The Topeka state journal., 1909-03-11
New Tariff Bill to Be Intro
duced When Congress Meets.
Places Iron Ore on the Free
List, But Little Else.
NO CHANGE IN SUGAR.
Lumber Rate Is Expected to Be
Placed Higher.
Revision Generally Is on
Downward Scale.

| Washington, March 1.-THE new
| tariff bill which will be submitted to
the house by the ways and means COM
mittee will contain these recon-
! mendations: Lead and copper, no
| change; sugar, no change; iron ore,
| placed on free list; rails and billets,
substantially reduced; pig iron, 25
per cent reduction; textiles, graduated
tariff; on high grade cotton and silk
goods an increased tax; on medium
grade, no change. on low grade, a re-
! duced tariff.
! Speaker Cannon and Representative
Vreeland conferred with the Re-
publican members of the ways and
means committee regarding the pro-
visions of the new tariff bill. The
strict secrecy that has prevailed in the
committee was maintained but it was
understood that the new features of
the bill, the new provision reviving
the war revenue tax and the in
heritance tax section, were thoroughly
explained to the speaker.
Mr. Cannon desires to become
thoroughly familiar with the tariff
measure in order to speed its passage
through the house in accordance with
the understanding reached at the
White House conference of Monday.
In order to compensate, in a measure,
for the general reduction of duties
contained in the bill, the sub-com-
mittee has incorporated several pro-
visions which are expected to in
crease the revenue. The provisions
tend to prevent under valuations and
other. methods by which the am
biguity of the Dingley law is taken
advantage of.
To prevent the practice by which
goods imported are not assessed at
their full value. the committee has in
corporated a provision which VIII
make it possible for the appraiser to
n
the wholesale market prices here in
connection with the wholesale prices
at the point of production abroad.
Crooked Practices.
During the tariff hearing several in
stances were brought to the attention
of the committee in which importers
combined a purchase of two lots of
goods, one of greater and the other of
lesser value, and secured an invoice
by which the duty which would be
paid on the goods of lesser value, was
secured for the entire shipment. These
conditions are to be remedied by the
new bill and the committee believes
that the revenue will be considerably
increased.
The proposition to place a duty on
coffee is understood to be matter
concerning which there is much diff
ference of opinion among the mem
bers of the committee. AS the bill
stands now, a tax OF four Genus per
pound is provided for.
1t is understood the duty on lum- |
ber, while at present fixed at one dol |
lar, is likely to be increased. This is !
due to the active campaign which the +
lumber men have been making. 1t is
claimed for the Payne tariff that it is
correct, theoretically and while it will
afford the best basis from which to .
evolve the new tariff law. it is ex-
pected that many changes Will be
made before it is finally enacted. The {
revision throughout the bill is down
ward, the revenue and protection fea-
lures governing the fixing of all the
schedules.
Representative Fordney of Michigan
has stood out for the highest pro-
lection, while Representative Crum-
packer of Indiana has favored the
CIV Va.) and Bonynge (Col) have
advocated high protection while the
chairman. Mr.. Payne, and Mr.. Boutelle
Gu.), Mccall (Mass-) and Longworth
other members, Representatives Hill
(Conn.) Needham (Cal), Dalzell
(Penn.) and Calderhead (Kan.),
favored protection for the interests of
their constituents, but have generally
been open to compromise.
Many Are Worried.
With the Payne tariff bill practi-
"a lily in readiness to be introduced on
the first day of the special session,
correspondents anxious to
learn WnaC mas Deen QOHS Will ScL0Q-
lles affecting the section in which
heir papers circulate and manufac-
.urers and others who have interests
hat will be affected by the new meas
1re, gather daily at the ways and
means committee room in an effort to
earn something regarding the new
bill No legislative measure has been
so carefully guarded as the document
1ow being framed.
The proposition that has given the
committee the most concern and I
which has been the most difficult to
determine is the plan to tax coffee.
Some Republican members declare
hat the taxing of the breakfast table
would make it impossible for the Re
1ublicans to carry their districts at the
lext election. The National Coffee and
rea association wrote to committee
hat a tax on coffee or tea would be
o trade, irritating to the masses and
inally will fail to produce any ma :
erial revenue to the government for /
learly two years to come.
"A duty of five cents upon coffee !
would mean an immediate profit of at :
east $3.50 per bag upon every bag in
he United States to the owners there
IL is the claim made in the brief.
There being nearly 1000. 600 bags at 4
present held here by individuals. cor !
,orations and Wall street speculative
interests. such a duty would mean a
,rofit of s26. .O0O. 900 to the owners and ,
,olders thereof, but it would not mean
me dollar paid into the United States I
reasury-"
Paper Men Scared. II
Paper and pulp manufacturers
lave expressed great alarm over the
eport that the committee would in
.lude in the bill the changes in the ]
,uIp paper schedule recommended in {
he report of the Mann committee