The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-08-14
lEIIsIlu Hls Been UPWARD.
Mr. LEVER SHOWS DUTIES ARE
HIGHER UNDER PAYNE BILL
Duttep Are Almost Prohibitive I'm
der Maximum Provislon-Creiit
Due Democratic Tor Reduction-.No
Hope for Real Revision by Repub-
llcan Party.


Lexington. Aug. 10,--Congressnna an
Lever was seen by the News and
Courier correspondent today and ask
ed for his views on the work of the
extra session Of Congress. which
came to q close last Thursday. Mr..
Lever said:
We have spent the session revis-
ing the tarir( but 1t was not such a
revision as was promised by the par
ty In power or expected by the coun-
try. The idea that there has been a
revision downward In the interest of
the consumer Is out of keeping with
the facts. The truth is the revision
has ben upward III per cent. and
valorem over the Dingley Act, which
this Act supersedes. Whatever re-
vision downward there has been Is on
articles OF little general consumption.
and hence does not give to the con-
suming public the relief claimed by
the Republican party and leaders. 1t
must not be forgotten, and this Is
the only test that the average ad
valorem rate of the Dingley law was
4t.1s per cent. ad valorem. while the
average Of the Payne Aldrich- Taft
bill y %t.s7 per cent. ad vaiorem. or.
,fe I have said, difference upward
- a>y& ~ -0eRxs "a x&lorein. untii the
Sist OF March. 1910. when the max
imum provision OF the bill. added by
the Aidrich crowd in the Senate, be-
comes effective and then the rates OF
the Payne-Aldrich bill become auto
matieally 70.s7 per cent. ad vaiorem.
or an increase OF about 81 per cent.
ad vaiorem over the old Dingiey Act.
This Is what the Republican press
calls revision downward. 1t does not
take much of a mathematician to see
that II Is revision upward with q ven
geence.
You have asked what mean by
the maximum provision The law
provides that on and after the 31st
Of March. 1910. there shall be added
to the regular tariff rates. carried on
the dutiable list. 25 per cent ad va
loren. You understand that this ad
vaiorem means rs per cent. Of the
value of the article imported. For
example. II the regular rate on - i'm
ported article was one dollar PER ton
then. after the 31st of March next
there would be added to this rate
Is per cent. ad valorem. or IL the
value Of the ton In question were SO.
rs per cent Of $40. or $2.50. would
be added. making the total duty.
which comes out Of the consumer.
s3.50. This provision was inserted in
the Senate and differs quite essen
TALLY from the House proposition. II
IL true that the President has a right
under this section of the bill. to re-
move the duties imposed by IL when
he IL affirmatiyely convinced Of GER
tain things which are not likely ever
TO exist during the life Of the Act
Under this provision we have i'm
posed upon the President the duty of
collecting 25 per cent. ad valorem ad-
ditionai to the regular rates, and Civ
en- him at the same time the right to
remove the 25 per cent. ad valorem
In the happening of certain events
We have delegated to him legislative
power which he may or may not use
Is his discretion. and those OF us ia
miiiar with the tremendous influence
and insidious power OF those who are
ciamoring for higher protective rates
are Justified In our fears that the
President may not be able to shake
himself loose from those influences
which not only contributed so largely
To his own election. but which are the
very foundation rocks upon which
have rested and must rest the sue
cess OF the party OF which he is the
head.
What "JOkcrs' Are.
THE progress of this Act through
fha tUn hnuooo h.a hoa,, ,,, m x.,tth