The Washington herald., 1909-03-18
Mr.. Payne's Tariff Bill.


that the new tariff bin is a thorough
revision OF the existing tariff law
Although there is an extensive list OF
reductions. whole schedules remain IN
touched. the protective duties upon the
bulk OF manufactured articles being al
lowed 10 stand as they are. Evidently
when Uncle Joe" Cannon argued some
time ago for a maximum and minimum
tariff. with the present duties as the
minimum. he had some provision OF the
way the tariff was TO be revised by HIS
colleagues on the WAYS and Means Com
mittee
The iron and steel schedule has been
pretty well overhauled. and substantial
reductions made in the principal items.
As everybody knows. these reductions
can be made with perfect safety. since
the iron and steel industry is independent
OF foreign competition Substantial re-
ductions are made in the duty on lumber,
on wood pulp and print paper, hides,
bituminous coal, iron ore, and cotton seed
OIL works OF art twenty years old
go on the free list. and the duty on
refined sugar is reduced.
Free trade is established with the
Philippines. subject to restrictions upon
the volume Of sugar. tobacco. and cigar
importatiOns. on the other hand. tea is
taken from the free list and subjected
20 a duty OF and 3 cents a pound. The
duties on pottery. which Mr.. Taft thought
were too low. have not been changed. nor
is the little joker by which petroleum and
its products are protected conspicuous
by its absence.
When the rates OF duty are considered
along with the other revenue provisions
it becomes evident that the measure as
whole is one imposing additional taxa
ton upon tie people. while relieving them
to a small degree from tariff exactions
The Inheritance tax viii practically
double the amount Of succession taxes
now paid on transfers Of property since
most OF the States now Impose such
taxes. - duty on tea IS no better IN
principle than a duty on coffee. since II
goes directly home to the poorest con
sumer
To the increased tax on cigarettes nc
one can object, but It Is not likely to
prove OF much consequence as a revenue
measure That the bill will not yield
the revenue required 10 maintain the
swollen expenditures OF the government
IS admitted by providing for an issue OF
stO00OOO0 in bonds 10 reimburse the
Treasury for the purchase price OF the
Panama Canal, and by increasing the
maximum amount OF certificates OF in
debtedness that may be issued under ex.
isting laws to S25OOOO.OOO. As Congress a.
the last session authorized the issue oi
bonds TO meet next years Panama Cana
expenditures. amounting TO about So.
C9o0oo. the Secretary Of the Treasury
would have authority. If the new tariff
bin goes through in fits present form. u
add S225. 0O0.OoO TO the public debt. Thai
sum should see MS through several years
Of deficits.
Everybody recognizes. Of course. tha
the bill is not a legislative ffnalIty. IF Il
were, we should be inclined 70 say tha,
II IL probably the best that could be
expected from the company OF stand
patters which has had the task of revi
sion in charge. But as II stands. &
forms a mere basis for trades ant
diekers and logrolling, the end whereof
no man can guess.
In gush OF fine sentiment the othe,
night, the Speaker Of the House was be
trayed into saying that "the power OF
the people Of the United States TO 4,
their own revenues and control theh
own expenditures is one OF the subIirn.
est attributes Of our liberty"
This was a rather fancifuI flight Of III,
imagination, there being a co-ordinat,
branch Of the legislature. which fixe,
both the revenues and the expenditure.
about as II wills. When the solemn
Senators have finished with Mr.. PAYNE.
elaborate work we shall be in a bette,
position to judge Of the extent TO which
the Congressional majority has redeemed
its pledges to the people for a fair ant
impartial revision Of the tariff