Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-04-15
IMPROVING THE TARIFF BILL.

The Payne tariff bill was a long step
in the right direction, and now, ac-
cording to advices from Washington.
the Senate proposes to take action in
tended to still further improve the
measure as n consumers tariff. In
by the report of Senator Aldrich,
chairman of the Senate committee on
finance. proposes to make whatever
! increases 1t DEGREES on luXuries. when
are the necessities of the rich. and
lower the tariff, wherever this can he
done wisely on the necessities of the
poor.
The chief aim of the Senate finance
committee has been to frame popu-
| lar tariff bill one to suit the greatest
number of people and serve to perpet-
ua'e the domination of the Republican
party, according to the Washington
correspondent of the New York World.
Close attention has been given to the
breakfast table and the clothes worn
by the plain people. The intention
has been to make It cheaper to eat
and dress comfortably in the future
than the past.
The administrative features of the
bin, including the maximum and min
imum authorization. are not in tho
bill as reported. These will be franz
cd up by the committee while the bin
Is under discussion. and sent to Pre- 81
don't Taft and Attorney General Wick
ersham for approval.
1t is intended to make the Senate
as a whole share the responsibility
for the new tariff bill and for that
reasons some of the schedules are
reported exactly as they appear in the
Payne BILL with a statement that the
committee has reached no conclusion
on them. This means that they may
be materially changed, although the
figures have not yet been fixed.
Among the items thus reserved ara
steel rails, wood pulp. hides and oil. Coal
| was W tIit liSl ana lllt uuly OF
c. cents a ton on coal and slack is
now in the bill as reported. although
the committee will ultimately make n
substantial reduction. The committee
will finally be controlled by the tread
Of sentiment in the Senate as indicated
by the debate.
| T1,n I t,li
ter shape now than when the Payne
bill was offered. The aim Of the fin
ance committee has been to make tho
necessaries of life more accessible to
the poor. Coffee, tea and cocoa arc
on the free list. 1t is almost certain
that friends Of TIN syndicate which
warehouses of New York, from which
it was expected to realize 100000 900
profit when tax of cents a pound
was proposed. will make n determined
effort to tax coffee through an amend
ment, but it is probable that this
proposition will be voted down with
Provisions of all kinds and agricul-
tural products are left about the same
, as in the Dingley bill. The duties on
all manufactured food products have
been materially reduced Those who
, care to eat imported cheeses. sauces
and other articles of diet can more
= | ,I, 70 do No change has
been made In the rates on dut!abie
5 sugars.
I The cost Of dressing for plain peo-
t pie will not be greater than hereto
fore. No changes have been made. in
woods and woolens from the Dinghy
s. bill. Japanese silks will be trife
more expensive. The rates on silks
have been raised to protect the Con
/ necticut makers against the rapidly
: increasing importations from Japan
The American women will rejoice 70
learn that stockings and gloves Will
remain precisely the same as at pres
ent, no change being made from the
Dingley act. Boots and shoes may be
f a little cheaper. but no higher.
= Ordinary crockery and chlnaware
will be more expensive. The rates or
y, Limoges and Haviland china. the only
= kinds now taxed, will be changed hui
= little. The cost OF tables. chairs and
- furniture will be no higher. The sen
4 timent in the Senate Is two TO ono
d against free lumber and as result
of the debate 1t is possible the rate
may be put back where 1t Is now un
n der the Dingley act. The Payne bill
A made a reduction OF so per cent. senn
d tor Aldrich declares that there woul'
= :, be no lower prices for furniture ever
IS IL lumber were put on the free list
e There will be no advance in prices 70
u carpets, rugs and similar articles.
n As for tho rich. they must pay thu
= fiddler. Champagnes and all kinds o
l. imported wines have been selected n
sources OF raising revenue. The rate
- have been boosted to a marked degree
IS averaging general Increase Of q
per cent. over the figures in the Pawn
bill All the heavy increases on oes