Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-08-24
KENDALL GIVES
TARIFF VIEWS
SIXTH DISTRICT CONGRESSMAN
EXPLAINS HIS VOTE ON THE
PAYNE BILL.
WRITES NEW SHARON MAN
Congressman Deoiares Measure Dis
orImnated Against Important
Iowa interests; His Coincidence
Demanded Negative Vote.

Des Moines, Aug 2a.-congresBnan
N. "a. Kendall Of the Sixth district IN
an extended letter to Editor II. j. Vail
he voted against the Aldrioh tariff. He
say that 1t Disseminated against Iowa.
and since he must remain on friendly
terms with his own conscience he was
impelled to vote against the measure
Mr.. Kendall says he recognizes that
the Republicans Of the Sixth district
are entitled to know the reasons
which controlled his action. He voted
to recommit the bill against adop-
ton Of the conference report; that Is,
he conceived 1t rather advisable to
continue to supersede 1t with the AID
rich bill.
He continues:
| have never been in favor Of a
| schedule by schedule revision Of the
\ Dingley law, because ] never have be-
lieved such revision demanded by the
conditions prevailing in the United
States. 1t Is conceded that in isolated
instances the rate imposed, while just
and equitable when adopted, had be-
come illogical and unnecessary, but 1t
has been my opinion that such duties
as are excessive could be re-ad5usted
| in usual course without opening the
entire subject for consiration. l dis
scented from the Iowa platform last
year, presented to the state convention
by Major Lacey, my distinguished pre-
decessor. foreshadowing an extraordi-
nary session of congress at which
general reformation Of the tariff should
be undertaken. My humble Judgment
was overruled. and our party declared
at Chicago that the schedules should
be SO rewritten az to establish duties
at level, measuring the difference in
1.-THE cost of production in America and
abroad together with reasonable re-
turn to the domestic producer.
No Reduction In Cost of Living.
All this Is now history, and refer
to 1t simply to direct attention to the
circumstances which preceded the con-
! yening of the special session in March.
After almost five months of debate
upon the Payne bill and 800 senate
amendments thereto, the conference
, committee finally reported a bill upon
which / was required to record my
: Judgment It was intended to supplant
the existing statute and the duty de-
volved upon me to determine whether
1t embodied provisions more favorable
; than the Dingley law to the constitu-
ency which had honored me with its
/. commission at Washington.
: After the most earnest and intelli
. gent examination which I am capable
3 of devoting to any subject | concluded
that it did not and that | was war
ranted in refusing my assent to its
enactment. ] think it exhibits no re-
! duction of duties which will diminish
! the cost of living to single consum-
er in the United States, while it con-
tains some advance in duties which
, will necessarily augment the current
lexpenses of the American household
fStill further it seriously embarrasses
some Industries and totally destroys
others by removing some duties en-
: tirely and decreasing others material
ly, in response to the vehement insist
ence for free raw materials. And the
most deGnoraliing effects of this injus-
q tice will be manifested in the west.
In defending his negative vote OF
the bill, General Keifer of Ohio vet
q eran Republican and former speaker O
q the house, said: THE bill is inconsist
8 ent with the Republican protectiv'
q tariff policy, inasmuch as 1t elevate
many rates which, in justice. should b.
lowered. The bill is neither uniform
n protection nor free trade. 1t did no
d revise downward on articles that vii
l. tend to cheaper living, and man,
q duties were increased. The bill as re
:. ported is an abandonment Of the pro
:, tective system, and shows a purpose t
, foster certain Industries at the sacri
r flee OF others
e Discriminates Against Iowa.
n But if the bill had not discriminate
t. against the interests Of Iowa in othe
"a particulars, the provision lowering tn
\ duty on coal and meat products, an
while preserving tariffs practical
le prohibitive upon shoes, leather, han
f. ness and other manufacturers, woul
a. have prevented my according 1T sur
port It is altogether probable that IN
;, der the new schedules foreign coal wi
- enter the ports of the United States i
u competition with that mined by IL
1t worldngmen of Iowa and that beef an
u pork from Argentina. will appropria.
e. some of the market now occupied /
n tie stock growers of this state. I'll
- hide tariff especially is of paramoul
concern to the farmers of this di.
VI trict.
10 Mr.. Kendall quotes in his lett
from Wallaces' Farmer, Maj. S.
It. Rathbun and others to show that tt
"a free hide scheme without concession
on manufactured leather was inquitol
and continues:
/ had no disposition to "be- devil" II
1e farmers with free hides, and ] cou
eel not persuade myself to acquiesce in t
D. Crime of the Aldrich bill" Accordir
Of to Colonel Young and Major Rathbu
:, both eminent Republican authorize
20 the stockgrowers of Iowa forfeit ST
100000 annually as result of the fr
ID hide provision alone while nothing
ed received in exchange for this sacrific
ct Boots Still Up.
lg. The price of boots and shoes al
Ell harness and other leather manufactu
he ers remains undisturbed. This is an e
~ cellent arrangement for the caste
gu factories, but it will hardly CONNIE
IN itself as satisfactory to the people
~ Iowa. If had been representing d1
mt trict in Massachusetts, l could ha
on substituted the Aldrich bill for
he Dingley with enthusiasm. but 1t ha
- poned that my primary allegiance W
~ to the producers and consumers of
Sixth Congressional district of Low
ley and I should have been unfaithful
cir the confidence they had reposed in
ire liz l had agreed to surrender any a
me vantage to which they were fairly
ia titled.
General Keifer insists that the bill
III an abandonment of the protective s.
tenn, and 1t must be admitted that or
icism is not altogether destitute
led merit Its extension Of the free list
lty include materials heretofore dutia
md is q concession to the clamor for Fl
l., trade and its adoption of unus
.ns methods to provide revenue will reno