The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1909-08-19
CRAWFORD AND
BURKE EXPLAIN
THE TARIFF BILL PASSED BY
CONGRESS.
UNSATISFACTORY IN PART
BUT ON THE WHOLE THE BILL
is A COMMENDABLE ONE.

| fleTTe, WHO mas just returned lTOlIl
Washington, gives his views OH the
new tariff law as follows:
81 believe" said Mr.. Burke, that
it is the best bill that could have
been produced at this time and under
the present circumstances. I do not
claim that it is a perfect bill or that
there are not many things l would
like to see changed in it, but with
the conflicting interests of different
sections of the country, it was impos-
sible to get more than a compromise
measure 1t is on the whole, good
bill, and l believe it will bring prosper
| ity to the country. When the people
get to understand what the bill is,
believe they will see that it is good
measure on the whole. 1t is a vast
improvement on the former tariff law
The general sentiment in Washington
is that it is good bill and the best
that could have been produced at this
time.
"The spirit in which the measure
was framed can best be illustrated by
the duty on pineapples. This is a
coming industry in Florida, and the
two senators from that state tried to
increase the duty on pineapples 1928
per cent to protect against the Cuban
competition. The two senators from
Maryland however, wanted just as low
a duty on pineapples as could be sc
cured, as Maryland is the home of
the concerns that can most of the
pineapples. Here we have senators
within the same party diametrically
opposed, and all because of local in
terests The Democrats succeeded in
increasing this duty in the senate,
though it was cut out in conference.
II think the insurgents would have
been more consistent if they had vot-
ed to reduce the duties on industries
in their own states as well as duties
on products produced in other parts
of the United States. For example,
there is the barley duty. The Payne
bill proposed too great reduction,
from 80 cents to Is cents. The con
gressmen from the barley states op.
posed this and secured an increase to
"a cents. Nevertheless, in the sen.
ate it was put back to 80 cents, the
Dingley rate. Still, everyone knows
that "a cents would have been abun.
dant protection.
'If it were not for the senate
changes could be made in the tariff
from time to time without opening the
whole subject. The house could put
through an amendment to the tariff
bill. affecting only a single schedule
However, the senate could retain only
the title and enacting cause and re
port a whole new tariff bill.
However, it would be almost neces
sary to have the suggestions of a
tariff commission, to make such chang
es from time to time would it not?
"Well, a commission can make mis-
takes" the congressman answered
However, no doubt it would be of
. real assistance"
Senator Coe I. Crawford of Huron
in an interview has the following to
} say of the new law:
} although the bill is by no means
as | would have it, I am glad that the
matter is settled. The business af
fairs of the country which have been
held in suspension will now be able
to settle down and general PROCESS
J will once more be established
J "While there are many schedules
not as we desired, yet there are a
number Of features in the bill for
| which we fought, and won, and which
} will prove of great benefit to the peo
pie. I believe that prosperity is &c
follow the passage of the bill.
, "The problems entering into the
making of a tariff bill are little un
derstood by people in general. There
: are upwards of 1000 details which
enter into the bill. Zach detail re
} quired an immense amount of discus
sion and aroused many conflicting
: ideas which had to be settled.
"The placing of the tariff upon tan
: ming bark offers a good example oI
, this fact. The great amount of this
is shipped in from South America
The leather manufacturers through
their senator's, made strong attempt
| to take the tariff Off this article. In
Carolina and Virginia tanning bark
is also raised, and Senator Daniels ol
} Virginia, maGe an eloquent attempt
} to place heavy duty upon the pro
} duct in order to protect his constitu
ents. Thus it was throughout. Party
lines were lost entirely in the settle
} ment of the hundreds Of shedules and