Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1909-08-18
MCCu|nber Shows How New Tariff Affects North Dakota

ness of the specific duty is that it
does not bear equally on every grade
of the article taxed. In changing
from the ad valorem to the specific
duty, while the average may be the
same, it will result in increasing the
duty on one grade and lowering it on
another grade of the same product.
| If, for instance, the present duty on
cloth ranging in value from 10 to ~
cents per yard, is 40 per cent ad val
orem, the duty then on yard of cloth
! worth 10 cents a yard would be 4
cents. The duty on yard OF cloth
worth 20 cents would be s cents. But
if by this bill we change from an ad
valorem to a specific duty Of cents
a yard, irrespective of value, the duty
on a yard worth 10 cents would be
5 cents, an increase of one cent
yard; and the duty on the grade
worth 20 cents will be five cents also,
Or reduction of 212 cents yard.
The average on the class of goods
imported in the greatest quantity
might be the same as the 40 per cent
ad valorem. or even lower.
| If, therefore, we select just the
lowest-valued products all through
the list, we might be able to show
that there has been an increase over
! the Dingley rates, but If we take the
average quality or grade purchased
we may find that there has been re-
| duction on one class which will more
than offset the raise On the other
class. When we change from I'D val
orem to a specific duty, we must deal
not in the extremes, but in the aver
ages
The cotton and WOODEN schedules
show very little change, but even
in these there has been reduction
on some of the lower priced goods.
! those which are bought by the people
generally.
Mr.. President, every tariff bill is
the result Of a compromise between
those who are insistent upon very
high and those who are equally per
sistent in their demands for a low
duty. If, therefore, tariff bill has to
meet the exact demands of every SEN
ator and Representative, no bill could
ever be passed. During this session
have labored persistently and to the
best of my ability for free lumber,
| free coal, free oil, and free iron ore.
and for a substantial reduction on
| other articles Of consumption wherev-
! er that reduction could be made con-
sistent with proper protection.
I have not been able to secure free
coal or free lumber, but feel that my
efforts in combination with those of
others have resulted in securing a
very substantial. reduction below the
old Dingley rates on these articles
and on the many others in table
which I have prepared and will insert
without reading.
! Mr.. President. I have felt it my
! duty in my labors for what I regarded
as party pledges to work with the
| Committee on Finance, of which / am
member. l could hope for little in
f1uence in my efforts to secure the
lowest possible reduction in the COM
mittee if I had voted against every
item that did not exactly meet my
views. voted for the bill when it
was up for final passage in the Sen
/ ate. I felt that there were some rates
that were unnecessary, and hoped
that the conferees might possibly
bring out better result I have
been at all times in hearty sympathy
with the President and acting and
working in harmony with him for low
err duties upon specific articles such
as lumber, coal, and so forth. I have
not agreed with him upon the matter
of the reduction of the duties upon
hides. I would, however, not allow
that little difference to place me in
opposition to the President in his ef-
forts for general reductions. II the
Northwest and my State suffer by rea-
son of this, have no doubt the Praei-
dent thinks we will gain an equal
amount by a reduction in the price OF
boots and shoes and other leather ar
ticles upon which corresponding re-
auctions have been or will be made.
have much doubt of any benefits we
will secure by any reduction Of the
duties upon boots or shoes or leather
goods I do not think the reductions
will make the slightest difference in
the cost to the consumer, while l do
think the farmer will lose something
in the price of the hides produced by
him. 1t may not amount to much in
my State It will amount to much
, more in other western states.
| Now, while each Senator is at lib
erty to follow his own conviction as
to what his duty is with reference to
the final passage Of this bill. my
own Judgment of my duty is, having
secured a bill which does substanti-
ally comply with party policy and
party pledges for downward revision.
to vote for the bill notwithstanding
the fact that I would prefer o have
the duties somewhat lower on somear
ticles and somewhat higher on others.
7 believe, for instance, that we should
have maintained IS per cent duty
on hides. The conferees, under the
advice of the President, have seen fit
to lower that duty, and with 1t they
! have lowered the duties on goods