Fergus County Democrat., 1909-03-30
Committee REPORTS
new TARIFF BILL
CONGRGESS READY TO TAKE
UP MOST IMPORTANT LEG
ISLATION.

WASHINGTON, March lS.-The house
committee on ways and means agreed
TODAY after the first meeting OF the
full committee Ito report the Payne
tariff bill back to the house without
amendments. The democrats were
given until next Tuesday to prepare
a minority report. Representative
Broussard of Louisiana, voted to
report the bill without amendment,
but all the other democrats of the
committee voted against it. I'm
mediately after the house convened
today, Mr. Payne Of New York, chair
man of the committee on ways and
means, reported the bill.
Mr.. Payne offered resolution pro-
viding for the printing OF 10000 copies
of it, $4,000 OF which shall be in
document form and embodying the
views of the minority. After a good
deal of discussion the resolution was
adopted.
Reason tor Readlustment.
The report accompanying the bill
which was presented by Mr.. Payne,
is made up in the main Of extracts
from the statement regarding the
schedules which was yesterday given
out by Mr.. Payne, but the introduc>
tory portion Of it is devoted to an
explanation of the committees rea
sons for its course. Two principal
reasons for the REIMBURSEMENT Of the
schedules are given The first OF
these is that after the lapse OF twelve
years since the enactment OF the
Dingley tariff bill, many new compll-
cations in the tariff have arisen and
it is said that the public demand has
been confirmed by the information re-
ceived by the committee since it be-
gan its investigation.
In the second place it is stated that
since the Dingley bill went into et-
feet large number OF foreign coun-
tries have adopted tarihs with maxi
mum and minimum rates. SO that sec
ton three OF the present law is no.
regarded as sufficiently broad to NEE
the changed conditions. as these new
foreign tariffs provide for the highe
rate on large part OF our exports
The committee expressed the opinion
that the new bill is SO constructe,
that these conditions will be met.
is said that the bill proposes a reduc
ton of rate on bulk of importe
articles.
Necessity for More Revenue.
The committee than undertakes t
give an idea OF the important char
acter of the work in which it is er
gagged, beginning with the statemer
that the preparation of the bill was II
easy task. The popular demand fc
the cutting Of rates is referred to an
against this set the republican pole
OF protection, whose cardinal prii
ciple, it is said, is the protection
American industries and America
workmen, against the difference
cost Of production at home al
abroad. The necessity for more re
enue at the present time is also di
cussed at some length. 1t is asser
ed that until the recent depression
business the revenues under the pre-
ent tariff law have been sufficient
meet the expenditure of the Cover
ment and the fact is pointed out tn;
taking the entire period from 1897, t
date of the enactment of the Dingl
bill until 1909, there has been ST
plus of receipts over expendtur
amounting to $4,555 .40S The to-
receipts for their period exclusive
postal revenues was $6.55S,220.2 q
The expenditures, also exclusive
the postal expenses, were S6,4S3,66
$50.
Comments on Depression.
Comment is then made upon the
feet OF the present industrial depr
sion and in that connection the co
mittee says:
at is the hope of the commit
that with a return of business pr
perity the revenues will show la
percentage of increase and prove
tirely adequate for any natural
economical scale of expenditures
1t is then pointed out that even
the beginning of the present mo
there has been an upward tendency
receipts.
Canal Bond Issue.
In explaining the provision for
thorzing the issue of $45 100000 OF
ditional Panama canal bonds. the
port saws that the belief of the c
mittee is that the entire expendi
for the building of the Panama c
should be met by bond issue.
Mr.. Payne calls attention to
great amount of labor involved in
preparation of the bill now before
house, and he speaks of the great
sstance rendered the committee
the department of commerce
labor and the state department..
A Forgotten Celebrity.
Independent: Whoever heard
Hinton Rowan Helper?