The Washington times., 1909-04-01
VIGOROUS PROTEST
MADE AGAINST TAX
ON TEAAND COFFEE
Washington Business Men
Almost Unanimously Are
Opposed to 1t.
MAKES IMPOSSIBLE
"CHEAP BREAKFAST"
The Times Sounds Real Sentiment
Among Merchants of the
Capital.

Washington business men I'm large
numbers voice vigorous protest against
those schedules Of the Payne tariff
bill that propose a tax on those food
stuffs coming within the meaning OF
the neceSsaries of life. Their protest is
directed particularly against the pro-
posed countervailing duty on coffee and
an increased revenue duty on tea. II
the Payne schedules covering these two
articles are enacted into the law, such
a thing as "the cheap breakfast will
be impossible. they declare.
The Times has endeavored to sound
the real sentiment among merchants cf
the Capital, in and outside the grocery
trade, relative TO the effect on the poor
OF an increase OF duty on these two
articles of food The consensus Of opin-
ion is that increased duty Will add
greatly TO the burdens Of the poor, and
therefore the imposition OF this increase
viii work an injustice. Some Of these
opinions follow:
Merchants Views.
Il am most heartily in accord with
the position taken BY The Times that
there should be no customs duties Oh
those artices which are necessa.y 10
all the people and which cannot be pro-
duced here. said Arthur c. Moses, of
the firm of W. B. Moses d Sons
Tax the luxuries, but let the neces-
saries alone. No tariff bill should be
PASSED which would work hardship
on the poor. A tariff on coffee or tea
would most certainly work this hard
ship. / would be in favor OF a tariff
on beer, but those commodities which
cannot be produced in this country
should be let alone, especially in the
cases OF tea and coffee.
"1he Times views with respect to
admitting products free OF duty, which
come IN the class Of nscessaries. and
are not produced in this country agree
exactly with nine" saH A. Lisner, pro-
prietor Of the Palais ROYAL
"Of course. If tea and coffee should be
admitted free Of charge. there is still
scme doubt whether the price on these
commodities would be correspondingly
lowered. However. I think should
strong rational sentiment be brought TO
bear on the subject in the event it was
not lowered, that sooner or later, the
price would be forced down IN spite OF
all combinations or attempts at monop-
Olistic restraint.
Il am In favor Of high tariff l would
rather see the national debt increased
than the tariff cut down to any ap-
preciable degree. But. in the case Of
tea, coffee, and other necessaries it is
my opinion that they should be ad-
mitted free Of duty. This cannot hurt
home industries and it would be a
great boon to the poor"
Prices Opinion.
''I am In favor Of anything that would
make necessaTies cheaper for the Door
declared Albin Price, OF the firm of
Krey. Price q Co. one of the Oldest
produce commission houses in Washing
ton.
L have been studying the tariff ques-
tiol and it is my belief that The Times
has taken the right position in insisting
that there should be no duties on such
products as coffee, tea and the like.
There can be no such thing as anording
protection BY placing a tax on these
commodities, since they are not produc-
cd in this country. It IS perfectly right
10 tax all luxuries, and 1 am in favor
OF 1t, but the interests Of the poor should
be conserved
Alan T. Hume, manager Of the Frank
Hume Company, wholesale grocers. is
q merchant who thinks that II the Cow
ernment would cUrtaii its e,ttrayaeanca
there would be no need OF levying duties
on such articles Of food as come within
the meaning Of ''necessaries." particu-
arly coffee ard tea, where the tax
means that the poor and not the rich
consumer viii be hardest hit Mr.. Hume
shows that the cOuEteTVailing or retalia-
tory duty on Brazilian coffee, which is
the cheaper grsde and therefore the
most used on the poor mans table. as
provided in the Payne bill. viii mean
tnat the poor n an must pay the tax
The duty on tea and coffee conten1-
plated IN the new tariff bill Is unjust
says Mr.. Hume. But II either one
should be subject 10 duty IL should
be tea instead Of coffee. because the
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