The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1909-04-16
EXCEPT IN CASE
OF LUXURIES
Senate Recommends General
Reductions In Tariff
BILL IS REPORTED TO SENATE

Duties Substantially Increased In LID
uor Schedules and Dingley High
Rates Restored by Amendments-An
Improvement on Payne Bill, From
the popular" or Reductionist Point
of View
Washington, April 13.-The amend
ed tariff bill is now on the senate
calendar, and by an agreement
reached on the floor consideration of
the measure will begin on Thursday.
AS reported the bill does not con-
tain all of the changes in rates which
the finance committee proposes to
make. Although several important
amendments, such as the restoration
of the Dingley rate on women's gloves
and hosiery, the placing of works of
art on the free list, and the assess
ment of a duty on iron ore have been
made, the revenue producing posi-
bilities of the bill are little changed.
The increases are provided mainly
in the schedule covering luxuries, the
entire liquor schedule being material
ly advanced. The increase on wines
and spirits is expected to bring in
about SO 900, 900 additional revenue.
Senator Aldrich said that the COM
mittee realizes that the increases thus
far recommended will not be suffi-
cient to counterbalance the loss in
revenues that will result from the re-
auctions and the lengthening Of the
free list. This shortage will necessi-
tate further increases on certain
luxuries, and the committee intends
to report some changes at an early
date which it will ask the senate to
adopt.
No maximum and minimum provi-
sions or administrative features,
which include additional forms of tax
alton, were reported in the bill. These
sections of the measure are to receive
the joint consideration of the Repub-
lican and Democratic members of the
finance committee and may not be re-
ported for three weeks or more. Sew
eral OF the revenue features are de-
pendent upon the action which the
committee will take in regard to these |
sections. Besides the dutiable and !
free lists, the only additional provi- |
sion of the Payne bill reported Mon
day was the Philippine free trade pro-
vision.
Changes were made in the cotton /
and wool schedules of interest largely !
to the manufacturers of cotton and
wooden cloths. The action of the
finance committee in maintaining the
high rate of duty which it placed on
tops at the time the Dingley bill was
under consideration, and which now
stands in the present law. will I'M
reopen the controversy on
the wool schedules. The intent of the
Dingley law regarding the assessment
of duties on cotton cloth has been car
ried out by a change in the provision
for the method to be used in counting
the threads in cotton cloths. The new
proviso and the Encouragement of the
duties on the various grades of cloths
removes the ambiguity which resulted
in many difficulties in the provisions
Of the existing law being carried out
without changing the ad valorem
equivalent to the specific duties.
BY restoring the Dingley rates on
barley and barley malt and by reduc-
ng the taxation on the breakfast
able" by cutting down the duties on
Office substitutes and placing cocoa
m the free list, the senate amend
nents to the Payne bill present a bid
or popular favor. The numerous in
reases in the agricultural schedule,
Intended for the protection of the !
.merican farmer and provided for I
mong the amendments largely !,
trough the efforts of Senator Nc
lumber. a new member of the com
littee from the west, were framed
18th a view to gaining favorable