Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-04-19
OPPONENTS OF TARIFF BILL IN
SENATE HAVE PLAN OF
ACTION READY.
ELIHU ROOT TO AID
SENATE INSURGENTS
New Senator From New York Not at
All Pleased With Aldrich's Measure
-lnsursents Want Coal, Lumber
Iron Ore and Wood Pulp and Re-
adjustment Of Sugar Schedule.
Especial correspondence.1

Especial Correspondence
Washington, April 19.-AA deter
mined effort will be made, at the pro-
per time, by the antagonists of the AL
drich tariff bill. to put thru the SEN
ate resolution sending it back to
tie finance committee with instruc-
lions to make sweeping changes in it.
The men in charge of this move
ment are not prepared as yet to an
nounce positively their program. They
do not care to draw unnecessary fire;
but they believe that the proposal to
send it back to committee will get
their case before the country more es-
fectively than any other, and they feel
that nothing less than a complete ov-
ertsuling with a definite policy to
guide the ccess will serve their our-
oose.
The object Of such proceeding is
to compel more effective downward re-
vision, and report is that no less per-
son than Elihu Root is among the
senators relied upon to assist in such
an effort If the necessary strength
shall appear in sight to carry 1t thru.
Senator Root has talked mighty
right" to the insurgents about the
measure. He is not at all pleased with
it. He thinks it doesn't do much good
to the consumer. and that instead of
contributing to the general and prop
erly distributed development of AM
erican industry and commerce. 1t runs
too much to giving special considera-
ton to particular interests which gen.
orally don't need it.
Here are tie things which the crit
les Of the measure especially want
done to 1t If 1t can be sent back to
the committee:
Increase sharply the duty on raw
sugar and reduce somewhat that on
refined sugar. The effect they say
would be to compel the sugar trust to
pay the government more for the priv
ilege of bringing in its raw material,
and yet 1t would not increase the cost
of sugar to the trade because the re-
duction of the duty on refined would
assure competition from outside. This,
in short. is, project to divert some
of the big profits of the trust to the
government, and at the same time re-
duce the market price of sugar.
Reduce generally the duties thruout
the steel schedules. 1t is charged that
the reductions made by the Aldrich
bill are mainly in articles which would
not be imported in any case, while the
duties on those which are imported
are not changed materially
Place coal on the free list.
Ditto lumber.
Add to the free list also, iron ore, pig
iron and wood pulp.
Make heavy reductions in the rates
on window glass, especially plate
glass.
Rewrte the tobacco schedule with a
view to removing a lot of protection
! which it is alleged benefits the tobacco
trusts and strengthens it in the effort
to establish and maintain a monopoly.
Rewrte the entire wooden schedule,
with a view to making wooden goods
much cheaper by reducing the allow
ance made to the man who turns raw
wool into cloth; in short. reduce the
dfferential between raw and refined
wool, as they would say about the SUI
gar schedule.
These are not nearly all the things
these reformers would do if they had
| power. But it is the basis of their
program.
To carry out such a project 1t would
| be necessary to have the solid demo-
cratic vote, plus fifteen republicans;
which assumes the presence of the en-
| TO
sary number of republicans can be
mustered is conceded to>be doubtful:
but the people who are working on the
project are hopeful enough to be de-
voting good deal of time to it. They
claim that they have the assurance OF
| the support of six republicans; thai
seven others would join them in a mo-
ment if a word of assurance could be
| had from the White House that the
administration felt touch of sympa.
thy with the project; and that at Least
six others are to be regarded as very
likely possibilities, because they are sc
utterly dissatisfied with the present
bill. and also because they are getting
reports 'of disaffection at home.
/ Whether the democrats could be re.
lied on to line up with anything like
a solid. front for such a program is Of
course doubtful. There is a good dea
of protection sentiment among the
democratic senator's: but a strong eff.
fort. is making, among their leaders, tt
1 hold them together and give the de.
mocracy some real force as a factor
I in revision.
The critics of the Aldrich billiard
| this is true alike of republicans ant
democrats-complain that the financ,
comprittee OF the republicans have
monopoly of real information, and lie
nobody in on the good thing. They sa,
that to write intelligently new seized
ule reducing the steel or wooden du
ties requires study and digestion of
vast fund of facts which can't b.
reached unless the finance committe.
will give them up; and it has show,
no disposition to do SO. The same i
true of tobacco, and other lines 10
manufactures. They expect to lay thei
case before President Taft in few
days and learn whether they may hop
4 for any possible help from him. The,
will strongly urge him to help them, o.
the ground Of party necessities.
4 49, +"