The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-04-13
More Changes Will Be Made Before Final Passage
 of the Bill
HEAVY INCREASE MADE
 ON WINES AND LIQUORS
Senator AIdrich Defends the Bill and Insists That With Proposed Amend. ments Sufficient Funds
 Will Be Raised.

Washington. April 12,-The amended tar
 fir bill is now on the Senate calendar and by an agreement reached on the floor
 consideration of the measure will begin on thursday. The bill was laid before l the hnance committee with the democratic
 members present at 10 o'clock this morn-
 ing and after 90 minutes parleying. vote
 was taken on the question of making a
 report to the Senate today. all of the re- publicans voting in the affirmative and the democrats in the negative Soon after the Senate met Senator Aldrich pre- sented the amended bill. Senator Daniel, on behalf of the minority, protested that the democrats had not been given an opportunity to examine the measure. and MT. Aldrich replied that they could make their examination by Thursday. He stated also that as the majority is re- sponsible for the bill. It's course in hasten ing the report was warranted.
 As reported, the bill does not contain all the changes in rates which the finance committee proposes tosmake. Although several important amendments such as the restoration of the Dingley rates on womens gloves and hosiery, the placing of works of art on the free list and the assessment of a duty on iron ore l have been made. the revenue producing possibilities of the bill are little changed. 1 The increases are provided mainly in
 the schedule covering luxurles tho en- tire lquor seheaale being 44 q Y al.
 vanee6. The increase on. wfnt4 ana spr-
 it's is expected to bring in about s3, 900 Oo0
 additional revenue. Senator Aldrch stat l ed that the committee realizes that the | increases thus far recommended will not be sufficient to counterbalance the loss | in revenues that will result from the re- ductions and the lengthening of the free ] list. This shortage will necesstate fur ther increases on luxuries, and the com- mittee intends to report some changes at an early date which 1t will ask the Sen ate to adopt.
 Revenue Features. In discussing the revenue features of tho bll Senator Aldrioh insisted that as it will be amended by the Senate, the Payne bill will provide sufficient funds to meet | the expenses of the government without resortlng to any but import taxes. In this connection these articles that the federal government purchases in large quantities in foreign markets are to be provided with lower rates of duty. This is in eofudnce Wltn lne plan recently lduncned in the Senate through the appointment of the new committee on public eXpendi- tsre, to reduce the running expenses of the government.
 The maximum and minimum provisions are administrative features. which include additional forms of ation, were re- ported In the bill today. These sections of the measure are to receive the joint consideration of the republican and demo- cratic members of the finance committee and may not be reported for three weeks or more Several of the revenue fea- lures are dependent upon the action which the committee will take in regard to these sections. Besides the dutiable and free lists, the only additional provision of the Payne bill reported today was the Philip pine free trade provision.
 Philippine Section.
 While not changing the purport of the Philippine section the committees report included a new draft of this provision by which it's successful operation will be assured. It had been suggested that the provision for the free entry of 300000 tons of sugar and 300000 pounds of tobacco would permit the importation under these limitations of products from neighbor-
 ing islands through their importation into the Philippines. This danger has been eliminated by making these products dutiable when imported Into the Philip pines.
 Changes were made in the cotton and wool schedules of interest largely to the manufacturers of cotton and wooden cloths The action of the finance com mittee in maintaining the high rate of duty which it placed on tops at the time
 the Dingley bill was under consideration. and which now stands in the present law will undoubtedly cause controversy.
 The intent of the Dingley law regarding the assessment of duties on cotton cloth has been carried out through change in the provision for the method to be used in counting the threads in cotton cloths. The new proviso and the encouragement of the duties on the various grades of cloths eliminates the ambiguity which
 resulted in many difficulties in carrying out the provisions of the existing law without changing the ad valorem equiv alent of specific duties
 By restoring the Dingley rates to barley and barley malt, and by reducing the taxation on the breakfast table by cut ting down the duty coffee substitutes and placing cocoa on the free list, the
 Senate amendments to the Payne bill present a bid for popular favor. The nu- merous increases in the agricultural schedule. intended for the protection of the American farmer and provided for among the amendments largely through the efforts of Senator McCumber, a new member of the committee from the west. were framed with a view to gaining fa- vorable criticism.
 Important Provisions.
 The metal, agrcultural. gloves and hosiery schedules of the Payne tar.ff bin are the most important provisions of the measure which are affected by the changes made by the Senate finance com mitte4 Senator Aldrch reported ths bill as amended to the Senate when 1t met at l2 o'clock. Leaving the question of  lCoNTINUED ON FACE 1o.)