New-York tribune., 1909-04-19
THE TARIFF TO DATE
OPINIONS ON SENATE SUB-
STITUTE.
Rerenue Producing Qualities Chief
Cause of Doubt-Mr. ,4ldrich's
Explanation Erpected To-day.

.,-ies T,ongrass closed with all the settings ar
ra,,ead for detailed consideration of the Finance
Committees substitute for the Payne bill on the
floor of the Senate. The substitute. which was
reported to the Senate Monday. has been the
basis of Senate study and investigation for
seven davs At first blush most Senators and
REPRESENTATIVES were disposed to regard it as
substan ntial Improvement over the House Dill
This initial impression has not been changed
materially by weeks reflection, but the aver
age member of Congress is not yet prepared to
make formal announcement that the measure is
satisfactory that 1t meets the expectations
of those who want real revision.
The coming week probably will many i'm
nortant deveopments There is deep interest in
what Senator Aldrich will have to say to-mor-
row as to the revenue producing qualities OF
the Senate bill Many Senators. including some
of the Republican members of the Finance
Committee, doubt II the bill will provide sufil-
cient revenue to meet the ordinary running ex-
penses of the government. When the Rhode
Island Senator makes his statement on this
phase of the pending legislation students of the
tariff question will be able to pursue their IN
uuries more inteigently than is now possible.
Senator Aldrich Is extremely anxious that no
special form of taxation shall be imposed III tHe
tariff bill If II is possible to raise enough reVe-
nue. under the customs duties. Many Dehl-
ocrats and a considerable group OF Middle west
ern Republican Senators do not snare lhls
view. They see no practical or political ter
rors in an income tax and are fully convinced
that an amendment for such a tax can De
drawn which will pass constitutional muster be-
fore the Su1rerne Court Unless the statement
which Mr. Aldrch is to make tomorrow is far
more convincing than the Democrats and So
called Republican insurgents expect II TO De-
the advocates of income tax believe their
forces Will be greatly strengthened
Much of the popular Clamor against the Fayhe
hill was due TO the fact that It provided for
higher duties hosiery and gloves. Despite
the statements of Mr.. Payne and other members
Of the Ways and Means Committee that these
increases would not be felt by the ultimate
consumer but would be borne by the importers
and foreign manufacturers the average citizen
was persuaded that these increased rates were
direct assault upon his pocketbook The res
toration of the Dingley rates on gloves and
hosiery in the Senate bill made necessary new
line of cleavage among the tariff reformers who
had been crying for real revision. Some of them
think real revision is accomplished in the sub
stitute bill while others are still waiting to
make up their minds.
WANT AN EARLY VOTE.
In a statement given to the press when the
bill was reported to the Senate Mr.. Aldrch said
that the great mass Of the rates reported were
below those OF existing law, and that the actual
number of reductions from the Payne bill was
about three times the number of increases. IN
calling attention TO the action of the Finance
Committee in returning cocoa to the free list,
the Rhode Island Senator said Il had been the
policy of the committee TO tax luxuries rather
than the everyday necessaries of life. In the
same connection he mentioned the increased
tax of u per cent on spirits and wines, and
said the higher rates would yield an additional
revenue of $3OO00o0 a year, most Of which
would come from the increased duty cham
pagne.
While no cut-and-dried programme for con-
sideration OF the bill has been adopted by the
Republican leaders, 1t is their purpose to do
everything in their power to get an early vote
on the schedules. Mr.. AIdrich expects TO be
able to end his remarks the bill in less than
two hours. He viii be followed Tuesday by
Senator Daniel. the ranking minority member
of the Finance Committee. and it IS expected
that thereafter two speeches will be
made daily until the stores of tariff oratory are
exhausted. Many Senator's are finding It dim
cult to shape their line of argument. They feel
that the maximum and minimum provision has
such an intimate bearing on the schedules that
the general scope Of the proposed revision can
not be understood until this feature is known.
The maximum and minimum scheme which Is
being drawn has been outlined in these dis
patches from time to time, but Senators who
expect to share in the debate anxious that
its exact phraseology should be before them
It Is possible that some reference may be made
10 this provision in Mr.. Aldrich's speech to-
morrow. The Rhode Island Senator has said
that he hopes to have the maximum and mini
mum plan and the administrative features ready
for submission to the Senate in the course of
two weeks.
In reporting the bill to the Senate the Finance
Committee reserved hides coal and wood pulp
and articles dependent upon it. The commit
tees recommendations as to these articles will
be reported TO the Senate in a week ten days
There is growing impression that hides will be
retained the dutiabe list, probab bly, at 10 per
cent ad valorem. which Is q reduction of per
cent from the Dingley law There is a decided
difference of opinion to what the commit
tees recommendations will be or wood pulp and
coal
MINORITY STILL AT ODDS.
Although two long caucuses were held by ths
Democrats last week to adopt tariff pro-
gramme the minority party has been unable to
formulate line of action on which an agree
ment can be reached Generally the Democrats
are agreed that luxuries should be taxed and
necessities placed the free list or made sub |
ject TO low rate of duty; but when 1t comes
to definition OF luxuries and necessities the
Senators below the Mason and Dixon line en-
counter fundamental differences These differ
ences include lumber, hides. sugar and like |
products 1t is apparent that ultimately mem !
bers Of the minority party will agree tn hermit |