The Washington herald., 1909-05-01

Amendments 10 take thu place Of part
or the administrative features Of the
House tariff bin were reported 70 the
Senate Yesterday from the Committee on
Finance by Senator Aldrich, the commit
tees chairman
The amendments were adopted at a
meeting OF the committee held yesterday
morning. at which the Democratic mem
bers were present No opposition was
made by the Democratic committeeman.
although il is expected they viii make
fight OF the floor against one provision.
which fixes the maximum or punitive
Tariff rates al . per cent &C valorem. IN
addition 10 the minimum rates 70 be pre-
scribed in the forthcoming Law.
In the tariff bill passed by the House
the maximum rates Of duty 10 be made
applicable 10 the products OF countries
which discriminate against the products
- the United States are OF various per
centages. Upon some products the rates
prescribed IN the Dingley law are 10 be
levied as maximum rates; upon other
products the maximum duties are 70 be
the minimum duties. plus 3 per cent OF
those minimum duties. and upon other
products the maximum rates are 70 be
the minimum duties, plus % per cent OF
those duties In most cases IN the House
biz the maximum, OF punitive, rate Is an
j additional . per cent OF the minimum
rate
Twenty-Five Per Cent More
The Senate committee has provided that
The maximum rate shall be . per cent
Al
tea OF the value Of the article upon
which Tire maximum rate Is assessed, plus
the minimum rate.
Thus, II an article valued al 81 and as
zessed at % per cent 40 vaIorem. OF 10
cents under the minimum schedule, has
the maximum rate applied 70 It the maxi
mum duty would be 10 per cent plus .
per cent equaling s. cents. or 3 cents
more than the minimum rate
Should the Senate provision be adopted
the maximum rates would be greatly !n
excess OF the maximum rates provided for
ii the House bill An article valued at 81
and assessed under the minimum tariff al
10 per cent ad valOTem. or % cents. would.
under the maximum or punitive tariff OF
the House. be obliged 70 pay an addi-
tional duty Of only % per cent Of the
minimum duty, which in this case would
be cents. making the total maximum
duty Z cents. as against 8 cents provided
for in the Senate amendment. The Demo-
Gratis Viii probably attack the Senate pro-
vision or the ground that il paves the
way for the imposition OF prohi5itive
tariff duties
President Given Authority.
Under the maximum and minimum
amendments submitted by the Senate. the
President Of the United States is author
lied 10 assess the maximum rates on the
products Of countries which .'unduly dis
eliminate against the products of the
United States From the date the new
tariff laws vii take effect until March
81, 1910. the minimum rates viii be applied
70 the products Of all countries. but after
that date the President may apply the
maximum rates 70 any country which
comes within the category Of having IN
duly Disseminated against American
products.
To assist the President in securing
information 10 enable him 10 determine
whether the maximum rates shall be
imposed against any country. and 10 In
form Congress on the subject OF the
tariff. he is authorized 10 employ persons
10 make Investigations relating 10 the
trade Of the United States with foreign
countries. For the purposes Of the maxi
mum OF punitive tariff, coffee and tea.
which are on the free list, in the mini