Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-04-13
AIdrich Tariff Tinkering Not
Revision Downward.
PROVIDES NO REVENUE YET
Fact Shown in Framing Schedules to
Allay Public Antagonist.
INHERITANCE TAX GOES OUT
Whisky and Beer May Be Made to
Pay Government Expenses.
House Likely to Acquiesce.

house Likely to Acqu1eSce.
1t is admitted on all sides that the tar
If bill as reported to the Senate Is
framed in very polite way.
The committee on finance has exercised
considerable political tact. in the opinion
of senators. in yielding to popular de-
mand for no higher duties on gloves and
hosiery, increasing protection to the
farmer, and taxing wines and spirits,
while taking the duty off cocoa and spices
and keeping it off tea and coffee.
THE result will be- prophesiied sena-
tor. that the attention of the country
will be drawn away from the tariff bill
by removing these obvious items of ir-
ritation, which were stirring the general
public to protest. We can then proceed
at leisure to frame bill scientifically and
for the best interests or all. without being
bounded by popular cutlery against few
schedules. objection to which served to
condemn the whole bill with the public
Provides No Revenue.
In one respect, however, the bill does
not yet meet a principal requirement of a
tariff bill-the raising of revenue. 1t was
admitted that the Payne bill. as reported
to the House, would not entirely meet
the revenues, and it is claimed that the
Aldrich substitute as now framed is cal
culated to produce less revenue than the
bill in its original draft.
Another thing, the closer the Aldrich
bill is examined the greater is the belief
that the Dingley rates are being closely
followed Where then, it is asked, is the
revision downward" which President
Taft has demanded?
Senator Aldrich, in his statement yes
terday, said:
I'm the main the rates are lower than
those in the bill as it passed the House,
the actual number of reductions being
about three times the number of in
creases. The great mass of the rates re-
ported are below those of existing law"
That may be true as to the actual
number of reductions and "the mass of
the rates" But senators are finding that
many important schedules do not show
actual decreases.
Wooden goods, for instance. in the
schedule covering the clothing of the
committee restored the rates in the wool
schedule to the rates in the Dingley law.
Crockery, china and earthenware re-
main the same as the present law. In
glass and glassware the House made a
few reductions which the Senate indorses.
The bulk of the schedule remains the
Dingley law.
In cotton and silk goods there have
been changes from ad valorem to specific
duties, which it will require expert ex-
claimed there is "a slight average reduc-
tion from the equivalent ad valorem.''
Gloves and stockings are the same as
in the existing law.
In lumber there Is a genuine and OBJ
vious reduction in rough lumber, the
House and the Senate committee being In
accord. Tobacco and sugar are unchanged.
No Real Downward Revision.
The free list Sin the main remains as II
Is in the existing law" So the revision
downward" in the opinion of many SEN
ators. will turn out to be more apparent
than real. if the Senate committees
frame-up is accepted.
There is no doubt that the revenue pro-
ducing feature of the new tariff legislation
is going to give the Senate great deal of
trouble and be productive of long debate.
1t Is said that IL Congress is delayed it will
be due to discussion of this feature and in
ability Of the tariff doctors to agree upon
the cure for the deficit.
That there now threatens to be a wide
margin between the expenses of the gov
eminent and the revenues Is undoubted.
Mr.. Payne. in his most optimistic esti-
mate, fixed the probable deficit at $40. 600.
Well. the first thing the Senate commit
tee did was to drop Mr.. Payne's proposed
tax on legacies, amounting to 1900, 900.
cutting off that much revenue upon which
he counted. The best opinion in the Sen
ate Is that the legacy tax is not accept
able to that body. because so many states
are now enforcing legacy taxes for their
own revenues.
The House, after Mr.. Payne made his
statement, proceeded to cut down other
<,<
100000 from the tax on tea. dropped an
other 100000 by removing the tax on
the farmers tobacco crop, and made other
changes affecting the revenues in minor
sums. but aggregating large amount.
The Senate committee on finance pro-
poses further reductions in revenue
through the loss of duties on cocoa
spices and certain countervailing duties.
1t proposes to add about 5000 600 from
duties on champagnes and spirits.
Deficit Would Be Assured.
But the balance sheet will show a deficit.
The total deficit under the bill. il II
should become law in its present state Is
estimated all the way from S25 900 600 10
S50.0OO0OO by those who are inclined to
criticise it.
Senator Aldrich treasures them by saw.
ing that the statement of the committee
now in preparation will demonstrate that
the bill can produce sufficient revenue
But there is pronounced "Missour,
spirit among these critics, and they
want to be shown.
II a deficit Is TO be provided against
there is no doubt that the beer and whisky
internal revenue tax will be turned to
for relief by large faction in the House
and Senate. The House leaders were
afraid to allow a record vote on a propo-
sition to increase the tax on beer.
A record vote can hardly be avoided In
the Senate. If the Senate puts 1t on the
odds are 10 to / the House will retain It,
Stamp taxes may be resorted to. There
may be some shifting Of the sugar SEIZED
ule. The democrats will urge an income
tax. and will be supported by the radical
republicans of the Senate.
All signs point to much trouble over the
revenue-raisng feature. Some senators
are thinking of sending home for thei,
summer clothing.