Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-03-23
61st CONGRESS-.
CONTINUED from Page One.)

| in a downward direction are reduc-
tions more apparent than real. the
PAYNE rate being as prohibitlve in their
results in many cases as the Dingley
rates. In some of the schedules con-
tanning the most exorbitant rates there
are no changes giving an appreciate
| relief to the great body of consumers"
Declaring that a tariff is tax paid
bv the consumer and that the only
function of tariff law is to raise rev.
lenue 10 supply the need of the govern
ment, the minority members of the
lco!nm:ttee insist that instead OF an m
crease OF taxes or a new issue of bonds,
the correct remedy for the growing de-
| ficiency- in the revenues IS cuttlng
down the expenses of the government
The report declares:
THE whole maximum and minimum
tariff scheme as set forth in the Payne
| bill enables foreign countries to force
us to raise the rate schedule ~ per
cent which would after making am
ple allowance for all reductions in the
PAYNE bill, incur tariff rates on the
average much above the rates of the
Dingley law, a prospect which VIII
bring sorrow and dismay to the great
| body of the people. We arc most heart
| ily in favor of such a maximum and
| minimum tariff as will enable our gov
| eminent to negotiate tariff arrange
ments by making concessions to other
governments by reducing the rates OF
our statute when such other coun-
tries will make equally valuable con-
cessions to US; the maximum rates
should be the rates OF our statutes,
whatever they are and the minimum
a reasonable rate below our statutory
rates; but as it stands, the MAXIMUM
and minimum tariff plan of the Payne
bill is an open challenge to trade war
| with every other nation on earth. 1t
is seeking trade with a club or meat
axe We are opposed to such as I'M
wise and unnecessary performance.
| I'm this connection, it may be well
| to ponder thoroughly our relations with
| Cuba. Does any sane man suppose for
one moment that the great CONNER
cial nations, our competitors for the
worlds trade will concede that Cuba
is one OF our Dependencies It. is a
| thing incredible. To ask that question
is to answer 1t.
1.-The bill is many respects crude. in
definite, sectional and proiiihitive. ~
seems 20 us from our examination
| which was necessarily hasty. that or
| the whole it increases the cost OF Nv
1 ing For example it will increase the
! price Of hosiery about 80 per cent. and
certainly nobody will claim that hosiery
| is a luxury in this day and generation
| In numerous instances the protection
| exc, eds the entire labor cost of pro-
duction."
! The report maintains that the tariff
arrangement with the Philippines
should be considered in separate
measure and not in the general tariff
bill. The claim that the bill is sec
tional one. made by the Democratic
members of the COMMITTEES. is based
| largely on the cotton schedule. The re-
port insists that the bill does not lift
any burdens from the shoulders Of the
Southern farmer, although it SAYS the
manufacturer of cotton goods is pro-
tccted by heavy tax.
| THE treatment of the farmer by this
| bill is along the same lines as have
characterized Republican methods III
| the past says the report. He gets
practically no relief and the lAborer
aud producer have greater burdens inn
posed upon them. Every article of food
the lanOrcr must have to live COM
| fortably, is heavily taxed; even the salt
on his table is not exempt. This
schedule agricultural products) was
evidently prepared by the same mind
! which has dominated this bill-a mind
certainly not unfair to the great trusts
The Standard Oil IS as handsomely
| cared for in the Payne bill as i'll the
Dinglcy bill" the report continues,
and by reason of the provision il
Paragraph 631. popularity known as the
JOKER continues to be protected by
a tariff duty of 9 per cent which en-
al les it tn dominate and exploit the
American market and to levy tribute
upon the public thereby pling up mil
lions Of dollars of ill-gotten gains.
The report further contends that Il
similar Joker" in the paragraph pro-
viding for The free entry of coffee
places duty on coffee equal to the
export duty imposed by the country
from which it is imported and that the
consumer must pay both the export
duty OF the other country and the i'm
port duty of the United States. The
tax on tea is also attacked. the claim
being made that the 81, 600 which it
is proposed to raise by imposing duty
on tea represents the amount by which
the cost of living will be increased by
this tax.
Criticism is made of the metal sched-
ules and 1t is contended that hides hav
ing been placed on the free list. the du-
ty on leather, shoes, harness and other
leather manufactures, should also be
removed. Increases in the chemical
schedule are termed unjustifiable and
the changes made in the glass schedule
the Democrats argue, will not increase
the revenue appreciably.
There is a severe arraignment of the
wool schedule
The only noteworthy change in the
rates On manufactures Of wool" the