Los Angeles herald., 1909-03-22
TARIFF DEBATE
BEGINS TODAY
PAYNE BILL TO BE BROUGHT
BEFORE CONGRESS
CHAMP CLARK TO SPEAK IN oP.
POSITION
Several Leading Democrats in Lower
House Ask to Be Heard Against
Proposed Schedule Of
Revision
tBy Associated Press. ]

WASHINGTON, March 21.-The hous
of representatives will begin this weel
serious consideration of the business fo
which the extra session was called
revision of the tariff.
The Payne bill will be laid before the
house Monday for discussion, anC
Chairman Payne of the committee OF
ways and means will make the first
argument in support of it. This will
be the beginning of the general debate
Mr.. Clark, the minority leader, will
follow Mr.. Payne with the first speech
in opposition.
So far, Messrs. Underwood, Griggs
and Ransdell of the Democratic side
have given notice that they desire to
DE heard, but no sucn notice has been
received from any Republican member
except Mr.. Payne.
1t is not expected that the general
discussion of the measure will be pro-
longed, and Mr.. Payne believes it will
be unnecessary to bring in rule for its
limitation.
Apparently he is not so hopeful re-
garding the consideration of the bill for
amendment
When this order is reached the pro-
visions will be discussed in speeches of
not more than five minutes duration.
Democratic Amendments
1t is the intention of the Democrats
to offer innumerable amendments, and
it is expected many of the opinions will
suggest changes. 1t is not believed the
voting stage will be reached within less
than two weeks.
The senate probably will consider and
pass the census bill during the week,
but it is not believed the measure will
be discussed at any length.
The disposition in the senate is to
q ha nc no
That there will be a lively contest
over the tariff bill is evidenced by the
preparations that are being made by
the sponsors for the bill, and those who
oppose it.
Chairman Payne. supported by his
chief lieutenant Representative John
Dalze1l of Pennsylvania, and the other
members of the ways and
means committee, together with Repre-
sentative Broussard of Louisiana, the
newly appointed Democrat, will be
armed with thousands of documents
and communications for the defense of
the provisions of the Payne bill.
The committees old room is on the
house floor Of the capitol, and yesterday
field headquarters" was established
there by Mr.. Payne.
Directly beneath this headquarters OF
the Payne forces is the headquarters of
the enemy-the Democrats. Champ
Clark has taken possession of John
Sharp Williams old room, and was oc-
cupied today with the preparation of |
the report of the minority The Demo- |
cratic members have held numerous
councils of war" in the Clark head |
quarters.
Will Make Strong Fight
They will make strong fight against
every protective duty in the Payne BILL |
Unless it is revenue producer.
While the Payne and Clark forces
Will be lined up against one another on
many questions there probably will be
several duties on which they will join
n fighting other opposition. This is
lue to the fact that Mr.. Payne is not
Ugh tariff man. When an amendment
s offered to increase the duty of 81 a
thousand feet provided for lumber by
he Payne bill Mr.. Payne and Mr.
Clark will stand together in opposition
o the increased duty, and each will
ind that some of his trusted aids have
deserted him. This illustrates the feel
ng that prevails throughout the mem
'ership of the house-that every mem
'er should work for the interests of his
Individual constituency and that the
ariff question is a local one
There is one point about the new bill T
n which little controversy is expected
n the house, but which it is believed
viii be given much consideration in
he senate. That is the revision of the
resent tariff law with regard to am
iguous phraseology.
Many changes in the phraseology of
imposing duties on articles
,hich contain alcohol have been incor-
GRATED in the bill and are expected to
lcrease the revenue considerably. I
Much complaint was made that olive {
ii, imported free of duty for manu- r
acturing purposes, has been used by
oreigners of the poorer classes for 5
BOD. This has resulted in a provision l
lat olive oil, to be admitted free of }
uty, must be rendered unfit for use as
bod by such means as shall be salts i
ictory to the secretary of the treasury. q
Litigation involving thousands of d
ollars is pending in courts, due to the
lniculty in determining under what o
of the Dingley law duty p
n sake Japanese rice wine) should be o
nposed. L
To prevent any similar difficulties in a
lie future, rice wine, or sake, is in
uded specifically in the paragraph of U
lie Payne bill imposing a duty of 40 a
,nts a gallon on still wines. Numer- n
IS other changes for similar purposes
ave been incorporated in the new bill. Il
Administrative Feature +
The administrative feature of the 81
ew tariff bill is receiving the earnest V
tention of the treasury officials s
An important change proposed in "
e bill is the method to be adopted
certain cases in finding the market e
Tue upon which to assess ad valorem a
tiles.
The proposed plan takes the whole Il
lie selling price in the United States b
I'd deducts from the estimated duties
ereon the cost of transportation, in I
rance and other necessary expenses q
ON the place OF shipment to the place
delivery and a reasonable commits
IN If such has been paid.
The law in regard to the marketing a
articles of foreign manufacture is q
ade much more drastic. a
The selling point of goods that have n
en- undervalued is changed from so c.
100 per cent of underValuation.
The final power of the general ap- u
aisers to act on questions of APP u
aisement is strengthened and their u
cision as to value is made final and II
and not subject to review .
cept as to questions of fraud and \
int of jurisdiction. u
Many Conspirators Arrested n,