The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1909-06-09
Mr.. Aldrich's we'll known ability was

tween the manner in which he has
conducted the present tariff bill with
tho course pursued by tho deceased
colleague of the Rhode Island senator
upon the committee, the late Senator
Allison, of Iowa. 1t was asserted that
an examination of the record would
disclose that when Senator Allison
was in charge of tariff bills he never
made the mistake of going before the
senate without full, detailed expla-
nation of everything his committee de-
sired to do, and the reasons fer SO
doing, set forth in elaborate detail
through advance reports covering
every feature of the measure.
Cause OF Difficulties.
To the failure of the finance COM
mittee to do this, in advane of the
opening up of the tariff debate in the
senate, is attributed by some of the
Republican senators the difficulties
which have confronted the committee.
the delays in tho consideration o. tine
bill. and the telling points that have
been scored by the friends OF lowe,
duties in their attacks upon the dill
ferent schedules OF tho revision bill.
In support Of these suggestions re-
garding the policy OF the Republican
majority and the management OF tho
revision bill, the point is made that
upon most of the schedules up to this
time. where the committee has fur.
nished arguments in support Of
| changes made in the existing law, the
arguments are expected to be salts.
factory to the country, Or, a; least,
that part of tho people who are sup
Eorters OF the protective policy.
But the fact is not overlooked tha:
upon many schedules, and throughout
numerous paragraphs of the revision
bill, the finance committee has been
compelled to mako concessions, even
after consideration OF the schedule
has been entered upon by the senate.
In this connection, it is pointed our
that All important change was directed
by the finance committee in connection
with the cotton goods schedule, even
after some of the nest vigorous
speeches had been mado by those who
attacked the higher duties imposed
| therein. r
The finance committee recommend
ed changes in the duties on cotton
threads and yarns which range from
five to ten per cent above the rates OF
tho Dingley law, according to the
equivalent ad valorems cn tho imports
Of 1907, as shown by tho estimates
prepared by the experts OF the COM
mittee. The general average ad val
orem rates on these cotton threads
and yarns were put up to an equiva-
lent of twenty per cent by the senate
revision bill.
Loves Than DingIcy Rates.
Even after the speeches by Sena-
tors Dolliver and Nelson. attackint;
tho increase in tho cotton goods
schedule, tho committed called atten-
ton to the supplemental recommen-
dation it made reducing the ad valor-
em rates on these threads and yarns;
to fifteen per cent. IL was stated by
those who have been watching closely
the intricate details of tho schedule
that this reduction by the committed
carries the rates in the revision bill
even below tho ad valorem rates O..
tho Dingley law.
This is regarded by the advocates
! CT lower duties as a very important
concession, 1t is shown that the
rates, instead of being placed by the
bill as it now stands above tho gene
raj average of the Dingley law, with
respect to these cotton threads and
yarns, actually are below the Dingley
law schedule While probably it
would not bo admitted that the at
tacks made by the downward revi-
sionists had any influence in bringing
about this reduction in rates, there
was a certain coincidence about the
matter that was not lost upon many
members of the Republican majority.
From this and ether incidents in
connection with the consideration of
the bill in the senate it is pointed out
! by careful observers that the consunl-
ers of the country will be under great
obligation to the western progress
sive" Republicans for the fight they
have put up against the ultraprotec-
| tionists and the finance committee
upon nearly every schedule and para
graph of the bill UP to the present
day. 1t has been shown by these
friends of lower duties that the policy
pursued by the finance committee has
been to lower duties upon schedules
duties will make little or no differ
SllC6 Iu0 VI
from foreign sources with domestic
producers.
Differences Not Regarded.
At the same time it has been shown
that the increases generally made.
unless those increases were universal
ly recognized as necessary in order to
correct defects in the; operations of
the Dingley law, have been made with
out proper regard for differelCes in
cost of production in this country and
in competing foreign countries, and
certainly, as is alleged. without prop
er regard for the interests of those
who are compelled to buy tho pro-
ducts affected by the duties in tho
open market.
Confidence has been expressed from
the beginning OF the tariff debate by
Senator Aldrich and other members
of the finance committee. that ma
jority of the senate would support the
policy outlined in the senate revision
bill. particularly in respect to the in
creases in duties imposed. because OF
the claim made by the trainers of the
bill that such increases were neces-
sary in order to afford adequate pro-
lection. The downward revisionists
l. ~ +