The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-05-07
DIor U,t UA TARIFF
AldriCh and CuIberSOn Can't
Agree on Increases.
TWO ESTIMATES VARY WIDELY
Texas Senator Declares That the
Bill Now Proposed Has 316 In
creases and 356 Decreases
Over Dingley Measure.
TWO ESTIMATES VARY WIDELY

Washington. May 6. Statements
were made to the senate by Senator
Aldrich. representing the finance COM
mittee, and Senator CulbersQp. the mi
nority leader, analyzing the tariff bill
as it was reported to the .nate and
comparing 1t so far as increases and
reductions are concerned with the
Dingley law.
Senator Culberscn figured the de-
creases to be 356. the increases 316
and the number Of articles on which
the duties are unchanged to be 1,271.
Mr.. Aldrich made the reductions
$40, but furnished no figures as to the
number of increases made. He ex-
pressed surprise at the number of in
creases announced by Mr.. Culberson
and declared that the statement must
have been prepared "by very won
derful man."
Mr.. Culberson retorted that they
were prepared by an expert from the
treasury department who is thorough
ly competent.
The principal schedules on which
there have been increases, according
to Mr.. Aldrlch's summary of the high
er duties of the senate bill, are agri-
cultural products and the various lux
uries.
Mr.. Aldrich contended that the in
creases in the chemical schedule,
which are largely on toilet prepara-
tionS. were made for revenue pur-
poses. The chief increase in the metal
schedule, according to the summary, is
the placing of zinc and antimony ore
on the dutiable list ana the advance in
the rates on the products of zinc in
proportion.
Mr.. Aldrich claimed that the redrnft-
ing of the cotton schedule was for the
purpose of obtaining more symmet-
rical classification Of cotton yarns and
the substitution of specific for ad va
lOrem rates on certain classes of cot
ton CLOTH The latter. he said. are the
equivalent of the average rates i'm
posed by the existing law.
In support of his contention that in
creases are confined largely to lux
uries, Mr.. Aldrich called attention to
the advances in the rates on ostrich
and other feathers. articles of wearing
apparel composed of fur, fancy manu-
factures of leather, manufactures of
coral. cork and straw and on novel
ties and the finer fancy fabrics of
linen.
The increases in the wine, and silk
schedules were also pointed out as
having been made for revenue pur-
poses. Mr.. Aldrich stated that the
lumber, sugar, tobacco and woolen
schedules were not increased over the
rates Of the Dingley law
The finance committee also present
ed for the information of senators a
detailed statement. giving an estimate
of the reductions made by the senate
bill in the duties of the present law.
In connection with each article upon
which lower duty has been placed
the present rate as well as the pro-
posed rate was given in addition to
the PERCENTAGE of the reduction in each
case
The possibilities of the passage of
the tariff bill and the adjournment of
the special session of congress before
July l seem to have vanished. This
conclusion has been reached by the
president as result of recent talk
with senators and representatives.
Among those who have followed the
trend of important legislation on the
tariff there is a belief that the real
tariff fevisiOn bill remains to be franz
ed in conference. Wh%ever influence
President Taft feels He can bring to
bear in securing satisfactory meas
ure will be eXerted upon the confer
ees. The president is averse to being
drawn into the fight, and there is no
thought that he will be until the con-
ferees begin their consideration of the
two bills as passed by the house and
senate.
In view of conflicting reports as to
the presidents attitude ON the various
special taxation propositions that have
been suggested in connection with the
new bill, the president has reiterated
his position to recent callers. He is
still hopeful that the revenue to be de-
rived from the new bill will prove suf-
ficient to prevent deficit.
If it should be shown, however, that
the government finances are in need
of further support to meet the current
expenditures, the president will adhere
to his original proposition that grad
uated federal inheritance tax is the
most Just that could be levied and
would prove the easiest to collect.
If such Il tax should not prove suf-