The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-07-31
The Conference agreement.


The Presidents labors with the con-
ference committee have brought about
some concessions IN those duties about
which there were differences Of opinion
and more or less controversy. The range
Of these concessions IS small. yet with
out them the tariff bin would have been
a good deal less defensible. from the
Republican revlsionist standpoint.
It was worth while to get free hides
and lower duties on leather manufactures.
coal. iron ore. and lumber. even though
protectionist forces exacted a price in
higher duties on pig lead and ap Increase
Of 20 per cent in tie Dlngley duties on
the cheaper grades OF hosiery. Great
credit Is due Mr.. Taft. however. for de-
.lmandins the total elimination OF the
higher duties on gloves, which were part
pf a political bargain, II current rumor
nay be trusted by which the House or
zg1nization p-ohted at the opening Of the
session.
Mr.. Taft's victory as TO this scandalous
ITEM won in spite Of the influence Of
be Speaker and his intlmates. Will be
eceiyed with qualification the country
fver. Next to the removal OF the hide
uty, it is the most significant Of the
Presidential accomplishments in tariff
making.
Nothing has been done in conference.
nevertheless. to change our judgment
hat the new tariff bin Is the most highly
protective measure ever adopted by an
american Congress. Not only are there
iany extremely important increases in
ply, as IN the cotton schedule but there
also provided a new method Of valua-
DON which, in all probability. viii have
he effect OF enhancing rates Of duty.
md certainly Of making importations
more difficult
In addition, there is the new customs
pourt. avowedly created TO render de-
risions unfavorable 10 importers: and
over and above all fixed rates Of duty
bowers the retaliatory maximum Of %
Der cent al valorem that may or may
ot be imposed. but at all events threat
IS prohibitive duties No strategic
bint in the citadel Of protection has
cen surrendered. on the contrary. sew
Fal new ana decisive positions have
pen gained Most Of the concessions
Ptained by Mr.. Taft were precisely
ose the ruling powers in Senate and
puse were willing to accept without
hawking too loudly. They have driven
81 hard bargain with the President. so
Par as tariff rates are concerned. But
Yhen the corporation tax is taken into
Recount. the scales balance more evenly.
And the ultimate consumer. the com
tnon man. where does he find hope in
this bill? In cheaper shoes, possibly;
WHAT'S all. Not a home will cost less be-
;ause Of the trihing reductions in the
lumber schedule. The iniquitous wooden
titles remain, as we'll as the equally In
s quitous sugar duties. save for insignia
PANT reductions. On nearly all grades OF
potion goods duties have been raised.
ncluding new levies on the stockings OF
be poor. though no Increases have been
made on higher-priced hosiery. These
+ re merely few out OF many advances
at might be cited. It Is a price-raising
IN as to the majority OF items all the
ray through
Yet we have no doubt that II will en-
ourage manufactures: that It will pro-
note that form Of prosperity which
roths at the top. There is deal OF
evision downward in It. too. Of which
e shall hear much from Republican
RStings. Perhaps there IS enough to
claim that campaign pledges
- been fulfilled; but the ordinary con-
mer may well demand to know what
rticuiar duties were removed in his
ehaif outside Of some few as TO which
r. Tart insisted on lower rates. It IS
manufacturers bill. not a consumers
b.
L is not bill for the relief OF taxa
N. but for the imposition Of additional
xatlon. And yet 1t might have been |
orse. and threatened 10 be so until the 1
resident interviewed. To him IS largely /
be what little hope the consumer may !
nd In the Payne-Aldrich revision.