The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-05-16
Senator Johnston
 Speaks On Tariff

wooden or worsted goods, than on the cheaper. It will be perceived that those valued at not over 10 cents per pound bear duty of 1s4 per cent, whilst those valued at over 70 cents per pound are taxed at s4 per cont. So with blankets; those valued at 40 cents per pound are taxed at l07 per cent. whilst those valued in excess of 50 cents per ponnd are taxed at T per cent.
 The same thing appears in Para graph s7s on dress goods; those val ued at not exceeding 15 cents per square yard are taxed at 1D5 per cent, and when they are valued at above 70 cents, at 94 per cent. Oriental carpets woven whole for rooms, (Par. ss7) bear duty of 60 per cent; whilst in- grain three-piy carpets are taxed at SC per cent. Champagne bears a duty of 65 per cent. and wearing apparel of ss per cent So with hats aud bon nets, those costing not over $10 per dozen have a specific tax of 25 per cent each and those over and above $20 per dozen have a specific tax of 20 cents each. and both have f5 per cent ad valorem added. The tax on cutlery Is most exhorbitant. Whenever we buy a yard of foreign cloth we patriotical- ly pay the duty to the government; i; when. we buy the home made article
 
 manufacturer. but with less pleasure and patriotism. :,
 Whether Ior not there has been a compliance with the platform of the Republican party. or the recommen- dation of the President, or the expec- tations of the country. will under take to say that of the fourteen sched- ules of the bill containing some thou sands of articles, that in nine of these h. AssffA hn.f EAn al.o. .l.- 4.-sa n-s main the same as in the Dingley act, and in three only is there an apparent reduction, and the honorable chairman of the committee advises us That the changes we propose to make in the adrninistrative>act include (f), new definitions of dutiable value and new methods in its proper entertainments; CD, more efficient collection machin- cry. and (s). provision for the ere ation of custom court to insure uni formity of decisions in custom cases, will. in the opinion of the committee result in the collection of certain percentage more revenue in the impor- tation of the articles than was coll lected under the act of 1S97," and adds that "the extent of the undervaiua- tions practiced under existing law is variously estimated at from ten to twenty-five per cent of the revenue collection.
 So if the chairman and the commit tee are right. there will be, under this bill. from ten to twenty-five per cent more added to the duties and revenues of the Dingisy acts From "standpat- ters" some i've yeVks ago the Repub- iicans were driven last year to a de- claration for revision. If the revision was not to be downward. why aban- don their former position? Was it to deceive the voters of the country or to mislead their nominee for Presi-. dent; for he stated in his inaugural address that we should make the tax ation as light as possible.
 Argument in Campaign.
 The argument during the campaign was made everywhere that we were to have revision: that it, should be had. but 1t ought to be made by the friends of the protection and not It's enemies; 1t was conceded that the Democrats would revise downward largely. especially on the necessariss of life, and the Republican position was that this would bring on numer- ous disasters. Now when the bill is brought into this chamber it. is a who hoped for 2. reduction ,of, duties, and when the adtniristrative features are added it win be- distinctly more oppfessives than the Din gfeyi act The reduction Ns upwards. iE3 sf #'
 We ridicuIeG the "standpatters"; we prayed to be delivered from them, but we had farsd better at their hands, and now they begin to have . more amiabie appearepce. The letter of the platform may have been kept, but the spirit and the understanding of 1t by the people is crncihed.
 One good thing will result. the peo. pie will become convinced that they can not rely upon those now making the laws. and. despairing of securing any revision downwards by the friends of protection, they will turn to the friends of the people.
 Is it possible that the eloduent senators from Iowa or the wise sefi- ators from Wisconsin, and other sena- tors of great ability were decefved last year when in supporting the Repubii- can ticket they advised the voters that the platform meant revision down 5E a. II sl sf