The Washington herald., 1909-03-24
WORK ON The TARIFF
Senate Finance Committee
Takes Up Payne Bill.
INHERITANCE TAX IS OPPOSED
First Meeting of Majority Members
Continues in Session Eight Hours.
Chemical Schedule Almost Con-
cIuded-Number of Experts and
Appraisers Are Heard

The Republican members OF the Senate
Commission on Finance begun work In
real earnest on the tariff revision bill
! yesterday With the bill introduced in the
House as a guide. they started IN 70 con-
slider the various schedules. The Re-
publican Senators OF the committee
worked from 1870 o'clock yesterday morn
ing until after D. m. and when they
had concluded their labors for the day.
/ had practically completed the chemical
schedule
It is apparent already that the Republi-
cans OF the Senate Finance Committee
have determined not TO endeavor 20 con-
slider the ACCESSIBILITY Of imposing taxes
of a special kind until they have found
out whether a straight tariff will suf-
fee 70 give revenue.
Bar Income Tax.
The Inheritance tax provided for in the
bin now pending in the House is regarded
as within the category Of special taxa
ton. and 1t is not likely 20 be included IN
the Senate bill. The same thing applies
/ to the proposed income tax, not provided
7 for I'm the House bill. The suggestion
attributed to the President that a . per
/ cent tax should be imposed upon the
dividends Of corporations has not been
communicated to the Republican mem
bers Of the Finance Committee, and IL
view Of their attitude It IS not likely \
be put before them for consideration.
AS things stand. the Republican mem
bers Of the Finance Committee are going
about the preparation of a tariff bill OF
their own on unusual. even unique,
lines They are OF the opinion that the
main thing is not TO enact a tariff law
that viii bring in an enormous income
but to devise means by which public ex-
penses can be kept within such reason
able bounds that an enormous income
Will not be required
II was with this idea IN view that the
Senate leaders determined on the forma-
tion Of the Committee on Public Expend-
itures. the membership of which was an
lOUnced. The Committee on Public Ex-
penditUres, or as Il is already being
called, ''the Budget Committee" viii
have general supervision over all the
annual supply bills. and win exercise this
supervision I'm an arbitrary way designed
TO keep appropriations well within the
receipts Of the Federal Treasury.
Upon the theory involved in the forma-
tiOn Of the Budget Committee the Re-
publican members OF the Senate Finance
Committee will do their recasting OF the
tariff bill pending in the House.
Several Experts Heard.
The Senate tariff DILL constructors IN
tend, however, TO save the time or the
country and themselves by starting in
right now to draft a tariff measure. Until
they have gone through every schedule
OF the Payne bill with view TO future
atcion, they viii not attempt 20 re-draft
the langage OF any section or clause or
change the figures Of duties imposed by
the House measure.
The Republican members Of the Fin
ance Committee had before them several
general appraisers and a number OF
chemical experts.
The technical experts were examined
carefully in regard 10 the provisions OF
tho chemical schedule Of the House bill.
and the commit men obtained a mass
Of valuable information which Will be
arranged for ready reference, when the
consideration Of the bill for the purpose
Of making changes has been begun.
1t is clear that II the Republican mem
bers or the Finance COMMITTEES are able
to find means by which sufficient revenue
10 run the government can be provided
through usual customs duties and inter
nal revenue taxes. the inheritance tax
provision VIII be omitted from the bin
when It Is reported in the Senate.
It is too early yet to say exactly what
the outcome viii be, but the disposition of
the Republican committeeman is known
TO be in favor Of what is designated as
a straight tariff law. In this connection
il is said that the matter OF renewing
the stamp tax on checks and legal papers
had not been considered by the Finance
Committeeman.