Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1909-08-05
The PAYNE
History Of the Measure and a
Summary Of Its Principal
Provisions The New
Free List,

After one Of the bitterest end one
of the most momentous legislative
duels in the history Of the national
capital the tariff measure. the Payne
BILL has been drafted.
The progress Of the bill through
the legislative mill Of both houses
was eventful enough to satisfy the
most pronounced craver for parla-
mentary warfare The real battle
opened when the bill, House Report
1888" was received in the senate and
referred to the committee on finance.
April TO- Aldrich of Rhode Island,
the leader Of the senate, as chairman
of the finance committee, subsequent
lybecame chairman of the conference
committee which was appointed to
adjust the differences arising be-
tween senate and house, and between
both houses of congress and the pres
ident.
The report Of the conference COM
mittee, which determined what would
be the provisions Of the Payne bill
In its final form, was a victory
for President Taft He informed all
of the conferees that hides must be
placed on the free list, together with
petroleum, crude and refined. They
thereupon decided to cut the Ding
ley tariff on hides to per ceut. The
president heard the news and sent
word that he had meant what he said
about free hides. The figures were
then lowered to z per cent Now
Chairman Serene Payne of the ways
and means committee decided to
demonstrate that his original bill,
providing for free hides, should no
longer be subjected to the emascula-
tory operations of the majority of
the conferees. He announced that
not even per cent duty on hides
would be accepted by either himself
or the house. Without free hides
this tariff bill will not pass the
house." he was quoted as saying.
The tariff came off hides instanter,
and as quickly was oil put on the un-
taxed schedule, together with gaso-
line, benzine and naphtha
The leather, rough lumber, print
paper, coal and iron and gloves
schedules ranked next in Importance
during the closing days of the con-
troversy.
II hides come in free, the import
ant New England boot and shoe man
ufacturing interests would consent to
a reduction of the tariff on their pro
ducts, otherwise they would continue
TO fight. The solving of the hides
problem left it a simple matter to
agree to lower duties on boots and
shoes-the pingley rate being 25 per
cent. SaddIery and harness were cut
to 40 per cent, as against the Dingley
rate of As per cent.
The PRESIDENT resorted to the un
usual method of sending a written
message to the conference committee
demanding lower rates on lumber
and gloves, than the Payne bill pro-
v ded, and he secured them.
The president was subjected to Sc
verest pressure from both the upward
and downward revisionists through
out. Tho upward revisionists told
him that a reduction of duty on hides
and leather manufactures would
make the next congress Democratic,
in which event they argued that Taft
would not possibly be renominated
for the presidency. The downward"
told him that Roosevelt would surely
be the next Republican candidate for
president if the campaign promises
for a downward revision were not
fulfilled.
The president had highly difficult
task also in preserving his scheme
for a corporation tax intact in the
Payne bill This feature is clearly
the most unpopular one in the entire
measure, so far as members of the
senate and house were concerned.
Many of the members argued 70 the
president that the tax as provided
for was unconstitutional. Resolutions
will be introduced in the various
state legislatures condemning the
act and recommending its repeal, &C
cording to statements made ~ Varl'
Gus congressman in Washington.
The corporation tax of l per cent
on the entire net income over and
above $4,000 received by corporations
from all sources, exclusive of certain
items, must be paid on or before
June 80 each year. Persons author
tied to make returns or statements to
the government and who make re-
turns or statements OF a fraudulent
nature are subject to a fine of $1,000
and imprisonment for one year,
During the closing days OF the
tariff controversy. more than forty
Republicans who had grievances of
one sort or another against certain
Of the provisions OF the bill stated
that they would vote against It. They
had II In their power to defeat The
measure and force the president TO
call another special session in Sep