Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-04-20
SENATOR CLAY SAYS He WILL
SUPPORT PLATFORM OF PARTY
IN THE FRAMING OF NEW TARIFF
by Ralph Smith

WASHINGTON. d. c. April lin a
clear cut and comprehensive interview
Senator Clay today expressed himself on
the pending tariff bill, declaring for free
lumber, In conformity with the PLATFORM
OF the Democratic party. he also discuss
ed the sugar schedule at length, detailing
his reasons for advocating a substantial
reduction in the duty on this commodity,
and concluded with plea for more eco
nomicsI administration OF the business OF
the country
Senator Clay has heretofore declined to
be interviewed on the tariff question. stat
inE that he had not thoroughly considered
all the provisions OF the Payne bill. lie
did not care to discuss the matter until
he had familiarized himself with its intri-
cate details He followed the debate in the
house closely. at the same time examIng
the schedules OF the measure
When approached today the senator had
no objection TO expressing his views, hav-
ing analysed the bill 10 his satisfaction.
His idea as 10 the tariff might be briefly
summarized with the statement that he
favors the cheapest food. cheapest cloth
ing and cheapest material for building
homes as are compatible with the revenue
requirements OF the country-tarin for
revenue. and revenue only for an econom-
ical administration Of the affairs Of the
nation
Senator Clay Talks
The annual expenses OF the government
now amount 10 more than a billion OF dol
lars per year." began Mr.. Clay. These
expenses have more than doubled during
the last dozen years. This money must be
raised in some way and believe in levy
ing tariff duties 10 assist in paying part
Of the expenses OF the government
When foreign countries seek 10 sell
merchandise TO our people we charge
xr-hf IN l.
ity are paid indirectly by the people OF
the United States and this money goes to
pay the expenses OF our government. This
tariff tax. OF course. increases the cost OF
every article imported in proportion TO the
tariff duties levied For instance. the tar
IN duty on a suit OF clothes is 30 per cent
Of the value Of the clothes in London and
me clothes cost SO in London. The same
clothes when sold in America will cost
So. freights added.
IF the tariff duty on sugar is . cents
per pound and the market value Of sugar
Is cents per pound in London. this wouli
make the same sugar cost in New York
cents per pound. freights and insurance
added and the American consumer of su-
gar would pay twice as much for sugar
as the Englishman pays, because Of this
tariff duty.
I'VE must have revenue to pay the ex-
penses OF the government. consequently
both political parties favor tariff duties.
The Democratic party stands for tariff
sufficient with our other revenues to pay
the expenses OF the government honestly
and economically administered. The Re
publican party stands for a tariff for rev.
enue and goes even further for a tariff
for protection on American industries
even beyond a revenue TO support the
government.
The expenses OF this government
have grown so rapidly that the most
ardent prOtectioaist ought TO be salts
fed with tariff that would raise suffi-
cient revenue to pay the expenses OF
our government
i believe a tariff bill should be so
framed as TO apply to all sections and
the commodities Of all sections keep
ing in view absolute equality and fair
ness. A tariff bill for revenue and a
tariff bill for protection should be framed
with view OF doing simple justice TO
every section Of the country and TO the
commodities OF every section Of the coun-
try
Il do not adhere to the doctrine of free
raw material and high tariff duties on
manufactured products. This would give
70 the states engaged in manufacturing
a decided advantage over the states en-
gagged in producing raw material
The sole business Of New England IS
tured products and free raw material
would give to New England decided ad-
vantage over the other sections of the
country Free hides would give to Bos-
ton cheap raw material and the high
tariff on shoes would give 70 the Boston
shoe manufacturer a decided advan-
tage."
Discusses Payne Bill
Mr. Clay was asked his views on the
PAYNE bill He promptly replied by
saying:
"On some articles the Payne bill in
creases the duties, on others IT lowers the
duties The general average is about
the. same as the present law.
Il do not regard it as a substantial
revision.
1T does not fulfill the pledges Of the
Republican party to the American peo-
pie"
why. Mr- Clay. do you say this?" he
was asked.
well. take the sugar schedule" he
suggested 7 believe in revising the
tariff we should seek diligently TO give
20 the people cheap food. cheap cloth
ing and cheap building material for
homes. The duty on such articles ought
20 be as low as possible and as low as
the necessities OF the government will
permit The duty on sugar In the Payne
bin Is practically the same as I'm the
present law and ought to have been re-
duced. especiallyeth the difTerential
VERY little refined sugar comes 10
this country from abroad. because the
present tariff Is prOhibitive. The Ameri-
can people consumed in 1908 more than
three millions OF tons Of sugar, about
eighty-one pounds per capita More
than three-fourths OF this sugar came
from foreign countries. We do not pro-
duce in the United States one-fourth OF
the sugar we consume.
The duty on refined sugar in the
Payne bill is nearly cents per pound.
We import large quantities OF raw sug-
ar The American Refining Sugar Co,
commonly called the sugar trust pur-
chases the raw sugar abroad and brings
# into this country and refines il and
has grown immensely rich in its bust
ness
The first year the trust was organ
lied with a capital Of seven millions,
am Informed IL made in profits twelve
millions The company was organized is
suing fifty millions OF stock when in
reality only seven millions was paid in
and forty-three millions Of the stock was
watered. To trace fits growth and profits
would consume too much of your time,