The Morris County chronicle., 1909-03-23
TAFT SENDS IN
TARIFF MESSAGE
President Urges Congress to
Hasten Revision.
PAYNE INTRODUCES BILL.

1t Provides For so Per Cent Reduction
In Duty on Steel and Lumber--Boots
and Shoes Are Reduced 40 Per Cent
Tea Is Taxed, but Coffee Is Placed
on Free List--lt Calls For Graded
Inheritance Tax.
Washington, March 19. President
Taft's first message to the Sixty7frst
congress, assembled by him in extraor-
dinary session in answer to the call
for new tariff law, wds read ip both
houses. 1t was as follows:
To the Senate and House of Representa-
tives:
I have convened the congress in this
extra session in order to enable it to give
immediate consideration to the revision
of the Dingley, tariff act. Conditions af-
fecting production, manufacture and busi-
ness generally have SO changed in the last
twelve years as to require readjustment
and revision of the import duties imposed
by that act. More than this, the present
tariff act, with the other sources of gov
ernment revenue, does not furnish income
enough to pay the authorized expendi-
lures.
BY July 1 next the excess of expenses
over receipts for the current fiscal year
will equal about S100,0O0,000
The successful party in the late election
is pledged to a revision. of the tariff. The
country, and the business community es-
pecially, expect it. The prospect of a
change in the rates of import duties al
ways causes a suspension or halt in busi-
ness because of the uncertainty as to the
| changes to be made and their effect 1t is
therefore of the highest importance that
the new bill should be agreed upon and
passed with as much speed as possible
consistent with it's due and thorough con-
sideration.
For these reasons I have deemed the
present to be an extraordinary occasion
within the meaning of the constitution
justifying and requiring the calling of an
extra session.
summary way the principles which, in my
Judgment the revision of the tariff should
proceed and indicated at least one new
source of revenue that might be properly
resorted to in order to avoid future def
icit. 1t is not necessary for me to repeat
what / then said
/ venture to suggest that the vital bust
ness interests of the country require that
the attention of the congress in this ses-
sion be chiefly devoted to the considera-
ton of the new tariff bill and that the
less time given to other subjects of legis-
lation in this session the better for the
country. WILLIAM III. TAFT.
Congressman Payne presented the
new tariff measure framed in accord
ance with the suggestions of President
Taft. It's leading provisions were as
follows:
An inheritance tax of l per cent or
amounts from $4,000 to $100, 900, per cent
on amounts from 100000 to 100000 and
per cent on amounts over $500,0O0
Strangers and collateral heirs pay pei
cent on amounts over $780,
An issue of Panama canal bonds to re-
imburse the treasury for the $40 900 900 fol
the original purchase of the canal.
! An issue of certificates to run one veal
/ to replenish the treasury raising the
amount from $100,000,000 to $3.50 0O0,0 900, al
amount sufficient to provide at any time
| against two or three years of depressed
| business conditions.
| A cut of so per cent in the steel anc
/ lumber schedules. The tariff on boots and
shoes is reduced 40 per cent and Other
\ leather manufactures In proportion. The
tariff on wool of the first and secon6
! class used for clothing is not disturbed
| but is reduced on the cheaper grades
! Recommendations for placing wood pulI
on the free list and reducing the duties
on print paper with certain restrictions
as made by the Mann committee Of the
house, are Incorporated In the bill.
Agricultural implements, which are sub
| iect to 20 per cent duty under the Ding.
4 ley tariff. are to be admitted free from
any country which admits American agri-
cultural machinery free.
A cut of one-twentieth of cent q
pound is made on refined sugar. On dex-
trim a reduction of half cent pound is
made.
While there is no duty imposed on cof.
fee, it is provided that if any country
shall impose an export duty or charge OF
any kind, directly or indirectly, upon cof-
| fee exported to the United States a duty
equal to such export duty shall be levied
/ by this country This will compel Brazil
and various other countries in all likeli-
hood to abolish the export tax.
Tea is taxed s cents when imported
from the country where it is produced
and 9 cents when from other than the
/ producing countries.
/ The tax on beer and whisky is undis.
/ turbed
One of the most important matters in the
bill is the provision whereby counter.
! vailing duty is imposed on petroleum. OF
Eproducers have been lobbying to get this
provision kept In the bill.
material increase is made on the in.
1 ternai revenue tax on cigarettes.
The duties on plate glass Of the smaller
sizes are advanced, while the duties on
the larger sizes are reduced.
Most OF the articles on which duties
4 have been increased are. those ciassed al
tuxuries. Among them are the following
Perfumes and toilet articles. from so tC
70 per cent ad valorem.
Chicory root. raw. not dried. from
| ,ent to 2x cents per pound: roasted. fror
M cents to s cents per pound. Coco
crude. transferred from the free lis'