Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-03-19
WAYS AND MEANS
SEND BILL BACK
WITHOUT CHANGE
Payne Tariff Bill Reported
Back to the House With No
Amendments Proposed by
Committee.

WASHINGTON, March 1s.-The house
committee on ways and means today
at the first meeting of he full committee
to report the Payne tariff bill back to
the house without amendment.
The Democrats were given until next
Tuesday to prepare a minority report.
Representative Broussard, of Louisiana,
voted to report the bill without amend
ment, but all the other Democrats of the
committee voted against it. The vote
was Is to 6.
Two Reasons Are Given
The report accompanying the bill,
which was presented by Mr.. Payne is
made up in the main of extracts from
the statement regarding the schedule
which was yesterday given out by MT.
Payne, but the Introductory of II is de-
voted to an explanation OF the commit
tees reasons for it's course Two princi-
pal reasons for the readjustment of the
schedules are given.
The first of these is that after the lapse
OF twelve years since the enactment OF
the Dingley law many new complications
in the tariff had arisen and it Is stated
that the public demand has been confirm
ed by the information received by the
committee since 1t began its investiga-
ton.
Would Cause Conflict
In the second place it is stated that
since the Dingley bill went into erect
MANY foreign countries have adopted tar
IFS with maximum and minimum rates,
so that section three of the present law
IS not regarded as sufficiently broad TO
meet the changed conditions, so these new
foreign tariffs force the higher rate on
a large part Of our exports.
The committee expresses the opinion
that the new bill is so constructed that
these conditions will be fully met.
n IS stated that the bill proposes
reduced rate on the bulk of imported ar
ticles. t...
The Popular Demand
The committee then undertakes 10 give
-, tdea ~ the important character of the
work in which 1t has been engaged De-
ginning with the statement that the prep
aration of the bill has been no easy TASK.
The popular demand for the cutting OF
rates is referred to, and against TINS Is
set the Republican policy of protection
whose cardinal principles, 1t is stated, is
the nrotection Of American industries and
American workmen against the diner
ence IN cost Of production at home ana
abroad
The necessity for more revenue at the
present time is also discussed at some
length
IT is asserted that until the recent de-
pression In business, the revenues under
the present laws have been sufhcient TO
meet the expenditures Of the government
and the fact is pointed out that taking the
entire period from 1897, the date of the
enactment of the Dingley bill, until 1909,
there has been a surplus of receipts over
expenditures amounting to S4,555,4OS.
The Present Depression
The total receipts for this period, ex-
elusive of postal revenues, was S6,55S, 22O,-
264. and the expenditures, also exclusive
of postal expenses, $S.4SS, 664.S56. Comment
is then made upon the effect of the pres
emit Industrial depression, and in that con-
nection the committee says:
1T is the hope of the committee that
with a return of business prosperity, the
revenues will show a large percentage of
Increase and prove entirely adequate for
any natural and economical scale Of ex-
penditure."
In explaining the provision for author
izing the issue of $45, 100000 of additional
Panama canal bonds, the report says the
belief OF the committee is that the entire
expenditure for the building of the Pan
anna canal should be met by a bond is
sue.