The Washington herald., 1909-03-28
SUNDAY. MARCH 2s.
fBy the Universal News Analysis-l
Congressional.

revisions Of the tariff. Mr. Payne said
there we're two reasons for the present
revision, namely. TO readjust commercial
arrangements with foreign nations, and
10 provide increased revenue for the gov
ernment The committee had estimated
that the new biz would bring in SSl2'-
100000. and thatit would wipe out the def
icit the first year Of its operation. He
said the minimum rates in the bill had
been fixed on the lines OF a protective
tariff, as demanded IN the party platform,
and II these were enacted no business
would suffer from unfair and unequal
competitions with foreign industries. and
every laborer will continue to receive
good and fair compensation for the work
that he performs" Speaking next of the
maximum rates provided against any na-
ton which should not cOncede TO this
nation the same rates as It gives to the
most favored nation, he denied that this
contained any trick or joker. as charged
IN some of the papers. The granting OF
sixty days in which TO get In under this
provision made II certain that every ma
ton would take advantage of il. He also
denied that the provisO OF the free coffee
proposal IN the bill against an export tax
By South American countries was not
Joker either. for he pointed out that
Brazil is now leYyiDg about half cert
Oh every pound OF coffee exported to the
United States He insisted that they did
not rely on getting a dollar OF revenue
frcm the failure OF any coffee country 10
drop the export tax. To get into our
market they would comply
ton TO meet the criticism of the word
ing. which made 1t appear that the maxi
mum duties would be imposed against
country which gave its own colonies or
dependencies a preferential rate. This
would not only have rendered the mini
mum rates useless in many cases, but
was unfair, inasmuch IS the bill pro-
vides for the free entry OF American goods
into the Philippines. The substitute makes
the maximum rates not applicable where
the preferences existed between mother
country and dependency. The Philip
pines are excepted.
They had placed iron ore on the free
list because two tons OF American ore
would go as far as three OF foreign in the
production Of pig iron
Mr.. Payne concluded his speech in five
hours on Tuesday. In reply TO a ques-
tion from Langley. of Kentucky. who
wanted a separate vote on the lumber
schedule, PAYNE said he had no Objec-
tion. but that II the result was free lum-
Der he should not be blamed. He then
spoke severely TO those members who are
unable 70 look beyond the interests of
their own districts Speaking Of the re-
moval Of the duty on hides, he said the
only man hurt would be the middle man.
the benefit going 20 the independent
manufacturer and the consumer. He ex-
planned in detail the inheritance tax,
which was estimated to produce $4,000.
600 revenue. The income tax proposition
had been considered. but its constitu-
tlonaity was doubted In conclusion he
said: II want the bill passed at the first
possible moment, and 1 believe when IL
IS passed and signed by the President II
will accomplish the purposes which we
have designed. ] believe it will open the
ports Of other countries. I believe il will
give us fairer trade relations the world
over believe It viii not stop the labor
or a single hand. I believe IL will start
up industries throughout the United
States I believe that labor will be fully
employed and that good and blessings
viii come from the passing OF this bin" ="
Leader Clark. Of the minority. took up
the cudgels against the Payne bill We'd
nesday in a fve-hOur speech. He said
that his party had no desire TO waste
time but would insist upon n thorough
consideration and the privilege of offer
ing amendments under the five-minute
rule AS to the question Of additional
revenue he said the true remedy was 70
cut down expenses and thus wipe out the
deficit He insisted. however. that the
bill was revision up instead of down He
quoted Carnegie in support OF free rails
and said that the 1892 rate on rails would
prove prohibitive. He declared that the
average rates in the Payne bill were
1.5s per cent higher than the average
rate OF the Dingley act and that the re-
ductions were more apparent than real
The Democratic members OF the House
held a meeting. or caucus. Monday night
during which the boilers. who had fol-
lowed Fitzgerald's lead against the re-
vision Of the rules. were bitterly criti-
CiseG. Action was taken to make future
caucgses binding upon those present. In
consequence of this. the boilers have
served notice upon Leader Clark that
hereafter they would not follow his lead
ership Some of them I'm interviews Inti-
mated that their course was a protest
against further domination Of the party
by William J. Bryan. They said they
intended TO assert their independence and
fight for a more intelligent policy.
Leader Clark. Of the House minority
submitted Monday the views of the Demo-
cratic members of the Ways and Means
Committee on the tariff bill. II was held
that the bill was prepared by the major
ity without consultation with the minor
ity. and that the measure was framed in
the interest Of the trusts. As one glaring
evidence OF this, they point to the con-
tinued 90 per cent protection for oil, en-
abling the Standard Oil Company to domi-
II
They charge that the bill is also sec
tional. as no burden Is lifted from the
shoulders OF the Southern farmer. They
contend that IL makes the cotton grower
sell in a free trade market and paw a
duty on the manufactured product OF cot
ton when imported. After criticising the
schedules in detail. the report concludes
that the measure is crude. indefinite, sec
ti0nal. and prohibitive; that "on the
whole II increases the cost OF living" and
that the reductions fall far short OF
what the people had been led to expect.
They would insist upon their right to
debate and amend it item by item under
the five-minute rule.
The biennial changes in the member
ship OF the Senate committees We're re-
ported from the committee on commit
tees Monday Of which Senator Aldrich
is the chairman. and no objection was
made 20 the new assignments. These had
been previously approved by the Repub-
lican caucus. the insurgent element being
satisfied with the assignments given TO
them. The new committees were launch
ed. namely. Public Expenditures and Con
servation Of Natural Resources. Dixon.
OF Montana. was made chairman of the
latter. and Hale will be ex oficio chair
man or the former as head Of the Com
mittee on Appropriations La Toilette
gets the quite important chairmanship
OF the Census Committee. DolIiver. Agri-
culture and Forestry. Cun1n1fns civil