The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1909-08-06
TARIFF NE ASURE
BEFORE CONGRESS-
Claim Necessities Have Been
Revised Downward.
PAYNE MAKES A SPEECH


Feet-Wool Schedule Undergoes No
chanqe-Rates on Cotton Hosiery
Generally lncreased-SiIk Schedule
Is Reconsideration Cloths and
LinoIeum Are Heavily Cut.
The conference report on the tariff
bill has been presented to Congress.
When Representative Serene E.
Payne, majority leader, and head OF
the house conferees, arose to submit
the document the measure had been in
conference for just three weeks.
Contending that the bill marks
general downward tendency from pres
ent rates of duty Payne presented an
exhaustive analysis of it's provisions.
He undertook to show that there had
been marked decrease in the rates
on the necessaries of life, while admit
ting that there had been an increase
on some of the luxuries.
Probably the most marked reduc
tons throughout any schedule in the
bill as a result of the action of the
two houses and of the conference com
mittee are found in the metal SEIZED
ule. Beginning with decrease in ths
rate of iron ore from 40 to Is cents
ton, there is general reduction
throughout that part of the bill, pig
iron going down from 81 to $3.50 a
ton, and scrap iron from 81 to 81.
Rough lumber goes down from 50 to
$1.25 a thousand feet, with correspond
ing reduction in the differentials on
dressed lumber.
The wool schedule underwent no
change of consequence but the entire
cotton schedule was reconstructed and
the phraseOlogy greatly changed in the
hope of preventing reductions through
decisions by the courts such as have
characterized the administration Of the
Dingley law during latter years.
In the much-cOntested matter of the
rate on gloves the high protectionists
fail to score. They sought, through an
increase made by the house, to raise
the duty materially above the Dingley
figures, but were antogonized by the
senate, and the senate won, the only
change made in the entire schedule be-
anS one SIlSnt roOuCtlOn.
Advance in Silk Rates.
The silk schedule was reconstructed
with view to imposing specific rather
than ad valorum duties, with the re-
suit that the average duty will be
somewhat higher under the new law
than under the present statute.
Oil cloths and linoleum are heavily
cut, but otherwise the changes in the
flax, hemp and jute provision were not
material. A slightly increased duty is
provided for hemp, both crude and
hacked, and also on certain highgrade
laces. On linen yarns and mattings
there is a reduction.
Sugar and tobacco duties remain
substantially the same as they are un-
der the Dingley law The free impor-
tatiOn of considerable quantities of
both of these articles from the Philip
pines is permitted, and a material
change was made in the internal rev
enue law by an amendment taking the
tax off of the sale of tobacco in the
hand.
Common window glass Of the lower
is given a reduction.
The publishers win their fight for
lower wood pulp and print paper, the
rate on the ordinary newspaper print
paper being fixed at 1915 ton instead
of Sc as under the Dingley law, and
on the higher grades of print paper at
$3.75 instead of So.
Coal Rate IS Cents.
Mechanically ground wood pulp is to
come in free of duty instead of pay
ing 1-12th of cent pound as under
the DingIey law, but provision is
made for countervailing duty in case
it becomes necessary to protect this
country against Canada's inhibitions
upon the expectation OF woods to the
United States.
Hides of cattle come in free, and
there is a corresponding reduction or
leather and leather goods. The house
rates are practically retained on
sole leather. leather for uppers. boots
and shoes and harness, but the free
hide provision is based on the condi-
ton that on and after Oct. |, 1909,
sole leather from the hides that are
to be admitted free will pay a duty of
per cent; grain, buff and split leath-
er 7R per cent; boots and shoes, the
upper leather of which is made from
such hides, 10 per cent, and harness
and saddlery 20 per cent.
Bituminous coal is reduced from 81
cents a ton to As cents, and there is
also a reduction on gunpowder,
matches and cartridges.
Agricultural implements go off from
20 per cent ad valorum to Is per cent.
and the older works of art are placed
upon the free list.
Petroleum, which received much at
tention in both houses, slips through
without any duty, countervailing or
otherwise. and most of its products
come in under the same terms.
In the agricultural schedule hops are