New-York tribune., 1909-03-10
IN DOUBT ABOUT TARIFF
FR4IERS STILL At YORK
Marimum and Minimum Rates Pro-
rided-No Commission Planned.

IRON The Tribune Bureau.1
washington. March s.-Despite the fact that the
wavs and Means Committee has had print made
NJ its tariff bill. the members are still discussing
changes from their first conclusions and seem 10
- pretty much IN doubt To the final recon-
Tnendatious which they viii make 10 the House II
is decided however that the duty on lead will be
cut in half that The duty on wool will remain the
same for the standard. and that there will be a
rroyision for admitting certain Of the cbeaper
grades or wool. used for carpets mattings free
- nearly so. Il had been decided 10 admit these
lever grades free but certain experts informed the
committee that from them could he culed some low
Grade wool available for making cheap clothing
su5 then il was practically determined TO impose q
small duty
The House bill provides for free hides pro-
vision which, Il is safe to predict. get
through the Senate The duty is also materially
lowered boots and shoes. although that on
leather remains practically the same.
The coffee schedules are still under discussion
with the probability that a duty Of from two TO
four cents pound Will be imposed. The House
committee has made effort TO readjust the
wool schedules 10 maze the rates between the
several grades such washed. unwashed.' etc,
proportonate- The House Committee is remaining
steadfast TO its pledge 10 Mr.. Taft 10 admit a
certain amount of Philippine sugar free of duty
i is purposed 10 maintain the present duty pig
iron. but materially TO reduce the duty iron ore.
MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM RATES
Maximum and minimum rates Of duty are pro-
vided il the bill a paragraph will be included in
each separate schedule providing for the minimum
duties on articles under that schedule. Twenty
Per cent. is understood 10 be the average reduC-
ton made for the minimum duties Some articles
will be excepted from the provision for a minimum
duty and greater @ lesser rates OF reduction VIII
te placed others.
The United States was the first country adopt
maximum and minimum rates Of duty when il
provided for reciprocity in its tariff law for few
articles, such sugar Germany and France
however. have extended the reciprocity to cover
their entire tariff law and l. IS TO make the Amer
lean tariff more pIiable. IN accordance with the
tariffs OF foreign countries. that the maximum and
minimum provisions were incorporated
Certain OF the Senate leaders are seriously ad-
vocating that Of the war taxes be restored
when the bill comes 70 the Upper House. They
propose. for instance, that the makers OF all
checks and receipts De required 10 attach and can
Gel q two-cent stamp, using postage stamps for the
purpose II more convenient There Is also some
discussion OF the proposition place small duty
ca all goods the free list, giving the Secretary
Of State authority waive this duty II the case
Of goods coming from countries which make sQe-
cial concessions 70 the exports from The United
States, but the advocates Of this plan TOO few
70 warrant the prediction that il viii be adopted
Neither the Republican nor Democratic Ways
and Means committeeman VIII advocate the ap-
pointznent Of permanent tariff commission 1t
IS learned that the minority members of the Ways
and Means Committee have given no consideration
10 the tariff commission and do not propose to urge
the creation Of an independent tribunal 70 gather
facts about the tariff.
One Of the leading Democrats on the Ways and
Means Committee said to-day that he
alterably opposed 10 the tariff revision plan. I
think most OF my colleagues agree with me- he
said. that the appointment OF q tariff commission
would mean unsettled business conditions FOR many
years. IN preparing our tariff plans We have not
given the commission idea serious consideration.
The tariff commission supporters plan 10 make
their principal fight on the Senate floor They do
not expect that the bill which Senator Aldrich viii
report from the Finance Committee VIII make any
provision for { permanent commission
Some OF the minority members Of the Ways and
Means Committee desire that means be provided
whereby the Payne bill shall be the last general
tariff revision measure They have suggested that
in lieu OF q tariff commission. the Committee
Ways and Means OF the House andfhe Committee
on Finance Of the Senate be authorized to employ
4 force Of experts who shall devote all their time
10 investigating prices here and abroad freight
rates. combinations. nonopolies wages, cost Of
production and ike matters bearing on customs
duties
DEMOCRATS MAY CHAMPION PLAN.
II is possible We shall propose a plan OF this
kind" said Democratic member Of the Ways and
Means Committee to-day. If had force OF
experts constantly at work We could readtust par
rf-uIar tariff schedules which were found 70 be out
Of harmony with the general scheme Many of the
paragraphs Of the Dingley act, possibly some Of
the schedules. are all right as they stand. The
great popular demand for tariff revision arises be
cause q few of the schedules are absolutely pro-
hihitive- They are in harmony with the other
schedules"
Cbamp Clark the minority leader and Repre-
sentative Underwood Of Alabama his chief as
s!starr on the WAYS and Means Committee, are in
daily conference this week Mr.. Underwood has
completed the outline Of his speech on the tariff
question He will make a general argument de-
tring the Democratic position
of course" he said tonight I do not know
what viii say about particular schedules. because
have not been given any Information as TO what
the Payne bill will contain"
The Alabama Representative said that IL the Re
publican bin provided for general reductions on
connective articles. the minority members OF the
committee might accept it, even If it did not 90
quite as far IS they believed il should II IS pos
sibIe they viii accept many Of the schedules pre-
pared by the majority. and content themselves with
Offering amendments 10 particular paragraphs
They will be prepared 20 offer a complete substi
tute If they think this course necessary for party
reasons
Il is understood that the TWO Democratic vacan-
ces on the Ways and Means Committee will be as
signed 10 Representatives Burton Harrison. Of New
YORK and Ollie James Of Kentucky. There
dozen or more candidates for the one Republican
vacancy on M. Payne's connittee- Representative
Mcclure of oklahoma, and Representative Burke.
q South Dakota seem to be the leading aspirants.