New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-03-11
CONSUMERS GET BUSY
OPPOSE DUTY ON COFFEE.
Tariff Trainers Inform Cannon of
Bills Provisions.
From The Tribune bureau. J


Washington. March 10.-Congress is beginning 70
hear from the ultimate consumer When the
Ways and Means Committee was holding hearings
on the tariff bill attention called TO the fact
that. while importers. exporters manufacturers,
growers and dealers hand to look after
their business interests in the customs act, the
voice of the consumer was not heard.
A few weeks ago the newspapers began 10 hint
that Congress might place duty or tea and
coffee. Then Mr. Ultimate Consumer sat up and
took notice. Members of the Senate and House
have begun TO receive letters and petitions in op-
position TO the proposed tax the familiar break
fast beverages. The lord Of the breakfast table
and his wife telling their Senators and Repre-
sentatives that a duty on tea or coffee would be
most obnoxious tax
Representative Davidson, of Wisconsin. to-day
received a petition signed by $40 families in his
home city Of Oshkosh begging him to resist TO
the uttermost any proposal to place duty on tea
or coffee. The Oshkosh protestants says they have
heard with alarm that effort is being made to
place a duty of at least cents pound on coffee
and at least 10 cents a pound tea. They say
that coffee and tea have become necessities in the
home Of every Iaboring and that the proposed
tax would impose burden upon the workingmen
without giving them any corresponding benefit
Other Senators and Representatives have received
similar petitions and letters.
Speaker Cannon and Representative Nreeland
conferred with the Republican members Of the
Ways and Means Committee to-day regarding the
provisions of the tariff bill. The strict secrecy
that has prevailed in regard to everything that has
taken place in the committee room was maintained
but it is understood that the new features Of the
bill. the provision reviving the war revenue tax
and the inheritance tax section were thoroughly
explained the Speaker. Mr. Cannon desires 10
become thoroughly familiar with the tariff measure
in order TO speed its passage through the House IN
accordance with the understanding reached at the
White House conference OF Monday
In order 10 compensate In a measure for the gen
eral reduction Of duties contained in the bill the
subcommittee has incorporated several provisions
which are expected to increase the revenues These
provisions are remedial in character, tending TO
prevent undervaluations and other methods by
which advantage is taken of the ambiguity Of the
Dlngley law.
To prevent the practice Of assessing imported
goods at less than their fun value the committee
has incorporated a provision which VIII make II
POSSIBLE for the appraisers base the valuation OF
articles on the wholesale market prices here IN
connection with the wholesale prices at the point
OF production abroad. The provision says that in
the absence of evidence regarding the wholesale
price foreign country in which the article Is
manufactured. the appraisers may assess the ao
valorem duty a price which shall not De less
than sthe wholesale price in this country less the
cost Of transportation. This provision is IN the
nature Of a compromise with those interests that
sought 10 have all ad valorem duties assessed en-
trely according 10 the wholesale market prices IN
this country
In the course OF the tariff hearings several in
stances were brought the attention Of the com
mittee in which importers combined purchase OF
two lots Of goods of greater and the other OF
lesser value and obtained invoice by which the
duty which would paid the goods Of lesser value
was obtained the entire shipment Cases where
the package size which the duties OF the DlngleS
tariff bill based has been increased. packages
OF increased size having been imported at large
saving TO the importers have been numerous.
These conditions are to be remeded by the new
bill and the compittee believes that the revenue
will be considerably increased