The Washington herald., 1909-03-23

serene r. PdAn chairman OF lAe house
Committee on Ways and Means opened
the debate on the tariff bill yesterday.
and spoke for four hours and ten min
utes. explaining the various provisions
of the measure and relating in detail the
progress OF the nation in the last fifteen
OF twenty years.
Mr.. Payne. who IS a clear and deliber-
ate speaker. answered numerous Ques-
tions. and told why the committee had
raised the duty on some articles and
reduced it on others. He will resume at
II o'clock this morning. when the House
cOnvenes. and probably will speak the
greater part Of the afternoon
Clark to Speak.
Following Mr.. Payne. Champ Clark. the
minority leader. viii speak, and after
him either Mr.. Dalzell or Mr.. Underwood
will be given the floor.
Following them the chairman will recog-
nize the members OF the committee and
then various members interested will
speak.
Mr.. Payne yesterday reviewed the
urgent demands from the American peo-
pie for revision. and declared it was
necessary for the national Congress 10
act lie said that the old schedules were
outgrown by the progress Of the country.
and that it was necessary 20 revise them
in order TO meet the demands.
He declared the country faced an In
creasing dedcit in the Treasury. and
while the foremost need was revision
downward il was also eminently neces-
sary TO nx a table of schedules that
would raise enough revenue to supply
the government needs.
flaw was discovered in the bill-that
part relating 20 minimum and maximum
schedules. as pointed out IN The Washing
ton Herald Saturday-and Mr.. Payne Of
fered a substitute FOR that section, making
il clear that a mother country could give
preferential rates To a dependency with
out incUrring the maximum rate of duty
from the United States. and vice versa.
Is Now Clear.
II is now believed that the tariff bill
Is clear on that point and intends only
70 impose the maximum duty where real
preference is shown against the United
States.
Mr.. Payne had a clash with several OF
the Democrats about the clause relating
States Steel Corporation. which owns
vast ore beds in Cuba, would not benefit
by the free importation OF ore 70 the
United States. Mr. Payne was not GER
tain If the Steel Corporation would be
the beneficiary, but ne said he had un-
derstoOd that Mr. Schwab's companies
owned interests on the island
Representative Hobson was the most
,f Ra. IN a.
this question 10 Nj Payne and finished
his interruptions with the statement that
the Steel Corporation would receive a
benefit and that the free impOrtatiOus
would mean a direct saving. Mr. HObsOn
believed the cut on pig iron should have
been larger than it was.
Replies to HObsOn.
Mr. Payne ventured the statement in
reply to Mr.. Hobson. that he was the
only Democrat from the South that
wanted great reductions Of the duty. but
the statement was met by a vehement
denial from Representative Burleson, Of
Texas. who declared Mr.. Payne evidently
had not talked with any Of the Demo
Gratis
Mr.. Payne reviewed the Mckinley and
the Wilson tariff bills and declared that
while they were measures OF good IN
tent they had become antiquated.
He said that when the Mckinley bill
was passed there was too much revenue,
and that Congress was forced 10 take
the duty off sugar and place a bounty
Of cents pound on It.
When the Wilson bill was passed -
said Mr.. Payne, there was not enough
revenue. and so a 70 per cent revenue
was placed on sugar. and the bounty
was repealed
Cause Of Growth
Referring TO the Dingley BILL Mr.. Payne
said It was the primal cause OF the won
derful growth OF the country, and had
done more 10 upbuiId the nations in
dGstries than any other Congressional
measure
The large national deficit was due 20
the enormous expenditures OF the Post
ofice Department, said Mr. Payne. es-
pecially in the rural free delivery. service.
The Dingley bill produced a surplus
OF S25.o00c0o. II we exclude the postal
deficit. while Il afforded protection for
the American industries" he said.
Protective Point.
Mr.. Payne referred 20 the protective
point OF the bill. and declared 1t was the
wish Of the majority OF the American
people 10 prevent outside competition
from coming into the home markets and
running out home products. He told how
the Ways and Means Committee had ap-
pointed subcommittee, consisting Of the
Republican members who had drafted the
bill after the Committee OF the Whole.
Republicans and Democrats had attended
the hearings and drawn from the various
witnesses the facts which guided in max
ing the schedules.
Mr. Payne said this was the natural
way to do things; that If the Democrats
had been allowed TO attend the hearings
Of the committee and subcommittee and
take a part in the deliberations no deci-
sion could have been reached as long as
the two factions represent entirely dIf-
fsrent views.
Mr.. Payne said that the items trans
ferred from the free 70 the dutiable list
had not been so changed under cover In
Creases are few in number. and are not
vs-y importd"i. he said. In Schedule a..
he said. relating TO chemicals. the duties
on perfumery and toilet articles had been
increased from 80 to 90 per cent IN
eresses were also made on fancy soaps.
although ordinary CASTLE soap was not
raised.
Tax on Wigs.
Manufactured wigs. he added. have been
Increased from % 10 y per cent.
THAT is hard on the bald-headed men. ~
he said. yet if you will wear wig con-
trary 10 the law of nature, why. in
heavens name. should you not pay a rea-
sonable duty?"
Mr.. Campbell. Of Kansas. interrupted
Mr. Parna fn inn,,ira 90 tho ofoi,,, -