Evening star., 1909-05-08
TELLS OF ITS HARD WORK
Burkett Says People Cannot Be
Fooled on Schedules.
WATCHING TARIFF DISCUSSION
Bristow Opposes the Increase on Pig
Lead-Testimony Of Witnesses
Attacked and Defended.

AS soon as the tariff bill was taken up
by the Senate today and section $50. plac-
ing duty of 2is cents a pound on pig
lead, was read. Senator Bristow arose TO
oppose the increase from Ia cents .
pound. as provided in the House bill Say
ing the increased ratio would make IT equal
to the rate OF the Dingiey bill. Mr.. Bris-
tow read from tariff hearings held by the
ways and means committee 10 show that
it was there contended that this increase.
if made, would necesstate an increase OF
duties ON other ingredients that are used
in making paint He argued that the
House had been judicious in its action.
TT makes no difference what the House
did from time to time said Mr. Aldrich.
interrupting: I'VE are here TO do justice
to this industry in view OF the facts OF
this case"
He added that Mr.. Leishberger. from
whose testimony Mr.. Bristow read. was
trying to break down the whole ieao
schedule"
The facts stated by this witness are
the important things" interposed Mr.
Beveridge ''and II makes no dinerencs
what his personal views are on the tarin
or on aeroplanes. We are here 10 know
the facts and IL Mr.. Leishbergers tesu-
mony is not true we should know IL.
Mr.. Smoot remarked that Mr.. Leishber-
ger was q smeter and purchaser or
lead and MIR. Bristow retorted by deciar-
ing 'The purchaser of lead has some
rights as well as the men VINO nave ieao
for sale
Mr.. Bristow contended that the differ
entail provided by the duty recommended
by the committee on finance on pig iead
was greater than the cost of smelling ana
unWarranted.
Witness Attacked and Defended.
The reading Of the testimony OF Mr..
Brush of the American Smelling ana
Refining Company provoked colleagues
among senator's. during which Senators
Smoot and Smith tMich) suggested that
the witness was Influenced by his Mex
ican interests and by the interests or his
general business so that his testimony
should not be taken as satisfactory.
Saying he could not sit still and hear
these statements in silence, Senator Root
declared that he knew Mr.. Brush, and
had every confidence in anything he
should say. He was liable. he said. TO De
affected in his views. in his opinions. by
his interests. as all men. but. he SAID.
Whatever he says, whether or not under
oath, / am certain he says what he nom
estly believes"
Lack Of Hearings Denounced.
After some Interruptions. during one
OF which Mr.. Nelson expressed surprise
..at the excessive zeal and eagerness
against any man who has anything to
say on the subject" Mr.. Burkett (Neb)
which the committee on finance had pre-
pared it's tariff bill without having hear
ings.
Business men," he said. have had to
come here chasing senators up and down
these corridors in an effort TO get a
hearing"
Insisting further that hearings should
have been held, he continued: THE coun-
Ill
think the people are not watching IL.
But you cannot fool them on these sched-
ules-on lumber, wire, nails. steel and
Iron. They know about these things,
and II we are to go out and defend the
bill 1t seems to me we ought to have In
print the evidence of men who do know
about these things, and ought not to be
left to grope about in the darkness. as
we have had to do"
He declared that sometimes not even
quorum of the committee on finance
was on hand in the Senate to give in
formation and insisted that whenever he
should feel justified he would vote to
lower the duties on articles that ap-
peared to be too high. There ought not.
he said. to be impatience on the part Of
members OF the committee on finance.
II appreciate the fact that business
interests are in a hurry to have this
legislation concluded. but there are a
whole lot OF people who are more inter-
ested in having this bill made right than
In having 1t finished in hurry. and I.
for one am willing to stay here all
summer to make II absolutely right
Replying to Senator Aldrich, Mr.. Burk-
EFT said, with great earnestness, that TX
the Senate should stay in session until
every senator should understand every
schedule in the bill they would not only
be here all summer. but for ten years.
Mr.. Aldrich Replies.
The republican members of the COM
mittee on finance, Mr.. Aldrich said, had
worked sixteen or eighteen hours daily
in framing their amendments to the tariff
bill. A vast number of people had called
on members of the committee. and F3
out of every 1000 OF them had come TO
obtain increases in the duties In which
they were interested.
The senator from Nebraska he con-
tinued, talks about the consumers not
being represented before the committee
on finance Who are the consumers? Is
there any class except very limited
number who are consumers and not pro-
ducers? Are they better entitled TO more
than anybody else?. The
consumers of Nebraska are more inter
ested in the preservation OF the protective
system than they are in any other public
policy which is involved In the work or
Congress"
The property Of the people OF Nebraska.
as of the country generally, depended. he
said upon the maintenance OF the pro-
tectiye tariff Il have seen productions
of Nebraska and other agricultural states
mount wear by year until the increasing
cost of living in this country Is owing al
most entirely to the increase In the price