The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-04-14
TARIFF IN SENATE
Finance Committee Gets
Bill From Printer.
PROBABLY REPORT IT TO-DAY.
Senator Aldrich Says Seventy-five
Per Cent of Articles Used by
ALI the People Have
Been Reduced.
PROBABLY REPORT IT TO-DAY.

Washington, April 1.-THE Payne
tariff bill as amended by the senate
committee on finance having been re-
ceived from the public printer, it was
presented to the full committee today.
When the senate convened every
thing was in readiness, and Senator
Aldrich Immediately brought up the
tariff measure by asking consent Of the
minority to the immediate reporting of
the bill
Senate leaders would not predict how
much time Is likely to be occupied In
the discussion of the portion Of the bill
fixing rates of duty.
A large number of important items
are to be submitted to the Judgment of
the senate without recommendation.
the purpose being to convince the SEN
ate and the country that the commit
tee has not arbitrarily assumed the
power to make a tariff bill and that 1t
recognizes the right of members of
congress not on the tariff framing
committees to help to shape the tariff
bill SO far as the controverted sched-
ules are concerned.
Members of the finance committee
have discussed their proceedings with
greater freedom than ever before in
the history Of tariff legislation. Sena-
tor Aldrich asserted that 20 per cent Of
articles used by all the people had
been reduced and that the free list had
been heightened to an extent that
would be surprising to everybody.
The members of the committee have
done their best to make their recon-
mendations popular, and they predict
ed that their efforts would be appreci-
ated.
In placing large number Of articles
on the free list and in reducing duties
on many others it has been found nee
essary to materially increase the duties
on many luxuries in order to produce
necessary revenues.
The Payne. bill increased materially
the rates on brandy. alcohol, gin, grain
spirits, cordials and liquors, but made
practically no increase on champagne
and still wines.
The senate committee has decided
upon an increase amounting to about
25 per cent above existing rates on
wines of all kinds and has made in
creases above the Payne bill on other
spirits.
No announcement was made as to
the amount Of additional revenues
which these increases will produce. A
number of other articles regarded ms
luxuries have been increased, and the
tariff experts feel confident that the
bill will produce as much revenue as
is needed. All Of the increases on per.
fumes and toilet articles provided by
the Payne bill will be reported.
In addition to placing tea and coffee
on the free list the committee pro
poses to admit cocoa free. An especia
effort was made to reduce rates or
the so called breakfast table" arti
cles of commerce. 1t is reported thai
another effort will be made to have
a duty placed on coffee in the senate
in behalf of the coffee syndicate
which is alleged to have a large mum
ber of bags of Brazilian produce
boarded in this country.
At meeting of the committee Il
was decided to add coal to the list oi
subjects, on which the advice of tn,
senate, without recommendation, is tC
be asked. This means that instead
of striking out the reciprocity clause
and fixing a duty of 40 cents a ton oi
bituminous coal, as heretofore decid
ed, the Payne rates will be reported
without recommendation.
The expectation of the committee il
that the reciprocity clause will go out
however, that the duty will be de
creased to about 40 cents and that th'
present rate Of 10 cents per ton OF
slack coal will be maintained.
The senate stands about two to one
against free lumber, and its advocates
now fear that they will not be able Il
maintain the reduction agreed upoI
by the house. The fight which will b.
made on the floor for free hides ha'
begun already, and an effort is beini
made to line up the members.
While the senate is wrestling will
the tariff bill the house will meet onl.
on Mondays and Thursdays, when th'
census bill as passed by the senate
will receive attention, but little or NJ
other business will be undertaken
Speaker Cannon will begin to prepar'
for the appointment of the hous'
standing committee, which prObabl.
will be announced prior to the fina
adjournment of the extra session.