The Washington herald., 1909-04-15
Mr.. Kitchin on Lumber Duties.

Our Southern friends who fear that
their industries will go to the demnition
bow-wows if not heavily protected in the
new tariff bill would do we'll 10 read the
breezy speech of the Hon. Claude Kitch-
IN, of North Carolina, on the lumber
duties Nfr Kitchin has no patience with
those Democrats who palter with party
principles and platform on the plea that
so long as a protective policy prevails
they are entitled TO get what they can
out Of it for their districts and their sec
tion. he shows that this doctrine sim
ply surrenders the whole Democratic posi-
tion to the enemy. In declaring for free
trade in lumber the Democratic national
platform merely reafiirmed the doctrine
it had upheld for thirty years. The Mills
bill put lumber on the free list. as did
also the Wilson-Gorman bill Free lum-
Der. IN fact, has been an item OF the
Democratic scheme Of tariff revision as
long as anybody can remember. It is
now proposed by Democratic Senators
and Members Of Congress that the duty
on lumber should be retained on the
specious plea that It is a merely revenue
duty But as Mr Kitchin points out.
what is the difference between protection
under the guise cf revenue and any Other
form OF protection? Another plea. equal
~ specious. is that protection should be
equally distributed about the country, so
long as protection there must be Mr..
Kitchin tersely denounces this doctrine
as equal robbery by all, no relief from
any" If the Democracy surrenders its
position on lumber. it loses the right.
Mr. Kitchin well declares. TO object 10
any other form Of protective abuses. and
goes clean over into the Republican
camp.
Particularly effective is Nj Kitchin's
handling of the practical side Of the
lumber tarin. SO far as the South is
concerned. he tells us. there is no need
whatever Of a duty on lumber. Canadian
competition cannot be felt there. and
there is no other competition 20 be feared
He shows that the countrys timber IS in
control Of comparatively few men, ''in
strong hands," tc quote one Of the chief
advocates Of a lumber duty, and it is
these interests thai are most clamorous
for protection, as they will be principally
benefited by it. Southern lumbermen, he
assures US. are unduly frightened over
A.
duty. They began protesting against the
rates fixed in the Payne bill, ignorant Of
the little joker which the artful Mr.
Fordney had Inserted TO nunify the effect
Of the reduction. In point Of fact. the
rates against which lumbermen were
uttering protest would not have reduced
the amount Of protection a particle Mr.
Kitchin thoroughly exposes this miser-
able trick. by which it was sought to
convey to the country the impression that
the lumber schedule was being revised
downward. and at the same time 10 Sc
cure to the lumber interests the protec-
tion they now enjoy under existing law.
It is unnecessary TO 20 into the details OF
the subterfuge invented by Mr.. Fordney.
but this colloquy shows the motive of
It:
"Mr Kitchin-Do gou think if this bill passes
and becomes law that it viii reduce the tariff one
pennyl
Mr. Fordney-I did not want it to. and did not
intend it,
And. in point of fact, as Mr. Kitchin
clearly shows, the original Payne bin,
with the lumber joker in it. did not re-
duce the lumber schedule one cent, but
actually would have had the effect of
putting in force the Dingley duties as
against all lumber coming from Canada.