Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-04-13
Tuesday, April 10, 1909.
Tho Present Status Of the Payne
Tariff Bill

Oy the House VIII GOuDtlcSS see many
changes before it is passed by the Sem
ate. the bill as it now stands would be
the country. The trainers of the bill as
originally drawn We're fully as compe-
tent as any authority in this or any
other country to draw up tariff meas
IRE, Chairman Payne of the House
ways and means committee was asso-
ciatcd with the enactment of the Nc
Kinlcy bill and was ranking member of
the committee during the formulation
of the Dinglcy act. Representative
Dalzcll of Pennsylvania, ranking MEM
Der of the present committee, was as
ISOLATED With Mr.. Dingley and Mr.
Payne in the Dingley revision.
The important changes made when
the Payne dill was drawn up We're
made with q view not only of revising
the tariff, but giving due consideration
to the court decisions which have been
handed down On various points of the
Dingley act, so that the present tariff
bill, when finally enacted, would stand
the test of law The effort to make the
new measure conform with the deci-
sions of the courts and the appraisers
had the effect of giving The committee
port TO Congress. There are also a
number of changes OF language, by
which certain ambiguity IN the old bill
is eliminated. The committee carefully
investigated the faults of the old meas
ure as we'll as the best suited substi-
tutcs for those provisions of the
now outgrown and kept these matters
in view while formulating the bill The
committee also Incorporated in the bill
those recommendations made by Presi-
dent Taft
TO the best efforts of the committee,
committee especially competent to
draw up a tariff measure. has been
added the best efforts of the House,
after three weeks of debate. Certain
changes have been made in the bill as
reported changes suggested by the
combined wisdom of the members of
the House. but the bill has not been
mutilatod beyond recognition by these
amendments. 1t has been strengthened
by alteration, but except for certain de-
tails. it has not been radically changed
1t is still the Payne tariff bill The
Payne tariff bill as it stands today is
still maximum and minimum tariff
bill The trainers Of the measure did
not contemplate putting lumber on
the free list and the House has s,s-
tanned their judgment. A great
itCal of conscientious effort has been
cxcrtcd hy the majority members of
the House and Of it's committee on
ways and means to bring the Payne
tariff bill up to it's present state of de
velopment. and the result is highly
Creditahle
While the Payne tariff bill is
sure To be changed in the Senate,
the wisdom Of the majority in that
body will. it is hoped, dictate no
radical changes which will rob the
present self but wise and conservative
alterations male after due considcra-
ton. ana intended to still further
strengthen the bill before it becomes a
law. vast amount nj work has al
ready been done on the bill by the SEN
ate committee on finance. and there is
likely to he some interesting debate on
the door of that branch, but it will be
hoEcst argument. not made with q
view to obstructing legislation or de-
stroying the good work, that has al
ready been done. but for the purpose OF
const uction.
The action already taken by the
House gives proof that the Republican
party was sincere in it's promise of
tariff revision as embodied in the plat
form on which it stood and carried the
presidential campaign of 1905, The
manner in which the measure has been
handled up to this time also gives
proof of the harmony existing between
the executive ana legislative branches
of our natl ,nal government.
The tina! vote in the House gives an
indication, not only of the sentiment of
the majority party itself towards fair,
and honest tariff revision. but of the
unanimity Of the rank and file of the
majority members of the House on this
vital matter-all consideration of local
needs is dropped to pass measure for
the good of the country at large-ald
with only one Republican. Austin of
Tennessee, voting against his party.
The House vote on the bill empha-
sizes the dec ided contrast between the
two great parties. The Republican par
e.. ,;,>fa y