Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1909-06-30
FROM WASHINGTON.
Senator Hale Plugging Away on the
Tariff Schedule.

has had an active part in gathering up the
odds and ends of the tariff schedules. He
was one of the republican senator's. who
the corporation tax amendment whipped
into shape, and with other republican
senators was dinner guest at the White
House two evenings when the amendment
was under discussion.
He also took charge OF the Senate pro-
visions for raising the duties on boots and
shoes to 20 per cent. While the tariff bill
was thus focusing the activities of those
at the capitol, Senator Hale was also push
ing the census bill to finality and grind
ing out en- appropriation OF sio,0o0,0o0 to
keep the big bureau at the foot of Capitol
hill at work after July /.
He was one OF the conferees who finally
fixed up the long-delayed legislation for
taking the next census, and not only has
tened the preparation of the appropriation
bill, but passed it through the Senate so
that it could become lawibefore July 1. In
this effort he had meeting of the appro-
priations committee, of which the senator
is now chairman, during one of the hot
test afternoons OF the week, and shaped up
the bill for the Senate's consideration.
Senator Hale took very positive ground
about the duty on boots and shoes which
are manufactured in great quantities in
Maine factories. He felt unwilling TO SUP
port the item for free hides in the tariff
bill, because it meant reduction of the
duties on boots and shoes. 1t is the SEN
ator's Judgment that the duties on boots
and shoes should not in any event be re-
duced.
"Tne last stage of the manufacture
which puts the article upon the market,
as it is worn by the consumers, the men,
women and children whose feet are shod, -
said the senator during the debate in ex-
planning his position, "has to deal not
only with the duty upon hides, but with
the duty we put upon sole leather that en-
tiers into the product. l think il it were
not for my general course OF fealty to the
finance committee and my acquiescence in
its conclusions, should move to make the
duty upon boots and shoes % per cent in
lieu OF 20 per cent. do not think that
under our system OF recognizing the ad-
yanced product that that would be an I'M
reasonable duty, considering the duty we
put upon hides and sole leather, and that
the advanced product has to bear what
ever burden comes from that"
This idea was strongly emphasized by
Senator Hale, who had long debate over
it with some Of the southerners, espec-
tally with Senator Bacon, OF Georgia, and
with some OF the low tariff republicans
from the Northwest, like Senator Clapp,
ofiMinnesota. He not only proposes to
make the duties on boots and shoes as
high as the finance committee will Consent
to make them, but as one Of the conferees
on the tarifflbill, Mr.. Hale intends to do
all he can in conference to make those
duties relatively high as compared with
the duties on hides. 1t is his judgment
that the boot and shoe industry in New
England will be better favored by such
course than by taking the duty OF hides.
kThe exemption of small corporations
from the excise tax, as provided in the
Taft amendment now before the Senate, is
the work of Senator Hale. He advocated
it at the White House conferences, be-
cause be believed the retention OF the tax
upon small corporations, whose net in
come is 5000 year or under, would in
vite big raid upon the the Senate and an
aggressive effort to defeat the entire pro-
vision. President Taft at first thought
the tax should apply to all corporations,
but yielded as Senator Hale pleaded the
political exigencies of the situation.
The Presidents two closest confidants
on the finance committee during the con-
sideration of the tariff bill have been SEN
ator Aldrich, of Rhode Island, the chair
man, and the senior senator from Maine.
They have been to the White House offices
repeatedly since the Senate began to con-
slider the tariff bill, and have been guided
by the Presidents wishes in much that
has been done in the framing OF the
schedules. The new tariff bill, as matter
of fact, couldE.well be:.,called 1.-THE Taft
Aldrich- Payne bill. Probably it will be
popularity known as the Payne bill, follow
ing custom of naming a tariff law after
the chairman Of the ways and means COM
mittee of the House OF Representatives,
where the bill originates.
The Maine contingent at the--capitol are
having sultry time, closing out t he
month OF June. The senator's, OF course,
are having the worst of it, for they put in
long days every wenty-fourlhours, ex-
cept Sunday. The day had :beenl begin
ming at 10 O'Clock in the forenoon and end
ing at O'Clock at night, but this week it
is to begin at 10 O'Clock in the morning
and end about 10 o'clock at might, for the
Senate is having night sessions.
Every few days Senator FRYE. gets a
whack with the Senate gavel, while Vice
President Sherman goes out to play golf
with President Taft, and somehow or
other he manages to boost the tariff bill
along several spaces. That is because he
knows how to hustle the Senate along to
vote, and how to discourage wrangling
and debating.
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