The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1909-04-19
TARIFF DEBATE
IN THE SENATE
OPENED TODAY
Senator Aldrich, Chairman Of
the Finance Committee
Explained Bill
DEMOCRATS WILL URGE
INCOME TAX PROVISION

Member Of the Finance Committee,
Will Present Party Objections
Amendments Will be Discussed,
Washington, April 19.-The tariff
debate in the senate began today i'm.
mediately after the close of routine
business. Senator Aldrich, chairman
of the committee On finance opened
the proceedings with a general state-
ment in support of the bill. He will
be followed by Senator Daniel, senior
Democratic senator, who is expected
to outline the Democratic position.
Senator Aldrich went into detail in
explanation of various changes made
by his committees, and undertook to
show that the bill as reported will be
strong revenue producer. Senator
Daniel and other Democrats will
take the opposite view. They declare
that the weakness of the Payne-Ald-
rich bill is found in the fact that it
will not insure sufficient income to
permit the governmental business to
proceed without the addition of other
features which will put money into
the national treasury. Some Republi-
can senators are in sympathy with
this view. and Hr. Aldr1ch's statement
was listened to most attentively.
| He assured the senate in the most
positive terms that the bill reported
from the committee on finance would
produce ample revenue for the gov
ernment. He suggested that If by any
possibility these estimates should
prove to be incorrect the duty of con-
gress would be to "reduce the expendi-
lures and make them conform to the
actual revenue conditions and not to
impose new and onerous taxes
While he did not refer specifically
to any proposition to impose an in
1 come tax, his statement declaring that
ample revenue may be derived from
other sources was accepted as direct
opposition to all such propositions.
Nearly every senator was present
when Senator Aldrich spoke and most
careful attention was accorded him
on both sides of the chamber. Several
leading senators who had decided to
reply to him deferred doing so until
they could carefully study his state
ment. On the desk of the senator was
the comparison of the text of the
Dingley tariff law with the Payne
tariff bill as passed by the house, and
as amended and reported from the
senate committee on finance. In ad-
dition statement was furnished to
each senator showing the estimated
revenues under the present law COM
pared with the amended Payne bill.
Senator Aldrich called attention to
these volumes in the beginning of his
speech. The net increase from Gus
toms over the existing law was esti-
mated at 11,666.74S for the Payne
bill as passed by the house and $9,-
934,426, under the bill as reported
from the senate committee. In max
ing the estimates, the revenues pro-
duced In 1906 were used In obtaining
comparison with the house bill and
revenues for 1907 when imports were
much larger. Senator Aldrich be-
lieves that 1907 was normal year
while Representative Payne. chair
man of the house committee on ways
and means, believes 1906 was the last
year when conditions were normal.
The Democratic senators will urge
an income tax as the most rational
and most prolific means of increasing
the receipts. All of them will sup
port an income tax provision and In
addition some of them will strenuous
ly urge tax on all dealings in
futures. They will have the support
of some of the Republican senators.
but will not receive assistance from
any of the members of the committee
on finance as they take the position
that, with greater economy and i'm
proved business conditions, which all
are predicting, the bill will insure
sufficient revenue to meet the demands
Of the government.
There will not be in the senate az
in the house any sharp dividing line
between general debate and the dis
cussion Of amendments to the sched-
ules. but on the contrary it is ex-
pected that Immediately after the
close of the Aldrich and Daniel
speeches, the reading of the bill will
proceed with view to considering
amendments whenever they may be
offered. If senators are to make set
speeches even on the general subject
of the tariff, they will be permitted
to do SO In connection with the con-
sideration of the different schedules.
If it is found necessary, there will
be lengthening of the daily sessions.
The Democrats profess as great anx-
iety as the Republicans for the early
disposition of the measure. Among
Republicans who will speak on the
bill are Messrs. Lodge, Hale, Brown,
Carter. Cummins. Cullom, Hepburn,
McCumber, Nelson and Smith of NIichi-
gan, while Democratic orators will in
clude Senators Bailey, Bacon, Bank
head CLAW Gore Johnston Monev
Newlands, Rayner and Smith of South
Carolina.
The house will be in session on
today and Thursday only and no
business will be done on either day
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