Evening star., 1909-04-11
MAY REPORT TUESDAY
Senate Finance Committee
Agrees on Tariff Rates.
MAJORITY TO MEET TODAY
Details to Be Presented to Demo
Gratis Tomorrow.
ALLEGED JOKER" DISCUSSED
Found That Oil Products Were Not
ALLEGED JOKER" DISCUSSED
Found That Oil Products Were Not
Put on the Free List-Morris
Suggests Recall of Bill.

are concerned, was completed last night
but it was decided that in making a re-
port Chairman Aldrich will announce a
reservation on certain important sched-
ules for future action. These reserva-
tions will include hides, steel rails, wood
pulp and crude petroleum.
Present indications are that the
finance committee will report the bill to
the Senate Tuesday. The majority mem
bers of the committee will be in session
all day today, going. over the amend
ments agreed upon in order to guard
| against possible errors. A meeting of the
full committee has been called for 10
O'Clock tomorrow, and the portion ;,f the
bill carrying rates will be presented %
the democratic members at that time.
Chairman Aldrich asserted last night
that the Senate committee had made a
more general revision of rates than was
done by the House committee on ways
and means, and that reductions in sched-
ules had been made on a far greater
number Of articles. This did not mean
that there would be a reduction of reve-
nues. but that there would be recon-
mended bona fide revision downward
of the tariff.
Reason for Many Changes.
The great number of changes which
will be recommended are due largely to
the fact that, while the Payne bill re-
vised rates on certain basic articles. the
revision did not extend to related arti-
cles. For instance, lead ore was reduced
in the Payne bill and the several manu-
factures of lead ore remain unchanged.
The Senate committee made general re-
ductions on these manufactures in har-
mony with the reduction on the un-
worked material. Similar changes were
made in many other schedules. which will
account f1l the many amendments that
will be p esented in the Senate.
In the report which will be made to
the Senate hides will go on the free
list, as provided by the Payne bill. but
the question of fixing rate in accord
anee with the sentiment of the Senate
as expressed through canvass taken
by western senators will be taken up in
the near future.
A similar condition will be reported on
steel rails. The Payne rates were $92
per ton, which is one-half the existing
rate. The committee was impressed with
the arguments made by the steel manu-
facturers that this rate should be in
creased, but it is known that considerable
opposition to such action will be mani
tested in the Senate. This item will be
discussed later by the committee and
the indications are that it will be recon-
mended for an increase to about $4.25 per
ton.
No decision has been reached on the
subject of wood pulp, and this fact will
be announced by Senator Aldrich when
he reports the bill. The same is true of
on the free list against the protest of
leaders in that body. 1t is likely that
the Senate will be given an opportunity y
to vote upon this article. TIE duties on
lumber also promise to occasion consId-
cradle debate in the Senate, and although
no change from the Payne bill will he
recommended il is predicted that a num-
ber of amendments will be offered on the
floor of the Senate.
After d long discussion Of the rate on
bituminous coal the Senate committee de-
cided to recommend a reduction from u
cents to 40 cents per ton in view of the
action of the committee Friday in striking
| out the reciprocity clause. The Payne
bill includes slack culm coal at the
same rate as was fixed for bi,umlnous
coal. increasing the duty on this product
from Is cents to 81 cents The senate
committee has decided to restore the
Dingley rate of - cents per ton.
Rates on Gloves and Stockings.
Protests made by heavy importers of
gloves and hosiery against the increase
made by the Payne bill over the existing
Dingley rates, which protests were added
to by the position taken by hundreds of
women throughout the country, induced
the Senate committee to agree to recon-
mend the continuance of the Dingley
rates. The existing rates on woolens
which were materially decreased by the
Payne bill, will be recommended by the
Senate committee. Specific duties will BE-
recommended throughout on silks of all
| kinds. the specific duty being a trife
above the combined ad valorem and spe-
| cific duties now collected under the. Ding
ley act. This action is taken in order 10
meet probable severe competition with
Japanese silks, which every year are com
| ing in in larger quantities at a constantly
decreasing cost of manufacture.
| The demand for protection for LONG
| staple cotton. which comes into competi.
| ton with Egyptian cotton used in the
| manufacture Of mercerized silk goods. has
| been denied by the Senate committee
| This action was taken on the ground tina,
| the long staple cotton raised on the Sea
| Islands of South Carolina and Florida
| now brings high price in the American
market. and for the further reason tha,
| it would be difficult not to give like pro-
/ lection to cotton rails I'd in certain parts
| of Texas and Mississippi. which is OF
/ comparatively long staple.
/ The administrative features of the bill
in all probability, will not be reported for
| another week or more. Thege features
viii be the subject of careful considera
tion by the entire committee. and it Is
thought their adoption by the Senate may
be brought abou. without opposition.
Proposed Tariff Bureau.
Something of the proposed tariff bu-
reau, which has been the object of a
great deal of study. Was learned last
night, although plans for the establish
ment of such bureau will no. be com
| pleted until other administrative features
of the bill are ready to be reported Ac-
cording 10 the present plans the bureau
will consis. of consolidation of tie bu-
reau of manufactures and the bureau OF
statistics. which are under the Depart
ment of Commerce and Labor; the b,l-
reau CT trade relations. under the State
| Depar; ment, and the customs division OF
the Treasury Department.
/ IL is intended that this consoli: alton
shall be placed under the head of the
Treasury Department. and tina. IL shall
act In an advisory capacity to the Presi-
dent I'm the event of the adoption OF
| Serator Aldrich's maximum and mini
xrxi.N r.,..