Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-03-22
Chairman Payne Explains the
Bill to the House.
NEED FOR MORE REVENUE
Expects Europe to Apply for Mini
mum Rates.
WOULD AMEND SECTION FOUR
Offers Substitute Excluding Rela-
tions of Province and Mother
Country From Operation of
Discrimination.

The first gun in the tariff debate was
fired in the House of Representatives to-
day by Mr.. Payne IN. W. the majority
leader and chairman OF the committee on
ways and means. Before he began his
remarks an agreement was reached under
which, while the bill is under considera-
tion. the daily sessions shall start at IL
o'clock instead of noon-
In opening Mr.. Payne declared that the
country was overwhelmingly in favor of
a protective tariff. 1T is an American
policy he said. and it seemed to be ac-
quieseed in by the great majority Of the
American people. He did not believe, he
added. that there was a man within the
sound of his voice that would rise in his
seat and say that he was in favor of
United States from turret to foundation
stone.
Mr.. Payne recited the conditions sur
rounding the enactment of the Mckinley.
Wilson, Dingley and present tariff meas
ures. In the first case, he said, there was
a superabundance of receipts land We
tried to get rid of some of it by that bill. -
Collections Under Dingley Bill.
Coming to the Dingley bill, Mr.. Payne
declared that 1t had proved to be a boon
to the people OF the United States, in
proof Of which statement he cited the i'm
mense collections Of revenue and expendi-
md in, ir
port on the bill. These expenditures. he
said, included $JO.O00O0O for the Panama
canal for which no bonds were issued.
so that" he said. 1.-The entire surplus
over the ordinary expenditures of the
government have been about $125. 100000
during that period. There had. however,
been deficit for the period in the post
which he attributed largely to the enor-
nous expenditures on account OF the ru-
raj free delivery. Notwithstanding such
enormous drains. he said, there was a
Of all kinds over the expenditures.
Surely" he said. mot a bad showing
for revenue bill which was also pro-
tective measure.
penditures as the result of the war with
Spain which, he said, had been much.
and a surplus left.
Minimum Rates Protective.
Discussing the subject of maximum and
minimum tariffs as against the reciproc-
ity provisions of the Mckinley and
Dingley laws, Mr.. Payne said the mini
mum tariff was on the basis of a pro-
tective rate, while the maximum tariff
was much higher. even hundred Der
cent increase in some instances over the
minimum.
No tariff. he declared. could be revised
without halt1ng business AS to the
necessity for the present bill, he said
that the revenues were not keeping un
with the expenditures. and the time
came to hunt for more revenues The
Dill he said, had been prepared with
the greatest care, as the result of long
formation before the committee. He at
tributed the loss of revenue to the bust
ness disturbances of 1907 and 1908
MI Payne said there was hope that
during the first year of the bill there
would be no deficit, but If the revenue
should fall short I'VE have in the Treas
ury S13o.0oo,O0O of available cash assets
10 meet it
Expects Europe to Yied.
Recurring to the maximum and mini
mum features of the bill. he said that
henceforth business would not suffer from
unfair and unequal competition from for
eiKn soil. IF they do not give us an equal
chance In their markets with any other
nation. he said, we do not propose to
allow them to come into our markets at
the minimum rates Our markets are the
greatest In the world We are the great
est consumers. the greatest buyers of any
nation on earth"
Mr. Payne declared that this feature OF
the bull was not trick as he said, had
been charged. Great Britain would come
in at the minimum rates.
Is there man within the sound of nv
voice." he exclaimed. who does mo-,
know that France and Germany seeking
our trade, win Immediately avail them
selves OF the minimum rates which We
oner In section one of this act? We give
them the opportunity to make their rate
with us-to put themselves an equality
with Great Britain" He declared that it
was absolutely certain that the great ma
lions Of the earth would take advantage
OF the opportunity afforded them.
Colonies and Mother Country.
Al this point Mr.. Payne offered sub
stitute for section of the bill. The sub
stitute is intended to dispose of the criti-
cism which has been made that the maxi
mum duties would apply against prov
ince or colony which discriminates in its
tariff in favor of the mother country. II
was contended that this would be unfair
as the bill provides for the free entry Of
American goods and products into the
maximum duties imposed by the bin
should not apply To the cases where the
preferential duties To other countries are
those given by a province. dependency or
colony To d mother country only.
Questioned by Mr.. Sims ,Tennp regard
ing the future revenues from the Panama
canal Mr. Payne said ultimately the
canal would be source of revenue He
did not. he said. believe in a large s;,r
plus. but he did believe in fortifyins the
treasury so that no warrant of n.
uited States will ever suffer the slightest
danger of remaining unpaid for a single
minute after II is presented"
Every Warrant Paid Promptly.
Alluding to a newspaper report that the
Treasury would be now hankrrIpt If II
had not been that secretary Cortelyo,,
had held back S5o.GUUO Mr.. PAYNE de.
clared thai inquiry had developed the
fact that that statement was made on,
of the whole cloth.
Every warrant. Inc asserted was
being paid regularly il cam. to ,h
Treasury for payment" The committee
In preparing the bill. he declared. had
guarded against any raid on the Treas