Saturday news. (Watertown, S.D.) 19??-19??, 1909-08-06
History Of the Measure and a
Summary Of Its Principal
Provisions New
Free List.

After one Of the bitterest and one
Of the most momentous legislative du-
els in the history Of the national cap
ttal the new tariff measure, the Payne
bill, has been completed.
The progress Of the bill through the
legislative mill of both houses was
eventful enough to satisfy the most
pronounced cravers for parliamentary
warfare. The real battle opened when
the bill hOuse report 143SJ was re
eeived in the senate and referred to
Abe committee on finance, April TO-
hldrich Of Rhode Island, the leader Of
the senate as chairman Of the finance
committee, subsequently became chair
man Of the conference committee,
which was appointed to adjust the diff
ferences arising between senate and
house and between both houses of
congress and the president
Taft For Free Hides.
The report of the conference COM
mittee which determined what would
be the provisions of the Myne bill In
its final form was n victory for Pres
tdent Taft. He Informed all Of the
conferees that hides must be placed
on the free list together with petro-
leum, crude and refined. They there
upon decided to cut the Dingley tariff
on hides to per cent. The president
heard the news and sent word that
be had meant what he had said about
free hides. The figures were then
lowered to per cent. Now Chairman
Serene 70. Payne OF the ways and
means committee decided to demon
strate that his original bill, providing
for free hides should no longer be sub
jected to the emasculntory operations
Of the majority of the conferees. He
announced that not even a per cent
duty on hides would be accepted by
either himself or the house. without
free hides this tariff bill win not pass
the house." he was quoted rs 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 glove schedules ranked next
In Importance during the closing days
of the controversy.
If hides came In free, the important
New England boot and shoe manufac-
turing interests would consent to a re.
duction of the tariff on their products.
otherwise they would continue to fight.
The solving OF the hides problem left
1t simple matter to agree to lower
duties on boots and shoes--the Ding
ley rate being IS per cent. Saddlery
and harness were cut to 40 per cent,
as against the Dingley rate Of As per
cent. The president resorted to the
Unusual method Of sending written
niessage to the conference committee
demanding lower rates on lumber and
gloves than the Payne bill provided.
and he secured them.
#lsfS' Wool and Cotton.
The wool schedule underwent ne
change Of consequence, but the entire
Cotton schedule was reconstructed and
the phraseoiogy greatly changed In the
hope of preventing reductions through
decisions by the courts such as have
characterized the administration Of the
INngley law during recent years In
many Instances the rates Intended to
Tbe Imposed by the Dingley law were
cut BY these decisions, the reductions
In some instances being from 90 per
cent i'd 8Eper cent ad valorem.
Probably the most marked reduc-
lions are found In the metal schedule.
RESTRAINING Mith a decrease IN the rate
NJ Iron ore from 40 to Is cents per ton,
therets q general reduction throughout
that part of the bill, pig iron going
Down from 81 to i $3.50 per ton and
scrap iron from 81 to 81. The reduc-
MON on many OF the items in this
schedule amounts to about so per cent.
Rough lumber goes down from $3.50
ito SLIPS per Thousand feet, with cor
responding reduction in the differentialg
On dressed lumber.
The president was subjected to Sc
yerest pressure from both the upward
and downward revisionists throughout.
The Upward revisionists told him that
q reduction Of duty on hides and
leather manufactures would make the
next congress Democratic, In which
event they argued that TAFT would moi
possibly be renominated for the pres
fdency. The '.1ownwards' told him
That Roosevelt would surely be the
NEXT Republican candidate for preai-
lent * the campaign promises for a
downward revision were not fulfilled.
Tho Corporations Tax.
The president had d highly difficult
fask also In preserving his scheme for
u corporation tax intact In the Payne
Bin. This feature h clearl the most
unpopular one ih tie entire measure,
10 far as members of tie senate and !
house were concerned. Many of the
members argnsd 10 the president that
me tx as proYtd ed for spas uncon-
titnti6nai Kesoint tons witt INTRO
tcsd IS ne various state legislatures
lrond eTQpAEsg the act and recommend-
lns it, repeal, according to statements
Innni1A hv3 ytne,n nv, - a.,