Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1909-07-06
THE TARIFF BILL.

The Senate on Saturday disposed Of
the maximum and minimum provisions
Of the tsrlf bill, as reported to the Sen
ate by the finance committee. jest be-
tore adjournment, these provisions were
adopted by vote of sc to IS.
The countervailing duty on tea and
coffee, as originally provided in the
amendment offered by the finance COM
mittee, was stricken ont IS stated 10 the
Gazette OF that day. One other change
in the maximum and minimum pro.
visions as reported by the finance COM
mittee was made, allowing 90 days to
elapse before presidents proclamation
applying the maximum rates in addition
to other duties provided in the tariff bill
shall be operative.
As the maximum tariff sections we're
finally adopted the president has an-
thority TO appoint auy number Of tariff
experts without any limit as to the SAL
airy 10 be paid, and the appointments
will not require The advice and consent
of the Senate. This feature of the tariff
bill was agreed to after considerable con.
trOversy, and was acceptable to the bust
ness interests of the country, which have
been contending for tariff commission.
The maximum tariff as it passed the
Senate imposed % per cent ad valorem
duty additional on all of the duties car.
ried by the bill, with condition that
this additional maximum may be sus
pended by the president, whenever in
his judgment, any country refrains from
discriminating against the products Of
the United States 1t also authorizes
the appointment Of the tariff experts.
Yesterday the Senate passed the resolu-
ton of Senator Brown OF Nebraska fol-
an amendment to the constitution Il
make valid a general income tax with.
out apportiOnment among the states. Al
10 o'clock the vote wss tsksn by pre-.
yious agreement, and more than the neces'
sary two.lhirds voted in the affirmative,
the vote being II to 0.
Before the vote on the adoption OF the
resolution was taken M amendment by
Senator Bailey Of Texas requiring that
the constitutional amendment be sub
mitted to especially called state conven-
lions instead of TO the legislature for
ratification was voted down, 80 to 46.
Most of the democrats voted with Mr..
Bailey, bnt the two Virginia senators
we're exceptions to this rute.
Az amendment offered by Senator
McLsurin of Mississippi, which proposed
to strike out of the constitution the ap.
portiOnment requirement with respect 10
direct taxes was defeated on viva voce
vote.
Upon the passage Of the Brown resolu-
ton Senator Aldrich offered the customs
administrative section of the bill, en-
brOcing As printed pages, in which were
included the provisions for the special
court Of customs appeals among other
things. Senator Rsyner made determin-
ed fight for the amendment OF this pro-
vision of the law so az TO insure the
right OF trial by Jury to those VINO may
be criminslly prosecuted in the admins
tration of the customs laws and to prevent
their conviction upon ex parte testi-
mony. He started this fight single hand
ed and Won a most notable victory, as
Mr.. Aldricb, after coutending that there
was no point TO the argument of Mr.
Rsyner, was finally forced to admit that
he was In error and consent to the adop-
ton of an amendment suggested by Mr..
Rsyner, rendering this feature of the ad-
minisrstive section satisfactory.
One of the last things done yesterday
was to amend the bill 80 thst the new
tariff law shall not impair the existing
reciprocity treaty with Onba; authoriz.
ing the president to terminate existing
trade agreements with foreign countries
on ten days notice: sud to permit citi-
zeus Of Maine and Minnesota to exp ri
timber for Manufacture and import it
free Of duty.
Cigar manufactures who were given
s hearing Yesterday by the subcommittee