The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1909-05-27
ROOT PLEADS
FOR DRESSED
LUMBER TARIFF
NEW YORK SENATOR SAYS AMER
ICAN MILL OPERATORS NEED
PROTECTION.
CANADA is A MENACE.
Deferential of the Dingley Bill Just
About Right for Healthy
Business.
CANADA is A MENACE.
WooDwoRKERs ASK FOR DUTY

WASHINGTON, d. c., May 24.-An
extended plea for differential duty on
dressed lumber was made in the Senate
today in connection with the cOnsidera-
ton of the tariff bill, by Senator Root,
who cited the various lumber interests
along the Canadian border and gave rea-
sons why they should be accorded pro-
tective tariff.
Canada" he said, ''ofers to every
planning mill which will move across the
border a remission of taxes for from Tiff
teen to twenty-five years So that the
duty which we are imposing, If we adopt
the committee report on dressed lumber
merely balances the tax that is imposed
upon the property OF our mills for the
support of our state and municipal gov
ernments."
Calling attention to the fact that the
duties under consideration, both i'll the
case of the rates provided by the House
bill and by the committee ON finance
were less than the Dingley bill, Mr.. II ale
inquired whether the senator from New
retained. My impression is, said Mr.
Root, that the diiferential Of the Ding
ley bill is just about at the right point
to maintain healthy opportunity for
business. | do not think there can be a
reduction in these differentials that would
not transfer large portion of the plan
ing business to Canada"
Mr.. Root read n communication from
the Amalgamated WoodworkerS of
America as evidence that the employees
of the industry regard the maintenance
of II substantial differentinl as essential
IN their efforts to keep their wages at
the level established by the Dmgley law.
Hepburn Resumes Speech
Senator Hepburn resumed his speech
on the lumber schedule in the Senate to-
day and submitted a large amount of
evidence concerning the cost of produc-
ing finished lumber and the need for
ditferential duty.
Senator Hepburn inquired how much
it was proposed by the advocates of re
duced lumber rates to cut the wages of
laborers in the lumber camps. He want
ed to know whether it was the mills in
the west or southwest that 1t was pro-
posed to close.
Only a dozen senators were on the
floor. The circulation of the congress
Sional record is 50 limited and the in
terest of the press in this question 50
small that | prefer to speak to those who
must vote on this question" the Idaho
senator said. He then questioned the
presence of quorum and the roll was
called. a quorum responded and Mr..
Hepburn repeated his questions. The
silence which followed was broken by
the senator declaring, "If you don't an
swer those questions here you will an
swer them when election day comes
around and you want to hold up to the
people the fruits of the Republican par
ty."
Clashes with Clapp.
In the meantime so many senator's had
again left the chamber that a quorum
had to be brought in by another roll call.
y clash between Senators Hepburn
and Clapp followed the formers asser-
ton that the promised tariff revision was
made by the few Republicans ut the Chi
cago convention, in the hour of their
fright"
Senator Clapp asked if the Idaho sen
ator did not want to withdraw that
statement
mo, | am not afraid of ghosts, wher-
ever | meet them replied Mr.. Hepburn
The people koow the Republican party
could he trusted TO do the right thing
although inadvertently "A bad promise
crept into the platform"
Senator Burkett followed Senator Hey
burn by defending reduction of the
lumber rates.