The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-07-31

II Is the judgment OF the friends Of
tariff commission that their plans Jared
badly in the final analysis.
The whole purpose of the tariff COM
mission, as It's promoters have conceived
Il. was for a body Of experts to collect
and collate information on Industrial con-
ditions at homo and abroad and submit
them TO the President and 70 Congress
20 be a guide in tarir legislation
The first setback for the tariff commits
sion idea was when the Finance Com
rnlttee reported In favor merely OF an
authorization 20 the President to APPOINT
experts to collect information for the use
of the President. the executive depart
ments. and Congress.
After some elaboration. the friends Of
the tariff commission idea outside OF Con-
gress accepted this, believing that under
the organization the President could ere
ate a tariff commission If he SC decided.
But when the matter got into confer
ence the House conferees compelled the
elimination OF so much OF the authorize
ton as directed the experts to collect in
formation for the use OF Congress. thus
restricting their activities 20 the Presi-
dent and the executive departments.
SoIons I'm Doubt.
It Is doubtful in the minds Of men ex-
perienced in legislation whether the para
graph as II finally went into the bill adds
anything to the authority which the
President now has to appoint special
agents or other experts to collect infor-
nation.
The authorization for an issue OF APP
proximately 100000 Of bonds to be
used to restore to the Treasury balance
the money taken therefrom to pay for the
Panama Canal property and for the Canal
Zone. and TO aid In completing the con-
struction OF the canal, which was put in
by the Senate. was retained in confer
euce
The bonds are 10 run for fifty years and
will draw per cent interest.
The maximum and minimum tariff fea-
lures which were reported from the Senate
Finance Committee were adopted. The
maximum tariff will be Is per cent ad
Valoi EN- in addition to the rates given in
the bill. which are to DO known as the
general tariff,
The % per cent Increase, or maximum
tariff. viii 20 into effect automatically
on March 81. 1910, but the President may
apply the minimum rates 70 the imports
from all countries which extend 70 the
United States the best possible trade IA
cilities.
The minimum tariff viii go into effect
upon the issuance Of a proclamation by
the President TO that effect.
Taft Given Authority.
The President, under the administrative
features Of the bill. is given authority to
abrogate reciprocity treaties which cannot
be terminated by diplomatic action. The
reciprocity treaty with Cuba, however, Is
excepted from the operations Of the maxi
mum and minimum tariff. The President
is authorized TO give notice within ten
days after the bill becomes law OF his
intention 70 terminate existing reciprocity
treaties.
Those treaties which cannot be termin-
Rted by diplomatic action will be abro-
gated by a notice OF six months, dating
from April 30. 1903. when Secretary Knox
sent out the formal notification.
Philippine Products.
An important feature Of the bill is the
provision for free trade with the Philip
pines It will admit free Of duty all srti-
cles the growth or product of, or manu-
featured in the Philippines from material
the growth or product OF the Philippine
Islands or the United States. or both. or
which does not contain foreign materials
10 the value of more than 20 per cent OF
their total value.
Rice is excepted from the free list. and
certain restrictions are put upon the
importation OF sugar and tobacco.
The free importation Of sugar Is limited
70 $780, 900 tons year. and on importations
OF wrapper and filler tobacco. when
mixed, the limitation is 100000 pounds, and
on filler the annual free importation IS
limited 10 100000 pounds. while the num-
Der OF cigars that may be imported free
in any year Is limited TO l50OOO0OO
An important feature Of the admins
trative part Of the new bill Is the plan
reported from the Senate Finance Com
mittee intended to prevent undervalua-
tons OF those articles imported on which
there IS no foreign market value.
The right OF the grower OF leaf Tobacco
70 sell it free Of tax is a very important
part OF the internal revenue features OF
the bill. 1t viii mean a loss Of several
millions IN revenue 20 the government
from that source but this loss. It is esti-
mated. will be more than made ND by the
increased duties on manufactured to-
bacco.
Corporate Tax Yield.
II is estimated that the corporation
tax will yield from S2O.OOO,OOO TO 10000 OOC
in revenue. It was drawn with some
care to avoid double taxation. and its
most important feature is the form OF
publicity by which the government viii
be enabled TO get information concern.
ing the affairs OF corporations and pave
the way for government supervision over
them.
The Secretary OF the Treasury is au-
thorized under another paragraph Of the
bill to Issue Treasury certificates for
mohey borrowed to meet current ex
penses. and the limit of the authorize
ton In existing law is raised from 500
100000 TO 500, CO0,O00
The users Of domestic elcohoI for the
manufacture OF perfumery and cosmetics
are given the privilege Of the drawbacks
OF the internal revenue tax to the
amount OF the alcohol used In the ex.
ported article