Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-01-04
THE TARIFF.
Senator Adrich Is Working o
the Schedules.

WASHINGTON. Jan. 3-The ways and
aeans committee. after finishing the
rug and chemical schedule, took up
he metal duties. Little difference OF
,pinion has developed on the drug ana
1emical rates. some being lowered and
theirs re-adjusted. according to re-
liable report, but only at few con-
reverted points. has there been much
divergence of view. Recent work is
.agardcd as the first serious test or
ariff feeling in the committee, and the
1cye,opments are authoritatively pro-
,0unced to be indicative of severe
;truggle from this time on, with the
hances rather favoring reduction or
ates on the great staples that have
zen shown by the evidence to be de-
,crving of such treatment. 1t was
,ated bv one very close to the work
hat is being done, that hides ores.
TIMBER, coal and prohao'" lead would
20 to the free list :. cut OF perhaps
% per cent. in the steel and lrol
schedules generally is also antlclpate1
y few items may be excepted, put III
he Judgment of those who are closely
yatching the game the chances appear
% favor the result just indicated.
On textiles some cuts are expected
including probably one on raw WOOL
md another of more than correspond
rg amount on Woolens OF course inc
Whitman North duty on WOOL tops Is
20 be eliminated, and other features OF
The same sort will nave to go by the
BOARD. Few other predictions now
ever can be or are made so far IN ad-
vance. but the whole interest IS CEN
tering around the metal schedule. reel
ing is growing warm and numbers Oh
congressman. excited or worried, are
huZZing about the ways ana meat"
room and endeavoring to maintain the
interests OF their constituents 10
most workers. however, the members
# the committee. sworn as they are TO
secrecy, are returning retusais 10
speak in detail of what is going Tor
ward
A1drich and his group are alarmed
at the development of feeling IN tie
lower chamber in response to pressure
from the country in favor of tariff re-
auctions. He is working hard on
bill of his own and is consulting with
various interests in order to get IT INTO
shape. The bill, according to those
who have been called into consultation.
begins with a section striking out all
after the cnacting clause OF the Payhe
bill now being drafted by the ways
and means committee of the House.
and then goes on with the rates OF
,utv which have been determined upon
w Mr.. Aldrich and which it is be-
ieved will be close to those that viii
ultimately be forced through Congress
by the machine.
According to reports which are gain
ing a wide acceptance the scheme now
..iH be to yield to popular demand for
tariff reductions by formulating a re-
form bill with considerable cuts in
duty in the lower chamber and then
restoring the higher duties in the up
PER. This will, it is supposed, "let out
the congressman who would otherwise
suffer from criticism at home by en-
ablirg them to throw the blame for the
final outcome upon Mr.. Aldrich and his
coinpecrs in the upper House.
Little is known of the details Of the
Aldrich bill. or can be stated positive
ly. but those who are conversant with
tho ideas of the bill say that in the
measure the iron and steel duties will
be let down about IS per cent, an
amount which, it is supposed. Will
make no difference to the industry.
Considerable interest is felt in the
Democratic substitute bill. presumably
to be presented by the minority mem
hers of the ways and means committee.
Thus far. however. apparently little
proer, IS has been made.
Much time and thought is already be-
inc given to the customs administrative
act. although that subject will be taxi
en- MP probably after the whole or near
" .ht whole of the balance of the tar
if question has been dealt with. 1t is
now anticipated that the system intro
duced in pursuance of the German
agreement will have to go by the board,
al least in large measure. On the other
hand. there will be an effort to make
up for this by a greater liberality in
some provision of the new act than
now exists. The drawback system will
be cons iderably enlarged also.
Certain members of the committee
have pledged themselves to some of the
main features of the Lowering proDO-
sition and expect to be able to force
their views on the committee, which is
recognizing the necessity of conces
sions to liberality