The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-07-31
REDUCTIONS IN
DUTIES ARE NOT
VERY SERIOUS
Tariffs That Prevent Importa-
ton Are Cut and Others
Are Raised
Administrative Features of Bill
Find Favor, but Income
Tax Is Criticised
Special Dispatch 10 The Call


CHICAGO. July. 8O-The Tribune's
y Washington correspondent says: AT
10 point in the tariff conference re-
e7ort which both houses of congress
viz adopt and which the president
p xiii approve. is there found evidence
which shows a serious purpose TO re-
luce duties in the interest of lower
9riees- All the way through the pro-
1ective principle has been observed.
True, many Of the duties which pre-
-ented impOrtations have been lowered
stlll there is little likelihood that i'm
yortations sufficient to AFFECT home
prices will result
The following shows the kind OF
tariff revision the country has secured:
e. AZ increase Of duties on eottons. in
Guiding hosiery.
30 change in wooIens.
A tremendous increase in the duties
Slight decrease in duties on fax
hemp and JUte
me decreases on agricultural
\ 4 inapprciable reduction on sugar
Heavy increase in duties on wines
and liquors.
No change on tobacco.
slight reduction on earths and
sartisenWare
substantial reduction on rough lum-
Der
Substantial reduction on metals and
manufactures thereof.
q substantial reductions on chemicals
VS. and paints
Slight Increase on paper and pulp.
Substantial reductions on-sundries
Where decreases have been made IT
does not follow necessarily that large
importations viii ensue 70 cause COM
petition with home industries Indeed.
Representative Payne, in his confer
ence report. explicitly stated that du-
les had been lowered where they were
90 high under the present law-some-
inls prohibitiwe in character and for
shat reason inportations were compar-
atIvely small
~OR the other hand" TO continue to
quote him. -'rhey have been raised in
some instances where the tariff was
insufficient for protection, and impor-
tatiOns were great"
CARRIES OUT TAFT'S IDEA
X may. however, be said for the bill
that il probably will carry out the
presidents idea TO prevent heavy ad-
vsnces in prices through monopoliza-
lion Of an industry.
II VIII be TO the administrative fea-
lures Of the measure that republicans
Fan point for justification Of their re-
vision. The maximum and minimum
section can not be too highly praised.
Tt will place the United States in a
POSITION to secure for its commerce
ff-e same treatment as accorded other
haAions.
tt is most unfortunate that congress
refused to authorize a tariff commits
sion. Instead il granted TO the presi-
eht the right to- appoint experts to
assist him in enforcing the maximum
and minimum rates.
1t is the intention Of Taft to so be-
oud this limitatio and as far as pos
q BILE TO organize the experts into a
Hoard for the purpose of securing
data upon which a future revision can
DE made on scientific lines. The sec
tons 10 stop fraud and insure the col
Lection of every cent of duty right
fully belonging TO the United States
are ironclad and are generally com
nended.
CUSTOMS COURT APPROVED
Tie provision creating customs
court justifes approval Action has
been. taken TO place the treasury on a
sounder financial basis. first through
he issue Of bonds. so that future gen
erauons which viii enjoy the benefit
.wilf pay che cost OF construction Of
the Panama canal, and secondly,
through certificates Of Indebtedness up
TO 5000. 900 000
. The corporation tax has no friends
except in the White House. President
Taft is not interested in this as a reve-
nue. producer, but he believes the
amendment authorizing il is so framed
that il will enable the government to
p exercise some slight supervision over
corporations and enable il to get full
Information which viii be useful in the
Development Of legislation for their
regulation
To return to the schedules: There
$ every reason to believe the trade
via take advantage Of the increase in
he duties on cottOns TO advance prices.
a is always the consumer that bears
fthe cost. as well as the profit to the
manufacturer.
NJ CE,a,crae ~ DafaS