The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-04-12
On the Senate Finance Commit
tee, Described by Aldrich.
RATES ARE LOWERED
In the Main, He Declares, and
Free List Extended.
Iron Ore Is Put Back Among
the Dutiable Articles.

bSTS present, met at ~ O'CLOCK To-Day
and Chairman Aldrich presented the
tariff bill amended by the majority
of the committee Many of the reve-
nue. producing features will be report
ed subsequently as they are intertwin-
ed with administrative features of the
measure which will be adopted later.
Senator Aldrich, when requested to
make brief summary of the general
character of the changes proposed by
the senate finance committee to the
house tariff bill, furnished the follow
ing statement:
In the main the rates in the tariff
bill as reported from the senate fin
ance committee 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. Such increases as have been
made, have been largely rendered
necessary to preserve the symmetry
of the schedules. A considerable num-
Der of articles in common use have
been taken from the dutiable list of
the house bill and restored to the free
list. The great mass of the rates re-
ported are below those of existing law.
In schedule A, the chemical
schedule, the principal changes are in
the nature of reductions below the
house bill. One important change is
in putting distilled and expressed oils
on the free list.
Duty on Iron Ore.
''In schedule B, earths and earthern
wares, the rates remain largely the
same. In the house bill, by change
in phraseology from existing law, the
duties on common earthernware in
two colors are raised from 25 to 60
per cent. The committee has reduced
them to the rates of existing law. In
glass and Glassware the rates remain
the same as in the house bill.
THE senate committee restored
n
per ton-a reduction of Is cents
ton in this schedule throughout. Near
ly all these reductions have been re-
tanned by the senate committee. In
addition to those made by the house,
the senate committee have made quite
a large number of other reductions.
1.-The senate committee has retained
the house rate on lead ore of l u cents
per pound, but it has been obliged to
raise the rates on lead products
throughout the bill to correspond with
this duty on lead ore.
Lumber Rate Stands.
schedule D, wood and manufac-
lures of wood. The senate has taken
the house rate of 81 a thousand on
rough lumber, a reduction of a dollar
from the Dingley law and has retain
ed the house rates on manufactures
of wood, nearly all showing reduction
from the Dingley rates. The only inn
portant changes in the schedule made
by the senate committee was the res
toration of imported hardwoods to the
free list.
''The senate committee left the su-
gar schedule as 1t came from the
house but reduced the house rate on
sugar in the biscuits and waters from
so to 90 per cent.
'The tobacco schedule remains un-
changed.
''The. agriculture schedule, Including
meat products, remains practically
unchanged from existing law. but where
reductions were made by the house, the
senate committee has restored the
Dingley rates in response to the de-
rnands of farmers throughout the coun-
try and of the representatives of the
great agricultural interests.
Fish remains as 1t came from the
house.
Back to the Free List.
THE senate has returned cocoa to
the free list, believing an article of
such general consumption. both as q
beverage and in all forms of chocolate.
should no more be made dutiahle than
tea or coffee. The committee felt that
fl it was necessary to increase revenue
It could be none better on luxurtes than
on the every day necessities of life and
have pursued this policy in the con-
struction of this bill.
1.-The senate committee has applied
the same principle to spices, and has
restored them to the free list, where
they have always been. Again, on the
same principle the senate committee has
increased the rates on spirits and wines
Is per cent throughout which it is es-
timated, will yield an additional reve-
nue. of $3,000,000, most of which will
come from the increased duty on cham
payne.
I'm the cotton schedule there has been
an extension of specific rates to cover
a class of fancy goods and novelties
which are covered in the existing law
by ad valorem rates. The resulting ad
valorem rates have not been increased
1.-THE average rates in the cotton
schedule. other than the rates on
fancies and novelties remain the same.
There Is one exec ption to this statement
and that is the reduction from the
house bill on fashioned hosiery where
the committee has recommended the
restoration of the rates of the existing
law. the committee contemplates a
still further substitution of SPECIFIC for
ad valorem rates in other nara pranhs {
of the bill
Raw fax has been restored by the
senate committee to the dutiable list.
otherwise the schedule remains sub
stantially as it comes from the house
Wool Put Back.
THE senate committee has restored
the rates in the wool schedule to the
rates of the present law.
In silks the senate committee has
adopted new schedule, replacing ad
Nalorem with specific rates in ell cases
where 1t was possible to do so. showing
a slight average reduction from the
equivalent ad yalorem
The senate committee has also add
ed to the sundries of the dutiable Iis+
foreign built yachts owned by Ameri-
can citizens. which seemed to the
committee luxury which might fair
ly pay duty of S5 per cent.
Antiquities Made Free.
THE free list, as reported by the
senate committee in the main remains