New-York tribune., 1909-04-02
SENATE TARIFF BATTLE
-1TDRICH Bears BRUNT
OF ITT1Ck.
H'au Cleared for Prompt Consider
alton of Payne Blk Changes
Planned by Committee.
rrror1 The Trihune Rurean7

washington. April 1.-The Senate to-day
cleared the decks for expeditions consideration
n the tariff bill After nearly three hours of
s,so,,ssion the Democratic programme of OBJ
..-,ction and political embarrassment was
.bandoned and the Republican leaders
-,ained in full command. An adjournment was
-atsn ur.n Monday and the Republican MEM
he-e IF the Finance Committee resumed con
s,5eration Of the Payne bill in their own way
and without Democratic assistance Inciden
,arv. to-days battle makes clear the fact that
+be minority party is stin in a hopeless search
for the ties that bind and that the leadership
Of senator Aldrich is potential ever
First the Senate decided that business
eroent the tariff bill and the census bill should
he considered at this session Of Congress After
-bis forward step had been taken. two hours
wsre devoted t. debate the Bacon resoiu-
ZION providing that the minority members of the
Finance Committee be permitted 10 sit with the
majority of that committee to assist in the
cross-examination of witnesses When the
nsrnocrats had finished their criticism of the
methods Of the Finance Committee in handling
The tariff bill and Mr.. Aldrich had replied with
some spirit to a political speech by Senator
Rayner. the Bacon resolution was referred to
the Finance Committee. Later in the afternoon
ur sldrich called q meeting OF the committee
far II o'clock tomorrow morning At that
time he will explain 10 the minority Senators
more fully than he did to-day just what the
majority of the committee is doing He will
reneat his statement that no hearings are being
held and that all the testimony given by the eX-
perts together with all the correspondence re
ceivei by him or the committee, is at the dis
posal Of the Democrats if they care to exam
inc il
MAY BE HIGHER INHERITANCE TAX.
The trend Of sentiment in the Finance Com
uittee is now setting strongly toward not only
retaining the inheritance tax provision Of the
Payne BILL but increasing the percentages;
toward retaining tea on the free list the House |
committee having decided TO strike off the duty;
toward leaving the cOuntervailing duty off |
coffee and toward augmenting the revenue |
producing power Of the bill by increasing the |
taxes on beer and tobacco.
While the leaders insist that no definite de- |
cisions have been reached regarding the in /
heritance. beer and tobacco rates. it is known |
that they believe the steps outlined viii be nee /
essary in order to obtain sufficient revenue to /
carry on the government. There is. as has been /
told in these dispatches, opposition to the in
heritance tax because of the fact that many
states impose such TAX. On the other hand. +
there some powerful arguments which will /
be advanced in its favor. and il will be
the Senate. l per cent on each classification.
added TO the state tax. there will be hard /
ship. as the tax viii fall on those best able TO /
bear il. From a political point Of view, more
over, the imposition Of such a tax is regarded /
judicious The Senate leaders are not alto
gether cheerful over the prospect that they viii
have 20 impose this tax, but they regard it as
the least Of the evils which confront them, for
they have failed to sHerve the President from
hi
yielding too little revenue Il urge the adoption
Of some form OF income tax.
The manifestly widespread unpopularity Of
duties tea and coffee furnishes the incentive
for opposing those imposts, and the President
has not hesitated warn the leaders that in
his judgment the voters would seriously resent
them On the ether hand. there is criticism OF
the Payne bill because it fails 10 increase the
lax or beer and deals so lightly with tobacco
The number Of people who regard both of these
commodities not only Iuxuries. but per-
nicious is constantly increasing, as is shown by
The progress Of the prohibition movement and
lhe varied and extensive legislation whereby
states have sought TO place obstacles in the
way Of the sale Of cigarettes and il is argued
that increased taxes on both would command
The general approval Of voters.
Following the adjournment of the Senate this
afternoon the Finance Committee spent nearly
three hours in discussing the free list para
graphs Of the Payne bill. Several Senators ap-
pesred with constituents who desired a few
words with the committee minor paragraphs
81 The bill. and they were heard briefly Up TO
me present time there has been complete har-
ineny among the Republican members Of the
Flnence Committee While they have not been
~ accord on every proposition discussed, the
nhieFenoes Of opinion On essentials have not
peeh marked Progress has been so rapid that
'le senate leaders are becoming anxious that
Nie house shall take early action on the PAYNE
'i'- II the bill passes the House on April 9. as
nov seems probable, the Senate leaders believe
y "ili De possible for the Finance Conn Gee to
''psf' The substitute on April II
Inc Democrats to-day expected some aif and
o'atof' from Senators Scott and Elkins who
4.N N The week indicated that they were dis
= u @ WITH the way the majority members ol
W Haafee Committee are proceeding The
virginia Senators were present. but
- nc disposition To assist in pulling Demo
eAestnuts from the fire
Mr. ALDRlcH DEFENDS PROTECTION.
VOaoy the most notable feature Of the de-
:, S&s an eXtemDoraneous speech in defence
49,. protective system made by Senator
,,.,a, -" IA sepiy 10 Senator Rayner The latter
- tne Republican policy as being inimical
public Rclfare Hc spoke Of star cham
proceedings" and declared that every Wit
,, :. no 40 went before the Republican members
n, ii'aiice Committee was q representative.
"a, i interests and an enemy OF the Amerl-
cr,t.s Nj RiHner referred to the I
sna maze on Monday by Senator Elkins.
,ss,. 'ia' Wheh the Republicans were "di
- me p'hnder' Ihey should be fair with one
a sin a.