Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1909-08-20
Another Increase?

The most astounding provision in the
Aldrich bill is the one which provides
for conditional increase of 25 per cent
ad valorem on the 31st of March next. If
this increase goes into effect there will
be large increase all along the line.
Congressman Cullop of Indiana, among
others, called attention to this feature.
He says:
"On the chemical schedule there is
reduction, but on the important articles
of universal consumption in the neces-
sites of life there is large increase.
On the schedule duties there is an in
crease of per cent over the Dingley
rates. In other words, the average spe-
cific duties in the Dingley bill were 45
per cent and in the Payne-Aldrich bill
the average specific duties are Al per
cent. The bill reported by the confer
ence committee is higher than the
Payne bill as originally passed by the
house.
"But the specific schedule duties do
not constitute the real rates, and this is
where the public is being deceived
about the real tariff. In section two OF
the bill is where the consumer is hand
ed good sized lemon. That section
provides that after the 31st day OF
March, 1910, there shall be levied, col
lected and paid on all articles when
imported from any foreign country in
to the United States the rates of duty
prescribed by the schedules and para
graphs of the dutiable list of section
one, and in addition thereto 25 per cent
ad valorem; which rates shall consti-
tute the maximum tariff of the United
States
"This mean that in addition to the
rates fixed in the more than 1000 spe-
cific schedules there shall be added as
the tariff 25 per cent of the value of the
articles as the real tariff on the same
and hence this raises the average tariff
rate to y per cent, the higher by far
ever levied.
"Let us illustrate what is meant by
this. For instance, take rough lumber,
the cheapest kind. The specific duty
fixed in the schedule is SIPS per thou
sand, but to which must be added the
25 per cent ad valorem duty provided
by said section two. Suppose such
lumber is valued at $40 per thousand
feet, 20 per cent of that value is $3.50,
to which add the SLIPS, and it would
make the tariff on rough lumber of that
value $3.75 per thousand feet. On lum.
Der valued at 500 Thousand the tariff
is 1925, and on lumber valued at $50 a
thousand it is $3.50.
"The Dingley rates were 81 a thou
sand straight. Thus it will be seen
there has been very large increase in
the tariff on lumber instead of de-
crease, if the maximum rate prevails,
and we believe it will.
stake coal. The Dingley rates were
81 cents ton. Under the Payne-Ald-
rich bill the specific duty is IS cents a
ton to which must be added the ad
valorem duty of Is per cent provided
for in said section, to get the real duty.
Take coal of the value of 81 ton, the
specific duty is As cents, and the ad
valorem duty is Is cents, which makes
the actual tariff on coal valued at 81 a
ton, 70 cents. On coal values at So "a ton
the tariff is 95 cents a ton, and so on.
Instead of decreases here is a substan-
| tial increase.
cit is also published there has been
a reduction of the duty on print paper
from So ton to So. rs, but this is not a
fact. Such reduction is made in the
specific duty named in the schedule,
but to this you must add the % per
cent ad valorem. Suppose a ton OF
print paper is valued at $40. The spe-
cific duty is So. rs plus 25 per cent of $40,
which is $40, making the total duty on
ton of the above stated S13.75. Thus
it will be seen that instead of a decrease
it has been more than doubled.
"What is true of these articles taken
as illustrations is true of every item in
the dutiable list consisting of more than
four thousand items. The wooden
schedule on specific duties is the same
as the Dingley law, to which must be
added the 25 per cent ad valorem duty,
which makes an enormous raise in the