Los Angeles herald., 1909-04-20
ALDRlCH OPENS
TARIFF DEBATE;
BILL REVIEWED
TRIES TO SHOW MEASURE BIG
REVENUE PRODUCER
SENATORS AND MEMBERS OF
HOUSE LISTEN ATTENTlVELY
Daniel, Leader of Minority in Finance
Committee, Shows Line of OPP
position to Be Made by
Democrats

q a A011lNNT lOIN, ADIll III llC lelA Ill
w debate was opened in the senate
w today when Senator Aldrich re-
viewed at length the pending measure
which had been reported from the
committee on finance.
He received practically no interrupt
ton throughout his remarks, which
were listened to not only by every
senator but by Speaker Cannon and
members of the house of representa-
tives. who visited the chamber for that
purpose.
Senator Daniel, the senior minority
member of the committee on finance,
followed Senator Aldrich and laid down
the general line of opposition which
will be made to the pending measure
by the Democrats. At 3:17 o'clock the
senate adjourned.
Mr.. Aldrich said in part:
THE practical question to which
| ask your attention today is, will the
bill as reported from the committee on
finance produce sufficient revenue
when taken in connection with the
| internal revenue taxes, to meet the
government expenses without addi-
tional taxes?' 1 answer unhesitatingly
that it will
Supports His Position
MT. AluTlcH SuDIulllSu SldlSlilciito
showing the receipts, disbursements,
surpluses and deficits, actual and es-
timated, of the treasury, for the fiscal
years 1909 to 1911, inclusive.
His estiamtes for the fiscal years
1909 to 1911, inclusive, were as fol-
| lows:
Fiscal Disburse-
| year Receipts ments: surplus.
1909 .S6O5, ,O47,ssO $674,3O9,6S0 $50, 40, ,450a
1910 . 655, 900 7OO0OO,OOO $4,000, ,O0Oa
1911 -. sos, 900 600 G55, 100000 30,0OO,00O
a-Defict.
In these statements both the re-
ceipts and disbursements for the Pa
mama canal have been eliminated for
obvious reasons, said Mr.. Aldrich. 1T
is the policy of congress, which has.
| take it, universal approval, that pay
ments for the canal and it's construc-
ton should not be made from current
revenue, but met by the sale of bonds
"These figures include all receipts
and disbursements except those of the
postoffice department and the Panama
i canal, but the postal deficits are in
! cluded in all cases in the dfsburse-
| ments.
."The statement consists of the actual
official figures of receipts and disburse-
ments for the years 1900 to 1908 inclus
sive and shows that in these years the
act of 1897, existing law, produced a
surplus of $428, 656, ,221, an average yearly
surplus of $47, ,628, 469"
| Mr.. Aldrich explained that he arrived
at lis estimates from data secured in
consultation with treasury experts.
Presents Figures
Taking the present fiscal year for
example, first we have the actual
| figures for nine and one-half months,
which are: Receipts, $46S, ,042,8 1873; dis
bursements, $533,9S6S15, showing de-
| g 1nn
"I have taken the disbursements of
$3.50. .9S6, ,S15 for nine months, estimated
| those for the two and one-half months,
on the same basis, and reaching the re-
suit of $647, ,509,640.
I'm making the estimates of receipts
of 1909, the actual receipts and dis
bursements for the first nine and one
half months being available, the figures
| for the remaining two and one-half
| months are based on those ascertalned
results and indicate receipts for the
year of $603, ,047 ,290. The figures show
an estimated deficit of 500, 462, ,450.
For the year 1909 the appropriations
have already been made, and the
amount which will be expended can be
foretold with approximate accuracy.
I'm making the estimates for these
| expenditures I have taken the gross
appropriations for the year, $1,O44,-
| 600. .OOO and deducted the appropriations
| for the DOSIOlllC6 uCpeil tiilChe, P@ooSVvS,-
coo: the sinking fund, $60,000,000, the ma
tional bank fund, SO, 100000, and Panama
canal expenses, $37 000, 900, and have
added the official estimate for the pos
tai deficit for the year, $40, 100000, show
ing a probable total of expenditures OF
$700, 100000.
Statement Prepared
For the purpose of ascertaining the
relative revenue producing qualities OF
the senate bill, and the act of 1897, the
committee on finance has had prepared
statement, which is laid before the
senate today 1t applies the rates of
the senate bill to the importations of
1907. We have selected 1907 for the
comparison, as this was the last year
in which the finances and business or
the country were in a normal condi-
ton.
1.-THE statement shows that If the
senate bill had been in force in 190f
the customs revenue produced by 1t
would have been $S, 900 greater than
those collected under the Dingley act,
the total being $SS2 100000 under the
act of 1897, and $340,O00000 under the
senate bill.
"This increase of revenue is due to
advances in rates on a few articles of
luxury, such as wines. spirits, etc. 1t
lis also due to the substitution made
| in the bill in all cases where it was
possible of specific for ad valorem duty
! This will prevent undervaluation, and
consequently increase revenues.
"Other changes will be included af-
fecting the comparative revenues.
THE changes we propose to make in
the administrative act include:
Changes Proposed
81. New definitions of dutiable value
and new methods in it's proper ascer-
tainment.
80. More efficient collection machin-
cry.
'S. A provision for the creation Of a
customs court to insure uniformity of
decisions in customs cases.
"The extent of differentiation pre-
dicted under existing law is variously
estimated at from 1 to 20 per cent of
the revenue collection. If any consid-
erable portion of this practice is cor
rected by the provisions have alluded
to, we can safely add $5,000,0OO to the
estimate I'M 1910, making total esti-
Continued on Page Three)