New-York tribune., 1909-07-05
THE TARIFF TO DATE
MEASURE LACKS LITTLE
OF COMPLETION.
Nay Pass Senate Thursday-Sig-
nifcant Uterdnces Of Party
Leaders an Last Week.
From The rrIhune Bureau. ]

LeddPrS an Last " PeH.
From The Tribune Bureau
Washington. July 4.-Last week, the fifteenth
OF the consideration of the tariff bill, witnessed
most gratifying progress and brought the close
of the Senate's deliberations on the measure
well into sight. The Taft proposition for tax
on the net income of corporations was adopted
after debate lasting only four and half days
The maximum and minimum provision OF the
Finance Committee which also enjoyed the ap-
proval of the President was adopted with
single DAYS consideration. The Finance Com
mittee's provision for a tariff commission, held
by many TO be OF the most important pro-
visions in the bill. was adopted as part OF the
maximum and minimum provision. and unari-
nous consent obtained for a vote at
O'Clock tomorrow on the Joint resolution pro-
posing 10 the states amendment 10 the Con-
stitution authorizing Congress TO Impose tax
on individual incomes. The remaining admins
trative features Of the bill contain only three
provisions which are believed likely to excite
discussion. They for customs court, tile
limitation of drawbacks and the establishment
of a new method Of appraisng goods imported
on consignment. The leaders predict the pas
sage of the bill by the Senate not later than
Thursday and practically all expect ii to pass
the Senate within the week.
The debate the corporation tax provision
notable for Senator Roots lucid legal argu-
ment in its support. 1t was Mr.. Roots first
long speech in the Senate and was highly
praised even by those who rejected his conclu-
sions. When the corporation tax amendment
was reached the leaders, by clever manlpula-
ton Of the Senate rules placed it in a position
where ii could not be amended, thus demon
strating their determination to keep faith with
the President, and when. on Friday, the meas
ure came to a vote it was supported by sixty
Senators. eleven opposing, and a number, IN
cluding one Republican. Mr.. Beverdge. and sew
eral Democrats, absenting themselves or re-
framing from voting. The size of the afiirma-
tive vote completely disposed Of the report
never credited in well Informed circles but
nevertheless receiving wide circulation. that MI
AIdrich and his associates on the conference
committee purposed TO substitute for the cor
poration tax the House provision for an In
heritance tax when the bin reached the confer
ence stage.
THE PRESIDENTS VIEWS.
Although not part of the actual tartf debate.
an important occurrence in connection with it
was the definition by the President of his views
regarding special taxation. which appeared IN
The Tribune OF Friday. and in which Mr.. lait
made it clear that he was sincerely IN favor OF
the proposed income tax amendment: that ne
deemed important some form OF direct taxa
toin which would be levied on all earning nv
ing wage so that all might be brought to
realization of their responsibility TO and for the
government and that he regarded a graduated
income tax beginning with incomes OF Sl'-oo
year and over as the most practical form of
such tax the rate to increase with the amount
Of the income. The President also made 1t clear
although in his estimation his message had al
ready done so that he favored the corporation
tax not merely as an expedient with which TO
dispose of the income tax proposed in the Sen
ate but as the first step in system or federal
supervision Of all corporations. an extension OF
which he would urge in his first annual mes
sage.
It would perhaps be a rash assertion TO say
that the President expects the tariff to be re-
vised again in the future. but 1t is a fact
that he realizes the possibility OF such a Ihlils
and &c exerting his influence to prevent the
necessity OF the work having to be undertaken
in any but the most systematic manner In
this connection the utterance of Mr. Root, who
is in thorough sympathy with the President,
made in his corporation tax speech, Is OF pc
cular interest Urging the advisability OF led
eral knowledge Of the business OF corporations
Mr. Root said:
We have been here for more than three months
considering and discussing and voting upon liie
measure OF protection that ii Is necessary 10
l-i,,o in order To keep alive and prosperous the
business Of tens and hundreds OF thouSahus "
corporations engaged in manufacture ana lIauo %
affected by the protective tariff. what 90 we
know about those corporations Upon one mana
we have garbled and partial statements uioii
the other equally garbled and partial state
,uents- and ne means OF DISTINGUISHING IiiS
truth We are under the necessity OF proceeu-
inf, nv gIesswork by conjecture, always win
dissatisfaction, because we recognize the chahce
-. may ha guessed
statements come nearest to the truth
I should like 10 see in the once OF Ihe 'oiii
missioner Of Internal Revenue the next tIihe q
,orirf hin comes before Congress statements
,,rder oath and tested year by year, ABOUT lhe
business of all these vast multtudes OF corpora
tions that come appealing to us mere TOT TOT @ MP,
co that we shall not again be compelled 10 come
"a the conclusion that all the business OF the
Tnited states is the brink Of failure.
A CHAIN OF UTTERANCE.
This statement must be taken II coiileo'o
NTH the Presidents earnest representations 10
the Senate leaders that they must so Irtihe liio
ta~ief commission provision as TO clothe him
- o,,+toritv 70 acquire completely and accu-
ra+a,,, eucb information as Will make intelligent
,,-;o,, Of the tariff possible So. also, must be
-, ,,,o ,,t+erance of the Secretary of the
1-.s,,-,. on June > In a speech which had the
anttra apnroval OF the President that he eH-
,ac+ad tho tariff revision would be such as 10
sa+iefv the people of the Middle West But II
they are not made satisfied, then the tarln ques-
ton will unfortunately, not be out OF the way
o,d we will not have rest, and We will not have
clear field for currency reform 1t Is sug-
,,es+ad that these constitute a chain Of utter
a,oas vrbicb cannot be without its significance.
This is not of course, effort TO interpret the
words of the President and his advisers ana as
sociates. but such statements coming from the
r1rlaip XgeaR