Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1909-07-30
TOday's Telegfaphic News
The Tariff Bill.

Washington, July SO.-In its per-
fected form the new tariff bill was sub.
mitted to the House today.
1t came from tho hands of Chairman
Payne, leading house conferee, IS the
report of the Joint conference committee
that had struggled for 81 days 10 its eff
forts to reconcile the differences in the
House and Senate bills aud at the same
time to meet the views OF President
Taft.
The bill as reported by conferees will
FIRST be disposed Of in the House, then
20 over to the Senate. 1t is possible
that the House will be able to take n
vote on it by tomorrow night. Under
the rules of legislation il cannot be
amended in either House. 1t must be
accepted, rejected, or referred back to
the conference committee. That it will
be accepted will 90 to the president for
his signature, and will become a law
within the next week or ten days is the
general prediction made here today.
AS 10 the big question whether the
bill is revision upward, or downward,
there is the contradictory argument that
seems to 60 with ell tariff bills. Mem
bers of the committee declare that the
measure will be of benefit to the country
| 10 lower duties on necessaries and higher
rates on luxuries. Opponents of the
bill charge that the rates average higher
than those of the DiDgley law, and that
little relief has been afforded on articles
most used by the people.
The announcement that the report
would 20 to the House today was
sufficient to attract an sssemblage that
WAS a record breaker for the special
session. The political and economic
issues involved we're Of the highest i'm.
| Iortance, and the massing of forces was
pressed with an energy warranted by
l the value OF the stake.
Chairman Payne, of the ways and
means committee, was the center Of
interest. He secured recognition soon
after the opening prayer, and tossed
into The arena the bone OF what promises
to be the iiveliest sort OF contention
during the ensuing week.
He stated that be had bad an inVesti-
CATION made. based on The last census
returns of 1905, showing the amount oil
domestic consumption of articles upon
which duties had beeu raised and al9C
those upon which the duties had been
lowered. The section OF the Aldrich
| bill giving the president unlimited
power for the appointment Of q tariff
commission was greatly amended. Un-
der the bill as reported he has authority
only to employ experts to investigate
tariff discrimination by foreign countries
against the United Safes. The customs
court and the maximum aud minimum
provided 10 the Senate bill we're accept.
ed by The conference committee. Maud
facturers using imported alcohol are
given the right of drawback II they ex'
port the alcohol imported or an equal
amount OF domestic alcohol.
| The secretary of the treasury is authO
rizs I'd to issue bonds to cover the cost Of
the Panama canal to the extent OF $Z9O,
1869, 900. This sum, together with thu
lisa, 63l, 800, already borrowed on issues
| Of per cent bonds, equals the estimates
| of the Isthman Canal Commission to
cover the entire cost of the canal from
its inception to its completion. Thu
new bonds authorized are to be in do
nominations of 800, $500 and 81, OO'
payable In fifty years and bearing inter
est at rate not exceeding 3 per cen
per sDnum. They are to be free from
taxation and are to be sold at not les
than par under such regulations as vii
, give all citzsns an equal opportunity {
subscribe for them.
The bill also limits the number of Ger
tificstes of Indebtedness that may b,
issued to 5000. 900, 900.