The Washington herald., 1909-03-20

A wall has been sent ont in Congress by.
Representatives from Southern States
because the new tariff bin places cotton
seed oil on the free list
In all quarters az the Capitol yesterday
Southern members were talking about
this change and declared It a direct slap
at the planters OF the country. Most OF
the members have contended that cot
tonseed was one OF the things upon which
a duty should be imposed and when Il
was found the tariff had been lifted en-
tireIy dissatisfaction was rampant
The Southern members OF Congress.
who naturally do not believe they are 90
ing 10 be given much chance 10 say
word about the tariff bill. were more dis
pleased yesterday than the day before.
Some declared that The Om was IN no
way what was promised. ana that Il was
purely a protection measure. For this
reason the Southern members who are
complaining because Of The transfer 70.
the free list Of cottolseed OF. asserted
that it Discriminate against the planter.
That 3 lively fght VIII ensue on this sec
non OF the measure IS not at al unlikely.
and some Of the members suggested yes
terday that the House would be forced
10 restore The duty.
Tea Tax a Compromises
T. Is now clearly evident that the tax
OF s cents on tea was q compromise
tween the Repuhiican members q
gress. A. frs, II was the programme
put tea on the free list and impose a
OF coffee To do this the Repubu
members Of the committees thought
would &c aeoesssry 70 balsucc things
putting a tax On beer. and eQualize
with the tax on coffee Il was once
plan OF che committee. IL is said by those
in close touch with what was being done
inside the committee room. that until a
few days before the final decision 10 put
tax on tea II was the plan 20 impose A
duty Of . cents a pound on coffee and q
a barrel on beer Another plan was TO
tax coffee cents pound and cut the
duty on beer 70 50 cents a barrel
Beer Men Complain.
II is known that the beer forces OF the
country sci up a howl when they found
that they would be placed under a reve-
nue. tax. and they circulated large num-
Der of circulars ptotesting against such
an imposition. as they called Il.
Then, Il is said, great stress was laid
on the harm 70 come from taxing the
breakfast table. and members Of Congress
were told fatty that IL would nerer do 70
attempt such a thing; that tax or tea
would not take money from the pockets
OF the poor people Of the country. while
a tax on coffee would be a hardship 20
every family in America.
The Republican leaders rubbed heads
on this question and finally Il was an
nOunced that the government would not
be put IN the light OF taxing the break
fast table; that tea would be taxed. and
that this would not reach the poor peo-
pie and daily wage earners. but the rich
families. who drink tea as a beverage
and not as a food necessity
The beer men hsd long been on pfns
and needles because they thought they
were going 20 have 20 pay a revenue
and in support OF their case Il is said
they opposed every suggestion that the
Democratic principle Of taxing Injuries
be adhered 10 IN framing the Payne bill
Minimum and Maximum Tax
The question or a minimum and maxi
mum tariff schedule has loomed to the
front as one OF the most Important fea-
lures O. the new bin
Many Of the members say they see
snakes" in this provision. and that It
will never get through the House OF Reb-
Sesentatives. let alone the Senate The
more they study this provision the more
discOntented some Of the members Erow.
II IS certain that this VIII be the subject
Of a great deal OF discussion in the gen
eraI debate which begins Monday. and
before the Congress Is week older il
is not improbable that the House Will
be divided into two factions-those op-
posing the minimum and maximum
schedules. and those fsv0ring them.
Might Defeat Bill.
Il was declared in some quarters yes
terday that II the Republicans try 70
force this provision through the House.
the debate wiz be one Of the long and
drawn out class. and might defeat the
bill IN the end.
Members Of the House declare the
main objection to this feature OF the blH
is that Il is entirely retaliatory. thar II
Is in itself the first step toward raising
a club against other countries. and that
Il win not be upheld when a test Is made.
The bill provides that II a country dis
eliminates against American exports the
maximum duty shall be applied on goods
imported from that country, and this is
not regarded as the most equitable. way OF
framing the bin
Tariff wars wiki the principal coun-
tries Of the WORLD are pointed out as one
of the chief dangers OF the bill. Wills
others contend that such a plan OF taxa