The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-02
MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM
 FEATURES ARE 4 PUZZLE
Senate Experts on Tariff Are Begin hing to See What a Bugaboo the AIdrich Tariff Measure May
 Finally Become.

Washington. May Especial )-As real-
 zation of the full import of the Senate finance committees maximum and mini- mum provision begins to soak in sena- tors view with mingled feelings Of admir- ation and astonishment that action It makes the downward reyisionists'' grasp at the audacity of the tariff builders of the Senate in out Heroding Herod in this feature of protection. The high tariff men are delighted. The House proposed a maximum tariff as a "big stick" to be used against foreign nations in compel- ing favorable trade terms with the United States. The Senate committee increases the size of the stick and provides a lit- tie hrmer hold for it's welding. The House maximum was an advance of 20 per cent on the rates named in the bill The Senate requires an advance of 25 per cent ad valorem.
 The framers of the Senate provision do not expect. of course, that the maximum rates will apply, since all countries will be supposed to hasten to ameiorate any harsh conditions imposed against the United States and this proposition for the increased duty is more sentimental than impending.
 Increase May Occur.
 But in case foreign country can not rearrange it's economic affairs to suit the American tariff the increase will take place, and the downward revisonists are considering the proposition in its possible last analysis
 It is pointed out. however. that in one respect the Senate maximum and mini- mum provision is great deal more con servative than is proposed by the House Under the House plan the maximum tarifr would operate automatically in case any other country made restrictions on our trade. If the government of the Neither lands. for example. should change the rate some American import, the duty, on leaf tobacco. already very high. would be raised 20 per cent automatically andE the cigar making trade demoralized. UnJ der the Senate plan the change woulk not be automatic. but in the discretioa of the President, and time would be afforded for negotiations
 But 1t Is not advisable to lose sight of the fact that a great deal of compromis- ing Is yet to be done. and that the dis agreement between the House md Senate over the maximum and minimum feature is a mighty handy asset of trading. The final aspect of the bill, 1t comes from the conferees for ultimate agreement, will be very different from it's present complexion and from the bill as it came from the House.
 Fate of Critics.
 The critics of the maximum and mini- mum provision of the Senate committee find the ground cut beneath them to II great extent by the fact that President Taft and his cabinet are agreeable to thI Aldrch plan. It was submitted to thH President and his Attorney General ane came back with their 70. K It is to lH assumed that If it was a good epouFU Morgan" for the administration it shouH be satisfactory 10 the progressive fac tion" of Republicans.
 All the statesmen interested in the tariff were busy today worrying with the ad- ministrative sections of the bill as amend ed by the Senate committee. Where are the jokers?" is the question every man has in the front of his mind. As wood pile for the concealment of tariff Senagam bians the administrative clause is popu- larly supposed to be pre-eminent. The downward revisionists look upon it with fear and trembling and are almost sure 1t must be full of concealed menaces- Some of them never will be found. proba- bly, until the board of general appraisers come to pass upon them, assisted by briefs from the importer and manufacturer.