost impos-
sible 20 discover the consumer in any
Of It's complicated schedules