The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1909-08-11
History Of the Measure and a
Summary Of Its Principal
Provisions The New
Free List

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 parlia-
mentary warfare. The real battle
opened when the bill, House Report
l43S," was received in the senate and
referred TO the committee on finance,
April 10. Aldrich of Rhode Island,
the leader OF the senate, as chairman
OF the finance committee, subsequent
iybecame chairman of the conference
committee which was appointed 70
adjust the differences arising be-
tween senate and house. and between
both houses of congress and the pres
tdent.
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
thereupop decided TO cut the Ding
ley tariff on hides TO per cent. The
president heard the news and sent
word that he had meant what be said
about free hides. The figures were
fhen lowered TO 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 emasculs-
tory operations of the majority of
abe conferees. He announced that
not even a per cent duty on hides
would be accepted by either himself
or the house. Without free hides
fhis taritf 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 I'M
taxed schedule, together with gaso-
Zine, benzine and naphtha.
The leather, rough lumber, print
paper. coal and iron and gloves
Achedules ranked next in importance
during the closing days of the COZ.
troversy.
II hides come in free, the import-
ant New England boot and shoe man
afacturing interests would consent to
o reduction of the tariff on their pro-
Auctx, otherwise they would continue
20 6ght The solving of the hides
Lee "a, ,rl- a.
agree to lower duties OF boots and
shoes-the Dingley rate being ?5 per
cent saddlery and harness were cut
90 40 per cent. as against the Dingley
rate OF - per cent.
TAs president resorted to the un-
message 10 the conference committee
demanding lower rates on lumber
and gloves, than the Payne bill pro-
Vidsd. and he secured them.
The president was subjected to Sc
vsrest pressure from both the upward
and downward revisionists through
out. The upward revisionists told
hin that a reduction OF duty on hides
and leather manufactures would
make the next congress Democratic,
In which event they argued chat TAFT
would NOT possibly be renOminated
for the presidency. The downward"
told him that Roosevelt would surely
be the next Republican candidate for
Vtesiaent il the campaign promises
Dor a downward revision were not
fulfilled.
The president had highly difficult
eask 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, ac-
cording 10 statements made Ly vaIi-
Gus congressman in Washington.
The corporation tax of / per cent
on the entire net income over and
dDONO PofOOO iNNtlNtd ~ vi pOiRNiOb
from all sources, exclusive of certain
items, must be paid on or before
June 80 each year Persons author
hzed to make returns or statements to
1he government and who make re-
turns or statements OF fraudulent
nature are subject to 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
Chat they would vote against 1t. They
bad II in their power to defeat the
measure and force the president to
kall another special session IN Sep
SENDER OF October. They had the
party leaders plainly worried for a
time. but the able peacemakerS at
he capatal. including President Taft
himself, succeeded In calming ths
FunHed vatess
HISTORY OF THE BILL,
On the statute books the new
,tartfr measure viii be OheaaIly
Known as the Payne hill. taking it,
tame from the chairman Of the house