The Detroit times., 1909-03-18

WASHINGTON March II - The
new tariff bill introduced by nh
Payne in the house today is a mini
mum and maximum tariff bill. The
minimum rates OF duty are contained
in the first section and the free list
for the minimum rates is in the sec
! ond section OF the bit. fhe third
section contains the maximum rates,
which are generally equal 10 the mini
mum rates and 70 per cent in addi-
ton thereto. and the articles on the
/ free list in the transfer TO the third
section, bear duty OF 20 per centum
All valorem as maximum rate. The
maximum rate does not SO into eff
feet In any event until sixty days after
the passage of the aci. BY the fourth
section the minimum rates are applied
To all goods imported from any
country which give the United States
as good terms by way OF tariff as that
given to any other nation. and the
max imum rates are applied to those
countries which discriminate against
the trade OF the United States or fail
TO give the United States tariff rates
as favorable as those given any other
nation.
This section is selfacting, making
il the duty OF the executive to collect
! the duties, whether minimum or
maximum, in accordance with the
terms of the bill. leaving 1t open to
the courts to decide upon the LEGALITY
OF the action.
one problem that confronted the
committee was the question OF rev
enue. The business OF all commercial
nations has been depressed for nearly
two years and thus has affected
American commerce and greatly re.
duced our revenues. so that we have
a large deficit. but the revenues under
the present law are improving from
month TO month rs business condi-
tions are becoming better.
Take 1906 As Basis.
The last normal year OF imports
was the fiscal year ending June 30,
1906; 1907 was an unusually prosper
GUS year but revenues from customs
exceeded those or 1906 by thirty-tw1
millions OF dollars The committee
! have therefore taken the year 1906 as
the basis to form their estimate of
the revenue producing qualities OF the
new bill Should the next fiscal year
prove prosperous and the normal cor.
dtions of 1906 return, on account OF
I the large increase in population, the
revenues for 1910 would show a con-
siderable increase over the estimates
of the committee.
! With return 10 anything like nor
NAL conditions during the next fiscal
! year. II is safe TO predict that the
1 deficit would be entirely wiped out,
I but in case IL is not the bill provides
/ for the issue of Panama canal bonds
sthe treasury for the
$40 Gee. 900 paid out in the original
purchase or the canal. This would
more than make up any probable de-
/ ficiency There Is also re-enacted the
provision for the issue OF certificates
to run one year to replenish che treas
ury. raising the amount from one hun
dred million To two hundred and Nifty
million dollars, an amount sufficient
to provide al any time against TWO or
three years Of depressed business con
ditlons.
Duties Increased on luxuries.
The committee have transferred
some articles from the free list TO the
dutiahlc. and have increased duties on
others for the sole purpose of increas-
ing the revenue. Most OF these artl-
cles an which duties have been in
1 creased ne iuxuries.
The steel and lumber schedules are
cut 90 per cent. The tariff on boots
and shoes Is reduced 40 per cent and
other leather manufactures In pro-
portion. The tariff on wool of the
first and second class used for cloth
ing Is not disturbed, but is reduced on
the cheaper grades. Recommends
tons for placing wood pulp on the
free list and reducing the duties on
print paper. with certain restrictions.
as made by the Mann committee OF
the house, are Incorporated in the bill
\ cut OF 5-l00 OF cent pound was
made OH refined sugar. On Deytrin
a reduction OF II cent pound was
made
NO Dutq on Coffee.
\ There was no duty imposed on cof-
fee. Tea, however, is taxed eight
n cents when imported from the coun-
try where Il Is produced and nine
cents when from other ,:ian tue pro-
dJcing countries.