New-York tribune., 1909-03-24
SENATE FOR ECONOMY
LEADERS MUCH OPPOSED
TO SPECIAL TAXES.
Hope by Checking Public Erpen-
ditures to Meet Nations Needs
rlfth Customs Tariff.
From The Tribune Bureau J

from The Tribune Bureau1
wasnington. March 23.--It is the earnest hope
Of the Republican Senate leaders that 1t may not
he necessary to impose any special taxes in
the new tariff law. The majority members OF
the Finance Committee are extremely anxious to
avoid. II possible. the levying Of an income tax.
g. tax on dividends Of corporations. an inheri-
tancA tax or any increase in internal revenuA
taxes, They have fully determined that every
expedient shall be exhausted to meet the eI-
penses of the government by customs tariff
before any plans are made looking to new fields
for raising revenue.
In line with this policy an effort will be made
bv the Finance Committee TO devise some
method Of checking public expenditures. In
other words. the Republican members Of this
committee take the position that before the
government adopts any fiscal policy. some
steps should be taken to ascertain whether it
is not possible to cut down running expenses
While no definite programme has been outlined
to carry into effect a scheme Of retrenchment
it ia the expectation of the Senate leaders that
when the new Committee on Public Expendi-
lures takes hold of this subject It will be pos
sible to safeguard the public treasury against
many of the calls which have been made
upon It.
Not line Of the Senate substitute for the
Payne bill will be written until two questions
have been answered TO the complete satisfaction
of the Republican members of the Finance Com
mittee. The first question is. How much money
are going to spend?" and the second is, How
much money can we raise under readjusted Gus
toms schedules?' When these two queries have
been answered an effort will he made to provide
such new tariff rates as will yield an income
sufficient TO meet al! proper expenses If this is
found to be impossible. the committee with
will ha {Ub
tax. the income tax. the tax on dividends OF cor
poratons and other forms Of special taxes which
have been suggested as possible methods Of add
ing to the national revenues.
Senator Aldrich made II clear to-day that
til the Finance Committee reports to the Senate
its substitute for the Payne bill and he is rec
ognized TO explain its provisions all his comment
the tariff question will be made at the eXecu-
tive sessions OF the majority members Of the
Finance Committee. He does not intend being
led into discussion OF the tariff IN the public
prints or in the Senate until his committee has
completed it's Investigations and is ready TO let
the business interests Of the country know in
clear and specific form just what they
pect from the United States Senate.
From time 10 time various experts will be
called before the Finance Committee to eluci-
date certain schedules Of the PAYNE bill. Some
OF the experts who appeared before the Ways
and Means Committee will be summoned and re-
quested TO elaborate their former statements.
The -ommittee has approved Mr.. Aldrch's plan
that there shall he public hearings. In fact.
It is probable that the names Of the experts who
are to appear from day to day will not be made
public.
The first extended session Of the Republican
members or the Finance Committee was held to-
day A morning session. beginning at 1O:3O and
% fof1n
afternoon session lasting four hours. A West
ern Senator whose desire to get place the
Finance Committee was gratifed said tonight:
''I got more than I asked for. II keep Up
to-days pace III he able 10 say 7 made the
tarirf bill, but I will have to add that did It 10
the neglect OF all my other business in Washing
ton"
It IS probable that IN the future night
sessions OF the Finance Committee will be held.
The Senate leaders desire to have the substitute
for the Payne bill reported within a few days
after the House has closed its work that
measure
The entire time of the committee to-day
devoted TO Schedule A-chemicaIs oils and
paints. Half a dozen experts from the Treasury
Department, including several members Of the
appraisers force of the New York customs
vice assisted the committee. They explained
the different paragraphs, and answered technical
questions concerning them. The committee end
ed It's consideration of Schedule A, and to-rnor-
row viii take up Schedule B-earths. earthen-
ware and glassware.
It can be stated authorltatively that not sin
gle rate OF duty will be written by the
Finance Committee for many weeks This will
be the final step. Before any attempt is made
TO apply new rates the general scope Of the pro-
posed revision will he outlined, changes in the
,7a4r
ments to the phraseology OF various schedules
and paragraphs adopted. For the next week or
ten days the committee will he engaged in a sort
Of formal reading OF the bill.