Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-04-23

pie expect us, If it can be done, to re-
duce the schedules of the Dingley
rates. There are millions of people in
the United States who believe that
some Of these schedules ought to be
revised.
Wants "Jokers" Cut Out.
It undertake to say, after careful
study of the textile schedule, that the
protective rates are so high as to make
1t necessary for US to reduce them. I
would like to see them so reconstruct
ed that the average man could under
stand them. owe duty to 2,500,000
people who have little or no interest in
this tariff business except the pros
perity of the American market. shall
deem it my duty to inquire into this
matter, to suggest amendments. 1
shall do it in kindly way and grant
to everybody the same freedom of
judgmentI would like to exercise my
self. Nevertheless 1 want thorough
explanation Of some of these sched-
ules, because have 1t on good author
ity that the number of people who IN
derstand them is very small.
II believe the woolen schedule ought
to be revised. The late Senator Allison
and the late Senator Platt of Con-
necticut, two men of wide study and
recognized experts in tariff matters,
could not understand the woolen
schedule of the present law, which
was presented by the American Wool
en- Manufacturers Association. I do
not believe a revision Of the Woolen
schedule, a lowering Of the rates, will
materially change the price of clothing,
but that schedule, along with some
others, has been made an advertise
ment for the republican party. It has
been my experience all over the coun-
try that the audiences that were in
terested in high protection in the
woolen schedule are now out of pa
tience with such a policy.
Asks to Be Shown.
II shall adhere to every reduction in
the Dingley rates made by the wis
dom of the House committee and ad-
here, as far as possible, to every re-
duction that has been made by the
senate committee, and wherever find
a rate that goes beyond the Dingley
rates of 1897 I shall inquire with great
care whether, after twelve years of
prosperity, it might not be possible to
scale some of these duties down so
that when we come to write the his
tory of this extraordinary session Of
congress we will not be required to say
that it was not to reduce rates, but
to concur in duties that have been in
existence for twelve years.
While there may be only few in
creases and quite number of reduc-
hn fh0f
| when we are thru with it it will be so
like the Dingley tariff law many men
will wonder what was the extraordin-
Iary occasion that called congress into
session. It was not called to increase
the tariff. There was not a voice
raised in support Of such a proposition.
There was no reason to call it to let
the tariff remain where it is. We are
here for the purpose of reducing the
duties in the Dingley law wherever it
can be done without sacrificing an
American industry. IT 1t can be shown
| that there is one industry that is
| fighting a hard fight with foreign COM
petition, that is being pressed to the
wall, would be willing to increase the
duties high enough to adequately pro-
tect it. favor giving our market to
the people who live in the United
States.
Would Make Rates Plain.
II do not propose to swallow without
inquiry and without criticism these
schedules that have been built up dur
ing the last twenty years and have
grown so complex that nobody in con-
gress or out can tell what the rates
are.
II regret to say that many good peo-
pie who now appear to be more cone
servative than anybody else = good
people in Observation-Disclosures re-
| sponsible more than any others for the
agitation Of the tariff question in re-
cent years. I regret to see that some
of them desire to admit to their fac
tories on equitable terms the raw ma
terial they use. Others desire to sac
rifice the American farmer to get
cheaper food for their employees 1 be-
| lieve the tariff agitation in New Eng
land was more responsible than any
thing else for the dissatisfaction that
grew up"
After paying his compliments to the
New England senators in control in the
formation Of the senate tariff bill and
congratulating them for representing
the demands Of their people for low
rates or, no rates at ali upon the
articles they consume and for excess
| lively high rates upon the articles they
produce, Mr.. Dolliver, who is himself,
as the result of many years of exper-
ience as a member of congress and of
the ways and means committee an ex-
pert on tariff matters, proceeded to
pick out schedules in the house and
senate bills to show that the schedules
are written by the industries interested
and are not thoroughly understood by
those in charge of tariff bills or by the
officials of the treasury department
who are called upon to administer The
law.
Finds Duty GOO Per Cent.
He pointed out a number of jokers
which nullified the wording of the
schedules and gave excessive protec-
ton to industries that framed them.
Mr.. Dolliver pointed out among other
instances mentioned by him to sustain
his argument a paragraph in which a
house rate Of IN cents yard had
been so complicated by phraseology
suggested by the industries interested
that the construction of the senate
provision would result in the imposi-
ton Of duty of cents a yard. an
increase IN hidden protection Of 900
| nor cent