The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-05-25
cUlLoM ON THE TARIFF.


cuLLoM ON THE TARIFF.
Senator Cullom says that the tarift
bill, as amended by the senate finance
committee, will aid all classes and
harm none. He admits there Is SEN
timent among portion Of the people
in favor OF d low tariff, but he does not
think this sentiment is as universal
as 1t might be. The Washington cor
respondent of the Chicago Tribune
quotes him as saying on this point:
Illinois, being manufacturing
state, cannot be a low tariff state. In
order that our hundreds of laboring
men, who are as much consumers as
any other class, may prosper, the mills
and factories must give them employ
ment, and this they cannot do under q
low tari6. A low tariff would be as
disastrous to the interests OF the
state as it would be to the interests Of
Pennsy lvania and New York.
The laboring people, and especially
the people who are. clamoring for a
low tariff, should remember the condi-
tions under the Wilson tariff. No state
in the union suffered more on account
of that low tariff than Illinois. for
one never wish to see such conditions
repeated No manufactured senti-
ment In favor of low tariff ever will
lead me to favor any measure that
would, in my judgment. injure in the
slightest degree the state represent,
or the country as a whole.
Mr.. Cullom in explaining and de-
tending the action of the senate COM
mittee said that the Only course be-
fore it was to reduce such rates as
seemed above the necessary protec-
tive line, and to increase those on lux
uries. Notwithstanding the misrepre-
sentation, this policy was carried out
by the committee The fact that the
bill, as reported from the committee.
contains nearly 400 reductions below
the present Dingley rates seems to
have been lost sight Of In the matter
of increases the committee was gov
erned by two considerations, first the
question Of revenue, and. second, the
question of protection. Senator Gull
lom regards the bill reported from the
committee much better than that
which passed the house. The duties
on hosiery and gloves, which the
house increased. are left as they are
under the Dingley law. He commends
| in particular the administrative fea
| lures OF the bill. A constitutional
maximum and minimum system is pro
vided. concerning which Mr.. Cullom
says:
This is Of great importance. If no
\ thing else had been done, the adoption
of the maximum and minimum system
would have justified the calling of the
extra session. Heretofore, under oul
tariff laws We have been absolutely
powerless to prevent other nations
from discriminating against us. The
/ great protective nations of the worlt
have adopted maximum and mini
mum system. When the bill becomes
| a law we will be in position not on1,
4 to demand but to secure from all thu
nations with which we deal the bene
fits of the minimum rates, which, II
the case of France, for instance, varie
from 10 to 100 per cent"
Senator Cullom favors an incom,
tax. He believes an income tar i
constitutional and that If the question
again comes before the supreme cour
4 the court would declare 1t to be con
| stitutional. But in time of peace b
i hardly thinks we would be justified II
enacting an income tax law as a par
. of the pending tariff bill unless 1t i
4 proven we cannot get sufficient reve
nue. from the pending tariff and othe
present taxation. He is opposed to tn
imposition of burdensome taxes in an
form. However, if it is demonstrate
after the new tariff bill becomes LAY
that, economically as we can run tn
government from the existing taxatio
4 we have not sufficient revenue, the
Senator Cullom favors the enactmer
4 of graded income tax. If 1t is nece'
/ sary to resort to any other form Of tai
alton that on incomes is the fairest {
ball, In his view.