The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-04-16
Senate Democrats United
For Tariff Bill Provision.
ALSO FOR GENERAL REDUCTIONS
Conference of Minority Senators,
While Not All Harmony,
Stands For Decrease In
Rates on Necessities.

Washington, April 15.-Democrats in
the United States senate will present a
solid front against any Republican op-
position to an income tax for raising
revenue. This policy was agreed upon
at conference, which also went on
record as favoring a general reduc-
zion on tariff schedules, particularly
those relating to the necessaries of
life.
For more than four hours the Demo-
cratic members of the senate con-
ferred in the effort to agree upon a
policy toward tariff legislation.
The conference was not entirely bar-
monious. Some of the senators pres
ent admitted frankly that they would
ask for protection for the Industries
of their states. Senator Stone spoke
in favor of his program for independ-
ence for the FilipinOs after fifteen
years and absolutely free trade with
the islands during that period. Sena-
tor Foster was opposed to free trade
with any of the colonies. Neither of
these senators, it was apparent, could
have obtained majority of the Dem
ocrats for their proposition had a vote
been taken.
Only on one question was the con-
ference agreed, and that was the in
come tax amendment. No details were
arranged in the program to fight for
reductions in rates all along the line.
The conference was adjourned until
tomorrow, as all of those present
agreed that they were not sufficiently
acquainted with the bill to pass judg-
ment intelligently upon it.
Senator Cummins announces that he
will make fight on the floor of the
senate for lower duty on iron ore and
pig iron, lumber and coal and some
other items either increased from the
Payne bill rates by the senate commit
tee or restored from the free to the
dutiable list
Senator Cummins' amendment is in
two parts. The first authorizes the
president TO suspend the rates imposed
on the articles of any country refusing
to grant a reciprocal concession or to
suspend the rates on specified articles
imported from that country and tC
levy against those articles duty of
125 per cent of the rates imposed in
the senate bill as punishment. Articles
on the free list under the same cOndi
tions shall be taxed 20 per cent ad va.
loren. In this connection the rates OF
the senate bill will be the minimum.
In view of all the criticisms made OF
the tariff bill as amended by the
finance committee of the senate, par
ticularly the observation that the bill
will not produce sufficient revenues fol
the country's need, Senator Aldricl
will undertake on Monday to satisfac
torily explain the revenue features OF
the measure.
1t will be pointed out that the esti
mate of revenues to be derived from
the operation of the Payne bill made
by the ways and means committee
falls short of the actual possibilities
of the measure. The senate commit
tee on finance had the benefit of the
advice of the best experts in the gov
ernment service, and from an analysis
which they made of the house bill they
predicted that the revenues would
have been far greater under that meas
ure than were estimated
These experts take the position also
that the bill as amended by the sen
ate will raise great deal more money
than appears, and Senator Aldrich has
not changed his mind on the subject
that no additional internal taxes will
be required to supply the governments
exDense,