Los Angeles herald., 1909-03-11

WASHINGTON, March 10.-Chair-
man Payne of the ways and means
committee is personally revising the
preliminary draft of the tariff bill
which will go to the government print
ing office this week.
The present plan is to have the first
print of the bill made without the rates
of duty appearing in it.
On the night before the bill is intro
duced the rates will be inserted and a
corps of copy readers will make the
final corrections
No schedule or provision within the
bill is free from the possibility of be-
ing changed between now and the day
the bill is introduced.
At the final meeting of the committee
at which the bill will be passed on by
the Republican members every item
will be reviewed.
The proposition to place duty on
coffee is understood to be matter con-
cerning which there is much difference
of opinion in the committee.
During it's deliberations the commit
tee placed a duty on coffee, took it off
again and as the bill stands now
tax of 4 cents per pound is provided
for.
Duty On Lumber
1t is understood the duty on lum-
Der. while at present fixed at 81, is
likely to be increased. This is due to
the campaign which the lumbermen
have been making, the result of which
has been to give the committee
vast fund of information from which
to determine an equitable tax.
1t is claimed for the Paine tariff bill
that it will be correct theoretically.
and while it will afford the best basis
from which to evolve the new tariff
law, it is expected that many changes
will be made before it is finally en-
acted.
The revision throughout the bill is
downward, the revenue and protection
features governing the figuring of all
schedules. Representative Fordney of
Michigan has stood out for the highest
protection, while Representative Crum-
packer, Indiana, has favored the low
est duties.
Representative Gaines of West Vir-
ginia and Bonynge of Colorado have
advocated high protection, while the
chairman. Mr.. Paine. and Mr.. Bou-
tell of Illinois and Longworth of Ohio
have urged lower duties.
The other members, Representatives
Hill of Connecticut, Needham of Cali
fornia, Dalzell of Pennsylvania and
Calderhead of Kansas have favored
protection for the interests of their
constituents, but have generally been
open to compromise.
Hold Conference
Speaker Cannon and Representative
Vreeland conferred today with the Re-
publican members of the ways and
means committee regarding the pro-
visions of the bill Strict secrecy was
maintained, but it is understood the
provisions reviving the war revenue
and the Inheritance tax sections were
thoroughly explained to the speaker.
Mr.. Cannon desires to become thor
oughly familiar with the measure in
order to speed it's way through the
house, in accordance with the agree
ment reached at the White House con-
ference Monday.
In order to pensate in a measure
for the general reduction of duties
provided, the subcommittee has incor-
porated several provisions expected
to increase the revenues.
These tend to prevent undervalua-
tions and other methods by which the
ambiguity of the Dingley law is
taken advantage of.
To prevent the practice by which
goods imported are not assessed at
their full value, a provision has been
Incorporated making it possible for the
appraiser to base the value of articles
according to the American wholesale
market prices in connection with the
wholesale price at the point of produc-
tion abroad.
This provision states that in the alb
sence of evidence regarding the foreign
Wholesale price the appraisers may
assess the ad Valorem duty on price
not less than the wholesale price in
this country, less the cost of trans
portatiOn.
During the hearings several in
stances were brought to the commit
tee in which importers combined al
purchase of two loads of goods, one of
greater and the other of lesser value,
and secured an invoice by which the
duty would be paid on the goods of
lesser value for the entire shipment.
There have been numerous cases
where the commercial size of a pack
age on which the duties of the Dingley
tariff bill were based has been in
creased.
The conditions are to be remedied by
the new bill and the committee be-
lieves the revenue will be considerably
increased.
AMrn nj AAIN