The Washington herald., 1909-03-21


In the matter Of the rules. At the same
time the Committee on ways and Means.
upon which falls the preparation OF tariff
and revenue measures, was announced. as
follows: Payne chairman, Dalzen Nc
CAL. Hin Boutell. Needham. Calderhead.
Fordney. Gaines, Cushman, Iongworth,
Crumpacker. Clark, Harrison, Brous-
sard, Underwood. Griggs. Pou. and
Ransdell. Two other boiling Democrats.
Harrison and Broussard. who were ap-
pointed 10 this committee were ieered
when the names were read. The one Re
publican vacancy on the committee was
given 20 Cushman. Of Washington. Other
wise, the Ways and Means Committee re-
mains the same as in the last Congress.
The minority were greatly incensed at
Cannon for giving these places 20 the
boilers, and also because he did not fol-
low the custom of letting the minority
leader select the Democrats who should
go on the committees. and they decided
TO refuse all such committee appoint
ments
In anticipation Of the Speakership and
rules contest members of the House had
been bombarded with letters and teIe-
grams from citizens IN all parts Of the
the Cannon machine. many being stirnu-
lated by the vigorous campaign Of GER
tain weekly periodicals Of large circula-
tion. w J. Bryan wired the Democratic
leaders TO join the Republican insurgents
against the rules il was also intimated
that eX-President Roosevelt was backing
the insurgents. along with the Outlook,
but Mr.. Roosevelt denied that ne WAS
taking any part In politics
Gist of the Tariff Bill.
Shortly after the House met on Wadnes-
day Chairman Payne. of the Ways and
Means Committee. amid applause from
both sides. introduced the measure for
the revision of duties on imports and for
revenue taxes on which the committee
had been al work for four months. on
his request the bin was referred back 10
the committee 10 be reported on OBJ
lection was raised 10 the printing Of
extra copies OF the bin until after the
committee should have made any changes
# desired. As 1t stood. the bill was solely
the work Of the Republican members Of
the committee.
As Chairman Payne explained, il is
what is known as a maximum and mini
mum bill, in which the highest rates are
about ~ per cent higher than those OF
| the existing schedules corresponding.
While the minimum rates in many cases
are lower than those OF the present law
The general effect is revision downward
or so IL appears on the surface. although
no one but an expert can tell with any
degree Of accuracy just what the rates
viii be in practice. owing to the restric-
I I
execution OF the law ia connection with
the rates offered by other nations One
must know in detail the tariff laws OF
all other nations 70 get at the final re-
suit Another provision for the valuation
Of imported goods as compared with
wholesale prices in this country as the
basis for appraisal further Complicates
the matter Should other nations object
as reasonably may be expected. to any
Of the proposed conditions as TO the equal
treatment Of their colonies. then the
American Executive would he required
10 collect the maximum rates on all ar
ticles from those countries so offend
ing The maximum rates are to be en-
forced also against any nation which
puts an export duty on articles sent 20
America.
The only reference Payne made TO this
complex matter was TO say that the
maximum rates were TO be applied TO
those nations which discriminate against
the trade Of the United States StH,
he estimates that the bill viii wipe out
the deficit. In case il should not provi-
sion Is made for the issue Of S40G00. 900
Panama Canal bonds. Also. there is re-
enacted the one-year certificate authority
up 10 S250.O00.000 in case Of necessity.
The most notable innovation i'm the
means employed by the government 90
raise revenue is the provision for tax
ing inheritances, this being in re-
sponse TO the recommendation made by
President Taft. The Inheritance taxes
are to be graduated. as in the New
York state law, from > per cent to
per cent
Among the more important articles
added 10 the free list are the follow
ing. Iron ore, from 40 cents a ton:
hides, from i per cent: wood pulp for
paper. from s1.66 a ton; bituminOus
coal and coke. but only to those cOun-
tries which admit American coal free:
art works when over twenty years old:
farm machinery. from 20 per cent. also
10 countries only which admit our ma
chinery free.
Some Of the principal reductions are
on boots and shoes. pig iron. steel rails.
y
machinery, barley malt, fresh meats.
carpet wool, gunpowder. charcoal and
bJric acid
The tariff has been increased on the
fCil,Wing. Mercerized cotton. toilet
articles cocoa (from free list to 4 cents
a pound. spices (from free list 70 30
per cent? paper envelopes, paper goods.
and minor Iuxuries. Coffee remains free.
Reciprocal free trade with the Phil
ipDineS is provided. but limiting the
amount Of free sugar to 300 900 pounds
and stated amount of tobacco of diff
ferent grades. Cuban reciprocity is
continued.
The same rules are applied to patents
obtained in this country by aliens as
prevail in their own countries. thus
compelling foreigners 10 build faeto-
ries here or forfeit their patent rights
Another rumDus over the House rules
and the alleged despOtism Of the
Speaker occurred Thursday, when Mr.
Crumpacker. Of Indiana. asked unani-
nous consent for the consideration Of
the census bill which he had reintro-
duced. although the Speaker had not
appointed a committee on the census to
act on the bill The majority forced A
recess. during which the Committee on
Rules prepared a special rule permit
ting the Immediate consideration OF the
bill. Clark said he did not think the
Speaker should appoint the Rules
Committee or be a member OF it but
that If they must have Gar, Cannon
would do, for he was 2 benevolent
despot.' The rule was adopted. and
the bill was passed with several
amendments. one favoring apportioned
appointments and another requiring
appointees- Since Il was vetoed bv
President Roosevelt the bill had been
amended so as to provide competitive
test and TO keep the printing IN the
Government Printing Office.