Los Angeles herald., 1909-05-30
SAYS GERMANY
IS IMPERTINENT
SENATOR ALDRICH CONDEMNS
TARIFF MEDDLING
EFFORTS TO INFLUENCE LEGIS-
LATIoN CRITICISED
Despite Protests, Duty on Barley Is
Increased, and That on Hops
Goes to a Higher
Figure
[By Associated Press.l


WASHINGTON May Ex-senator
Aldrich denounced as 'impertinent" the
efforts of the German government to
influence American tariff legislation by
supplying anonymous information as
to wages paid German workmen. His
characterization followed statement
by Senator Depev' intimating that Ger
man manufacturers were striving to
influence congress through the German
government and American importers of
German goods.
The reply of the president to senate
resolution calling for a statement of
the German government as to wages In
Germany proved the signal for this
animated discussion. The president
stated in his message that the docu-
ment in question had been sent to the
finance committee on April 10.
81 have made some investigation as
to the character of that report" said
Mr.. Aldrich, land find that it consists
of statements by certain boards of
trade of Germany transmitting anony-
nous testimony of manufacturers in
answer to statements made before d
committee of congress. 1 am quite
willing that this document should be
printed"
Mr.. Depew spoke of the Importance
OF the business before congress, and as
serted that is was purely an American
question.
Question Above Politics
II am told" he said, that Prince
Won Buelow has sent to this govern
ment an anonymous statement so in
detail that it has gone even into the
question of razors. Then I am told
that it has been put by the German
government into the hands of import
ers, and they have put it into the hands
of senators with free trade tendencies.
The question Is one which rises far
above that of political party as the
information was sent to the state de-
partment under the seal of the Ger
man government"
Mr.. LaFollette declared that the sem
ate was entitled to such information.
Mr.. Aldrich explained the state
ment had been transmitted by the
German government on the condition
that it should not be printed, and such
testimony he said, was worthless from
his point of view.
The duty on barley was involved in
the first section of the tariff bill con-
sidered by the senate today. Senator
Root spoke against an increase of this
duty from % to 80 cents per bushel.
Mr. Beveridge declared he would
vote against the increase, while Sena-
tor Aldrich upheld the action of the
committee in increasing the house rate.
Senator Hepburn also defended the
rate of 80 cents in view of conditions
in Canada.
The senate amendment was adopted
by a vote of 4S to 2S.
New Duty on Potatoes
An amendment offered by Mr.. Du-
pont, increasing the duty on potatoes
from % to 45 cents per bushel of sixty
pounds, was adopted.
The McCumber amendments redraft-
ing the paragraph covering flowers and
bulbs and substituting specific rates for
ad valorem rates were agreed to.
The fish schedule was further amend
ed by placing a duty of 20 per cent ad
valorem on oysters in the shell.
Eels or smelts, fresh or frozen, are
taxed l cent a pound.
During two hours before fadjourn-
ment the senate made more real prog
ress in the adoption of tariff schedules
previously passed over than has been
usual during an entire day.
Despite protests voiced by Senators
Beveridge and Root, the duty on barley
was increased from % cents a bushel,
as proposed by the house, to 80 cents, as
recommended by the committee on
finance. The tax on hops was adj
vanced. The house had made the duty
IL cents, while the committee on finance
had formerly advanced it to Is cents
Today the committee brought in an adj
ditional amendment making the rate 20
cents. The duty on potatoes was made
As cents a bushel instead of rs cents.
and oysters in the shell were advanced
from q of a cent a pound to 20 per
cent. The increase in the rate on oys-
tiers was made on motion of Senator
Piles, who has an industry in bivalves
to protect against Canadian COMPETE
ton.
That there should be a duty of 20
per cent on raw cotton merely for
revenue was advocated by Seaator
Bacon. Mr.. Root spoke for the New
York lemon consumers, insisting that
the rate of ~ cents a pound. as fixed
by the finance committee, was too high.
Mr.. Flint, speaking for the lemon
growers, supported the advance, saying
the lemon industry of California would
be wiped out If this duty was not levied.
The schedule was still under discussion
when the senate adjourned.
Mr.. Flint gave a full account of the
California lemon industry.
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