The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-02
AIdrich Announces That No
 Time Must Be Lost
LODGE DEFENDS THE TARIFF
Senator Undertakes to Show That 1t Had Been the Policy of His Party to Uphold Protection Against
 Cheap Foreign Labor

Washington. June 1.-After in effect re- ceivng information from Chairman AL drich that beginning with tomorrow night, 1t would be expected to hold night sessions for consideration of the tariff bill, the Sen ate began consideration of the cotton cloth schedule. This portion of the bill had been passed over upon the first read ing, with the understanding that many amendments to 1t would be offered, and that much time would be necessary for its discussion. The first day did not fall short of a justification Of this suppostion.
 There were not many speeches but those that were made were of considerable length. Senators Shoot and Lodge, both of them majority members of the com mittee on finance, were the principal or ators of the day and both spoke in sup port of the committee provisions. The Utah senator entered upon technical presentation of the entire subject, reach. ing the conclusion that the Senate bill does not in reality increase the duties contemplated by the Dingley law. He undertook, however, to show that by the various rulings of the customs authorities these duties had been reduced to the eX- tent of an average of 20 per cent. It was the purpose of the committee to carry into effect the existing law He declared that the committee had been influenced by neither the manufacturers nor the inn porters
 Cotton Schedule.
 Senator Lodge gave especial attention to the cotton schedule, but incidentally spoke of the general policy of the repub- liean party in regard to the subject of tariff revision. He contended that there had been no intention of revising the tariff downward, but that the purpose of the party had been merely to so revise the tariff as to protect American manufac- turers against cheap foreign labor. He declared that New England factories were returning only small dividends to their owners, and traced the general increase in the price of commodities to the enlarged volume of gold in the country, rather than to the advantages accruing from the protective system. He explained at length the process of mercerization in order to show that the protective rate allowed for this process was not excessive.
 Early in the day Senator Deliver took exception to remark by Senator All drich. The Iowa senator had offered an amendment to the COllOn SCntuult ploN Nih- ing for ad valorem rather than specific duties. whereupon MT Aldrich made in cidental reference to senators 'who come here with importers briefs" MT Dolli- yer made sharp reply, but when Mir AL drich explained that he had not meant any reflection, calm was restored and business proceeded with serenity
 Later the senator from Iowa said TO- factions upon his course had come from haI, ind ba n fba fin1nc0 POmmif- tee. This was said in response to a de- fense by Senator Root of the board of gen eral appraisers to which reference had been made by MT. Deliver.
 At 5:05 D. m. the Senate adjourned until 1030 a. m. tomorrow.
 The House was in session only 13 min utes, adiourning until Thursday without transacting any business.
 Lodges Exhibit.
 Processes of mercerization were the sub ject of complete demonstration by Sen ator Lodge when he displayed on his desk a great variety of fabrics Illustrating just what mercerizaton will do for cotton yarn and cotton goods.
 Citing comments on the tariff by prom inent republican speakers and declara- tions of the platform at the last national republican convention to show that there was no pledge of a revision of customs duties downward, MT. Lodge undertook to show that 1t had been the policy of the party to uphold protection as an off- set to cheap foreign labor.
 "In point of fact said MT Lodge, the revision on which we are engaged is a revision downward. There have been 379 reductions as compared with the Dingley law and 33 increases.
 ..They are driving out of markets much of the silk goods formerly brought to our markets
 Earnings of 6.6 per cent shown to be the average of A New England mills during the last 20 years, MT. Lodge de- clared A fair example of the earnings of the New England cotton mills. These figures were given to meet charges that cotton manufacturers had made enormous earnings.
 Dividends of Mills.
 Quoting statements of dividends of mills in Great Britain, which he said were greater than those of the New England mills. MT. Lodge declared large earnings are not always found in protected coun- try. Some of the large dividends quoted by senators ass being paid by cotton mills the Massachusetts senator said re- suited from real estate holdings or from exceptional good fortune in buying cot ton or in the sale of special goods that happened to catch the public fancy. The great fortunes he said had not been made in New England or in New England in- dustries.
 Referring to advances in prices. MT. Lodge said a great influence to that end is overlooked in discussions. The addi- ton of $2O000,0o0 annually to the gold currency, he said, accounted for much of this advance in prices. In l3 years the gold coinage in this country had in- creased 50 per cent.
 ..You cheapen your standard of value and that means an advance in the prices of commodities measured by this stan dard,'' he said.
 Defense By Root
 Senator Root defended the board of appraisers of New York against critl- cisms for taking part in the framing of