The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1909-05-07
CUMM|NS SOUNDS
NOTE OF WARNING
Iowa Senator Says Bill Now
Framed Will Not Settle
Tariff Question.
PUBLIC WILL REFUSE
TO STAND THE BURDEN
Notable Address, Filled With
Striking Statements, ArOuscs
Much Interest.

| WASHINGTON, May G.-Prcdicting
that failure to pass tariff bill pro
| viding lower duties on imports would
! provoke political contest for another
revision Of thc tariff. Senator Cummins
| of Iowa delivered notable speech in
| the senate today. 'Thc bill now be
! fore us, said Mr. Cummins "will not
bc accepted by those who have ia
vored revision OF the tariff as either
ful6llmcnt of the party pledge or as
| a settlement Of the controversy. If
| this bill, or anything substantially like
! it, becomes law, ] predict that Il
| campaign for lower duties will begin
| the moment the extraordinary session
! of congress adjourns, and will continue
! with incrcasi ing zeal until the Judgment
| entered in the court of public con
| science is also entered in the journals
J of congress.
ct gives me no pleasure to utter
I this prophecy, for ] have earnestly
( hoped the revision now in progress
. would end the dispute for years 10
/ como. and that the business Of the
I country would en- Joy the peace aud
! ira anquility which is impossible during
/ the existence of movement materially
( 10 change duties upon imports.
Millions Want Relief
I - have heard it said over and over
I since VIC bagan this discussion, nor. of
! course, in public debates. but in private
! conversation. that there are hut few
| people. comparatively, who were inter
I estcd in reduction Of duties [ know
u
clamoring for an increase Of custom
house taxation are more distinctly
heard in the corridors and committee
rooms, but there viii conc time pres
emily when The clamor Of the millions
who want relief will sound like the
roar of II thousand Niagaras from one
ocean 10 the other.
Mr.. tDmmins said he had heard il
said many times that the people who
were insisting on tariff revision did not
know whether duties were TOO high or
too low
This skeptcism OF thc Judgment of
the common mcu is a fundamental mis-
take often made, and always atoncd for
in sackcloth and ashes. -
Continuing. Mr.. Cummius said:
The last administration will be re-
membered so long as the history Of our
country is preserved for its victories
For corporate fair dealing.
History Making Epoch.
The work has just begun, and I
sincerely hope the present administra-
tion viii be no less distinguished than
the last one for its energy in dealing
with these pcrplcXing problems One
part, however. of the programme was
assigned by common consent to this
administration. and its conspicuous
leader assumed, without hesitation the
task of tariff revision. The people
know what they want with respect to
revision Just as well as they know
what they wanted with respect to rail
ways and to industrial combinations,
aud their intelligent, educated, patri-
otic instinct is just as certain with
respect TO the tariff as it was with
respect to transportation or monopoEes
III VIC fail now substantially TO reduce
the duties upon the important schedules
we but postpone the Justice due to
the people. a justice which, thanks to
the genius of our institutions, they
have the power to enforce, and which,
in the fullness of time, they will en-
force. -
Must EQualize Rates.
Passing 10 the consideration of
lumber schedules, he said it made little
difference whether there was a duty or
not so far rs the preservation OF
forests are concerned. With respect to
the cost of production, in the greater
part of the United States. at least. he !
said the American had the advantage !
of the Canadian, and a duty was only !
necessary 10 equalZe disparity in |
rates of transportation.
Mr.. Cummins secuted the idea that |
adherence to the wool schedule was
NOR .,,N-, Irg. ,t.,,,, H..
protective principles He said he had |
been one of the Republicans who had |
fought for revision of the tariff.
"And i intend to defend my faith"
he continued, with all tho vigor of
which | am capable. The finance com
mittcc. composed of honorable, intelli
gent. bright minded and experienced
of Republican doctrine. II is not the
only repository of Republican faith, -
Not single member of that com
mittcc had been among the Republicans
who had demanded u revision of the
DiDgley bill. They did not believe re-
vision was necessary. and IT was no
wonder they should not now favor
change in duties,
Senator Beverdge joined Mr. Cum
MINIS in asking from the committee on
finance an explanation of tho fact that
tho duty on oil cloths had been doubled
by making IT apply 10 narrow widths,
Evasive Answer Made.
Mr. Flint of the committee replied
that the answer would be made in due
time. and added thnt If members of
the finance committee ''had the ability ;
Of the senator from Indiana they would
give the answer off hand, -
*FWe must have better answer than {
that, y retorted Mr.. Bevcridgc ''There
are three members of the finance com [
mittec here, The senator from Iowa
wants to know why this rate was raised !
loo per cent, aud | think he has Il right 1
o know 1
Mr.. Smoot explained that the oil f
10th duty had been puf up 10 protect q
he American producers. but before he !,
lad concluded was interrupted by Mr. !
Continued on Page -Four.