Evening star., 1909-05-16
TARIFF BURDENS POOR
Senator Johnston So Analyzes
Schedules of Pending Bill.
COMPARISON OF ITEMS
Free List and Lighter Duties on Ar
ticles Rich Man Uses.
DEFENSE OF THE DEMOCRATS
Justifies Attempt Of Minority to See
That No Section Of Nation Is
Hurt by Protection.
DEFENSE OF THE DEMOCRATS

A speech by Senator Johnston of Ala
bama. aboundng with humor and caustic
| criticism directed toward the pending
tariff bill, caused much amusement in the
Senate yesterday.
Senator Johnston began his remarks by
humorously analyzing the free list car
ried by the measure.
Having waded through 1S2 pages of
this bill,'' he said, II struck the free list,
and the thirteenth item that appeared on
this privileged class was 'apatite.' A lit
tie further on 1 found that teeth natural
or manufactured, were let in free, l
suppose to wait upon apatite and do its
perfect work.
II thought these were the crueest
things in the whole bill; that after put
ting duty of per cent a pound on ham
and bacon and about 80 per cent on every
article necessary to sustain life. the
trainers of the bill should turn loose free
appetites and free teeth.
"Distrusting the apparent error in spell
ing the word, / finally consulted the die
| tionary and found that the word 'apatite'
was not the good Old-fashioned craving
for something to eat. which seems to be
constantly increasing under republican
| administration. but was 'vitreous, sea-
green. brown, blue-black, white, etc.
transparent to opaque, calcium choro-
phosphate or fiuorphosphate, usually crys-
talizing in hexagonal prisms. used for
merly as gem and called moroxite. and
that this word was derived from the
Greek 'apate,' which meant deceit.
"Good Word to Put in Bill"
This is good word to put in this
BILL ! was greatly relieved.
II knew how the people must crave for
this deceitful gem and how little use
they had for a good old-fashioned Eng
lish appetite. They will not have the
least use for either natural or artificial
| teeth if this exorbitant protective tariff
continues to increase and the trusts to
multiply.
Pursuing my studies further, discov
cred in this free list cat gut, whip gut,
or worm gut. l was not amazed that the
human article was not included, because
we shall be able to diminish the number
we need as the duties increase.
But the people are not left entirely
without hope, for there are included in the
free list mama. joss sticks, ipecac, nux
vomica. dragons blood, asafetida and
balm of Gilead.' These may be said to be
| in the nature of countervailing duties on
| apatite.
II don't object to any of them; but
there is one still further on which l shall
move to strike out-that is, leeches.
think there will be a great increase in
their production under this bill, and that
nand.
"Spunk is also put on the free list I
am delighted at that, for II some of my
friends on the other side OF this cham
ber had little more of 1t l am satisfied
that the country would have lower taxes
on the necessaries of life.
Raw Silk Free; Woolens Burdened.
Looking further into this admirable
free list, l find raw silk free (the duty on
q y,,Po Sc
while duty Of nearly 1875 per cent Is laid
on woolen or worsted cloths at not more
| than 40 per cent per yard, an article
people Of this country. So that when a
woman buys ten yards of cloth for
Eorsted dress, worth 81 abroad, she has
to confront a protective duty or tax of
l35 per cent and contrihpte $5.4O to a
benevolent government or a protected
| manufacturer, making the cloth cost her
s.. 40; at the same time her more favored
lister arg! gets her her, ten yards Of silk by pay
"Uncut diamonds come in free. and the
cheapest blankets are taxed 1O7 per cent.
Cut diamonds and pearls are 20 per cent.
Not many Of our people are able to buy
| the genuine article, and IL they adorn
themselves with limitations they are
| charged heavily for it.
"Furs. undressed, are admitted free of
| duty. and Brussels carpets taxed at 75
list. ana common Shawis bear a duty of
90 per cent. It must be a great comfort
to our people to know that under repub-
lican rule they still may get rags without
paying cent of tribute to the govern
ment or to any trust or manufacturer;
the women Of the country will be de-
| lighted to know that while frocks are
| high and stockings are going up, rags
are coming down."
Burden Upon Poor.
Turning his attention to the woolen and
silk schedules, Mr.. Johnston continued:
II want to call attention to this preg-
| nant fact that not only has no substantial
change been made in this bill looking to
| a reduction Of the taxes upon articles of
necessity, but 1t Is observable that In
many cases the duties are lower on the
finer and more expensive grades, espe-
cially Of woolen or worsted goods, than
on the cheaper. 1t will be perceived that
| those valued at not over 40 per cent per
pound bear duty of 134 per cent, while
those valued at over 70 per cent per
pound are taxed at "a per cent.
$50 with blankets: those valued at 40
per cent per pound are taxed at 107 per
cent while those valued in excess Of so
| per cent per pound are taxed at Il per
cent
THE same thing appears in paragraph
376 on dress goods: those valued at not
exceeding 10 per cent per square yard are
taxed at lOO per cent ana Wnen tney are
valued at above 20 per cent at "a per
| cent.
"Oriental carpets woven whole for
rooms (par. 36) bear duty of 60 per
cent, while ingram three-ply carpets are
taxed at 66 per cent
Champagne bears q duty Of 65 per
cent and wearing apparel SO per cent
80 with hats and bonnets, those cost
ing not over $40 per dozen have a specific
tax Of 26 per cent each, and those over
and above 500 per dozen have a specific