The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1909-04-01
WASHINGTON
From our Regular Correspondent.


Washington, D. c.. Mar. 20, 900.
Representative Champ Clark, the
minority leader, has made his long
looked for speech on the Payne
tariff bill and some parts of his ar
raign'nent made tie Republicans
squirm. He pointed out that except
for few commodities which have
been put on the free list the rates
were one and half per cent higher
in the Payne bill than in the Ding
ley bill. He urged that the tax OH
tea te removed, asserting that it
was a tax on "the poor man s
breakfast table" and one which
many could i'll afford to pay, while
there had been no increase what
ever Of the tax on beer which
could easily staud an additional so
cents barrel, which was luxury
which no man needed and mauy
were better off>without. He showed
the subterfuge by which the
Standard Oil Company is protect
ed, petroleum being placed on the
free list but differential provided
for in the case of any oth.r country
placing an export tax on oil which
results in saving the Standard
Company from all competition His
speech was vigorously applauded
by the Democrats but the Republi-
cans looked very much unhappy
as he proceeded.
I,k*
Mr.. Clark said he was confident
that if the House were afforded all
opportunity to vote on the ques-
tion it would take the tax off of
tea and increase the tax on beer
all opinion which apparently is
shared by the Republican leaders
for they a:e plotting to secure the
adoption of a rule which will make
it impossible for the members to
secure vote on any amendment
whatever unless it is first reported
by the Ways and Means committee
which Speaker Cannon named and
which, of course, he dominates.
The leaders now count on shutting
off general debate with a rule next
Wednesday after which, if their
plans carry, there will be debate
under the five minute limitation to
each speaker for ten days, then
three days will be set apart for
voting on amendments and it is ex-
pected that the House will vote on
the entire bill about April IS.
*..*
The President has given notice
to the Senate leaders that if they
SO change the bill as to make it a
high protection measure or to re-
1uce its revenue producing powers
he will veto it, and moreover, that |
he will probably recommend the
adoption of tax of per cent on
the dividends of all corporations
except banks and few others. 1t |
is estimated that such a tax would |
yield at least SIS. ooo, 900 of reve-
nue. and possibly considerably |
more. President Taft is disappoint-
ed at the showing that this tax
would yield so little. Of course it
would not apply to bonds and a
large part of the capitalization of
the corporations, especially of the
railroads, consists of bonds.
***
Unfortunately the Democrats in
Congress are not making as good a
showing as they might on the tar
lit bill because so many of them
are urging protection for certain
interests within their own districts.
This makes it impossible for them
to attack the protection principle
of the Payne bill with the strength
they could otherwise possess.
***
The Secretary of the Interior
has asked for and accepted the
resignation OF the Assistant Attor-
ney General for that Department,
although of course the resignation
had actually to be called for by
the Attorney General. This means
that the all powerful influence of
Clifford Pinchot, the national
forester, in the Interior Department
is at an end, for Assistant Attorney
General Woodruff was an employee
of the bureau of forestry before