Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1909-05-20

doubt and beyond all chance Of
lodging.
Statisticians say that on every
article there is a maximum revenue
producing rate, varying according to
the character of the article. For
instance, rate on steel and iron
which would be a revenue producer
would prove in operation to be pro-
hibitive if applied to pottery, because
of the breakage and hazards of trans
portation in the latter case.
1t is safe to say that on the theory
of levying tariff for the purpose of
producing the maximum of revenue,
rather than of protecting great in
the rates in the Payne bill could be
so arranged as to raise from $4,000
600 to $600,000,O00 per annum with
out costing the American people one
penny more than the Payne bill will
cost them. The rates of the Payne
bill could be on that theory rearrang-
ed so as to raise $500, 100000 at the
same time costing the people not
more than one-half the amount they
must pay under the Payne bill But
what Mr.. BouteH of Illinois, felicit-
ously calls the ultimate consumer"
appears to have been completely lost
sight of by the trainers of the Payne
bill. Perhaps he may make his in
huence felt later on.
Neither the Payne bill as it passed
the House nor the Aldrich bill as re-
ported to the Senate cures the def
cheney in the revenues True that Mr..
Chairman Payne, in his report accom-
panying his bill figured out a small
surplus; but on investigation it turn
ed out that he had left out of his cal
culationS the annual deficiency bills.
When these are added, the upshot is
that the Payne bill with all if it's ex-
horbitant and cruel rates still leaves
an annual deficiency of some $4,000
600.
- How is that. to be remedied? By
issuing bonds in times of profound
peace, a performance of which the
American people are not greatly en-
amoured and to which, Judging the
future by the past. they will not take
very kindly. The fact that the Repub-
licans are preparing to issue bonds is
demonstrated by the provision in the
Payne bill to increase the annual au-
thorization of one year 8 per cent
bonds from 100000, 900 to $3.50, 000,0 900,
consideration by the American people
who must pay the piper in the wild
dance of extravaganza conducted as
a continuous performance by the Re-
publican magnates. The childish de-
vice of calling Bonds Certificates"
does not change their character at all.
/ have already stated that, as intro
duced, the Payne bill increased the
average of ad valorem rates above
those of the Dingley bill by 1.56 per
cent. To this should be added the in
crease of 20 per cent. in Mr.. Payne's
scheme for maximum and minimum
tariff and the 10 per cent. increase of
duties where goods are imported in
foreign bottoms, as most of them are.
So that the prospects are that finally
the Payne rates will be in the neigh
borhood of 20 per cent. higher than
the Dingley rates on the average
which is revision downward with
vengeance! It may be-let us hope
for the sake of the ultimate consumer
that it will be-that the Aldrich Bill
will cut down the exhorbitant rates of
the Payne bill. 1t must be confessed,
however, that there is nothing in SEN
ator Aldrich's career to justify such
hope.
1t should be stated as truth of his
tory that the improvements made in
the Payne bill betwixt its introduction
and passage in the House were due to
the efforts of the Democrats, aided by
a few patriotic Republicans. Almost
every change for the better was rec
commended in the Democratic minority
report and advocated by Democrats in
speeches on the floor. Consequently
the Democrats and the little band of
patriotic Republicans should have the
credit instead of Messrs. Payne ct al,
who were driven into the concessions
made.
Another thing is worth stating in
this connection. We are at a great
disadvantage in the matter of news
papers. The vast majority of them
are against us. Consequently we are
constantly misrepresented. 1t is given
out day in and day out that the Demo-
Gratis are all split and the Republicans
solid as a rock. Yet, on my motion
to recommit, which motion will be
found OF. examination to be pretty
good Democratic platform, we lost
only four votes, while the Republicans
lost one, more nearly unanimously
Democratic vote than has been cast on
any tariff bill in a generation. By
some queer accident those encourag-
ing facts have escaped the eyes of
those sap1ent scribes who can see dis
Interrogation in the Democratic ranks
as far as an eagle can see its quarry,
but who are as blind as a belfry full
of bats to the disintefration in the
Republican ranks.
If anybody denies the disintegra-
ton in the Republican ranks let him
ponder these facts: /. The widely-her
aided split among Democrats in the
fight for more liberal rules March Is
consisted of % Democrats voting with
the Republicans, but at the same time
81 Republicans voted with us. Now,
it must be conceded that 81 is a great
er number than 20. 2. Again, that
same day, every Democratic member
present, except myself, voted for me
for Speaker, while twelve Republican