Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-03-18
The Payne Tariff Bill Removes
Many Antiquities Of the
Dinglsy Bill
THOROUGH INQUIRY MADE
Material TO Aid In the Formation Of
the New Measure Collected from
All Parts Of the Wor1d-Prep-
aration for Revision Made
Months Ahead.

Washington. March it-Ons Of the most
important features Of tho Payne tariff
bill 10 the numerous changes In
phraseoloSy Of the present law which
It contains They have been made with
view to clearing up any ambiguity
which exists in he various paragraphs
Of the Dingley bill and to make the new
measure conform with the decisions OF
the courts and the board Of appraisers.
Major H. NJ. Lord. u. 9. army, who
has been detailed with the committee
on ways and means in charge Of inforna-
ton during the present revision said
to-day that the work Of gathering in
formation began months In advance OF
the adoption Of the resolution by the
House last May which authorized the
expediture necessary Tor tho work
preliminary to the framing Of the tariff
bill.
Following the adjournment Of the
f1rst session Of the Sixtteth Congress.
under the provisions Of the resolu-
ton committee headquarters we're es-
ia blished in Auburn n. Y, the home
Of Chairman Payne.
Zone exceedingly important feature
Of the work was the consideration Of
the court decisions that have affected
the revenue" said Major Lord. and
the recommendation Of phraseology
that would meet these decisions. Tho
| committee in this work had the as
| sistance Of Thomas r. Dougherty as
sistant counsel. United states treas
ury. from the office OF general ap-
praisers. New York city.
Another branci, Of the work consisted
Of collecting information relative TO the
various concrete articles treated Of in
the tariff. which was secured from pub
lished works, from the various depart
ments OF tho government and from pub
lie sources In this and other countries.
At the request OF the committee, the
State department sent out consular
letter to It's representatives In foreign
countries. calling for reports OF indus
trial conditions The subjects of foreign
labor and costs Of production were COW
cred in detail.
This information was gathered
preliminary to the public hearings
which began on November 10 ant
continued until December -. Spe
cial hearings were also held in Jan
uary ana February. Representatives
Of all tho important industries wer'
subjected 10 searching Investigation
and crose- questioning. About 5000
communications and petitions relative
to tariff revision were received by tn
committee. The print Of the hearings
with briefs selected from the mass o
, correspondence will make 5000 page
OF reading matter.
'The chairman Of the committee. Rep
resentative Payne OF New York. was as
ISOLATED with tho enactment Of III
Mckinley bill. and was the ranking
member Of the committee during III
formulation Of the Dingley act. Represen
tative John DalEcll, Pennsylvania. tn
ranking member Of the present commit
, tee, was associated with ~. Dngley an
Mr.. Payne in the Dinsley revision"
! In concluding Major Lord said: 9TH 4
work Of the committee has been charac
terized by a disposition to make a
. honest thorough revision and one tina
vii, result In bringing about tho creates
good to the greatest number Of the pee
pie Of the country"