Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-07-04
TARIFF REPR|SAL PLAN
Schedules of Bill to Be Mini
mum Rates.
ALDRICH SCHEME ADOPTED
Maximum Made by Adding Is Per
Cent Ad Valorem.
REWARD FOR TRADE LENIENCY
President Authorized to Employ Ex-
perts for Trade Investigation
and to Gather Statistics.

posed retalatory mea Sures to be adopted
by the United States to meet trade dis
ordinations by other nations the Senate
adopted the maximum and minimum pro-
visions OF he new tariff bill in practically
the form reported from the finance COM
mttee yesterday afternoon. The vote
was SO to Is.
The feature Of the bill provides that on
and after March 81 1910. the rates al
ready adopted in the Payne-Aldrich bill
shall be the minimum tariff Of the United
States. and the maximum tariff shall he
the same with an additional - per cent
ad valorem on all articles on the dutiable
| list. The II CHER rates are to constitute
the general tariff, according to the provi-
| sions Of the measure.
The President is authorized to put into
effect by proclamation the minimum rates
with respect to the products from
country which he shall find. by inNestiSa-
ton. $ not unduly discriminating. by its
tariff trade REGULATIONS. against the
products of the United States.
1t especially provided at the suggestion
OF Senator Hepburn of Idaho that ninety
days must elapse before the Presidents
proclamation restoring the max mum
rates i'll any instance shall go into effect
Experts to Gather Data.
imum and m nimum amendment is
that it creates a sort of tariff COM
mission by authorizing the President
to employ such persons as may be
required to make thorough investiga-
ton, commerce and trade of the Tn ted
States and foreign countries and all con-
ditionS affecting the same
This body is to secure information to
\ .S CT ttn IDtAS DO, ~, f1a n -,t,, -
the duties imposed upon him under the
measure. we'll as information which
will be useful to Congress in tariff legis-
lation and to the officers of the govern
ment IN the adm nistration of the Gus
toms laws.
During the debate Senator Aldrich
chairman of the finance committee. an
nounced that it was not the intention of
the COMMITTEES by this amendment to raise
the duties in the various schedules of the
bill. but merely to We the President
weapon by which he could secure the best
trade ARRANGEMENTS with foreign coun-
tries. He frankly admitted that 1t was
intended especially for use against Ger
many and France, which are today
greatly discriminating aga INST articles eX-
ported from this country.
1t was warmly denounced by many
democratic senator's, who claimed that
its effect would be to increase the are dy
exorbitant r. ties of the bill. Mr.. Aidrich
merely laughed at this suggestion.
Senator Bacon of Georgia said he would
vote for it if should be worded SO as TO
make the schedules the maximum rates
and permit the President to add % per
cent ad V. loren in case of discrimination
But Mr.. A.drich explained that the effect
would be exactly the same, and that by
the committees plan this country would
be put in the position of granting re-
wards for tariff ieniency instead OF max
Ing threats.
Sen tor Root of New York, former Sec
rotary of State. took this view also.
Mr. Aldrich asserted that he was GER
tain Germany and France will have
ceased to discriminate ag inst this coun-
try before this provision goes into effect.
1t will not be necessary to impose the
maximum rates OF the bill in any case
whatever, he is assured.
As originally reported by the committee
the amendment placed maximum, duties
of cents pound on coffee and 10 cents
pound on tea, both of which are on the
free list under the minimum scale Both
duties We're stricken out on motion of
Senator Daniel of Virginia, supplemented
by pleas from Senators Root and Nelson.
Commission Voted Down.
An amendment by Senator Deliver OF
Iowa, authorizing the appointment by the
President of customs commission con-
sisting OF five members with extended au-
thority for gathering information concern
/
rious matters affecting the cost of produc-
tion in lieu of the experts authorized by
the finance committees amendment, was
voted down. 23 to %.
Mr.. Doliiver said his commission would
nave power to make the tariff rates equal
TO the difference In the cost of production
In the United States and abroad. The
time had come. he contended, to provide
ia.
that have been adopted by the great now
ers. He would like TO create a commits
sion that would measure up' with the
interstate commerce commission in abii-
lily TO look after foreign commerce as
the interstate commission looks after in
ternal commerce.
Mr. uCmmins suggested substitute fix
ing penalty of % per cent of the exist
ing duty instead of % per cent ad valorem
on countries discriminating against the
lnited states. It was voted down viva
With the maximum and minimum pro-
visions of the bill out of the way. tn,
senate stu has enough to keep it busy
lor L uerlod variously estimated at from
week TO two weeks. There are numer-
GUS other administrative features that
must be acted upon. some Of which have
not yet been reported by the finance
committee. s-E . -
A number of these subjects are IN.
cluded III an. amendment presented BY
the committee some days ago and printed
This measure in Itself is longer than
most bills that Congress has to deal with.
including. as it does. forty-six closely
printed pages.
The administration provisions to- be
acted upon relate to drawbacks, the GUS
toms court of appeals countervailIng
duties. etc. All of this week NAV H.,
consumed in settling these matters
by unanimous consent the Brown resn
luton proposing an amendment to the
Constitution 70 make valid general IN
come taN will be taken up for consid-
Grafton tomorrow. and the voting on Il
and all pending amendments thereto viii
commence at l pm.
Estimate Of Consideration.
The time the bin will consume after
being reported from the committee Of
the whole TO the Senate proper is vari-
ously estimated at from three days 10 a
week or ten days Every portion of the
bill will be open again for amendment In
the Senate. and 1t is impossible TO tell
what may develop.
1t Is practically certain that efforts Will
be made to amend the corporation tax
provision. and some of the schedules in
GLIDING the sugar schedule are pretty
certain to be reopened for discussion and
some voting. Mr.. Beveridee will press
his amendment restoring the war tax on
tobacco. unless the finance committee IN
The meantime takes steps TO meet his
objections ON this score, which seems
likely. In any event that is another sub
Ject that will consume time.
Allowing the conferees only two weeks
In which to agree. which is conceded to
be the minimum time. il looks as If il
will be at least August ! before Congress
finally adjourns. Color is given to pro
dfctions of "A later date by the fact that