The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-09-18
more important than the reduction in
rates In one or two schedules OF the

rates In one or two schedules OF the
tariff"
Remarkable, Plain Defense.
President Taft's speech was re-
markable, plainspoken defense of
the Payne bill. He has been met with
many queries since the beginning o.
his trip as to when he intended TAX
ing up the subject OF the tariff, and
there was marked disappointment in
Chicago among those who had the re-
ception of the president in charge that
he did not elect to speak there on this
most important subject.
Mr.. Taft awaited until yesterday at
ternoon when with mass of facts and
figures before him, with new state
ment just prepared by Chairman
Payne of the house comittee on ways
and means, and with his own personal
knowledge of all the intimate little
details of the tariff fight in Washing
ton still fresh in his mind. he sat
car, the Mayflower and dictated to
two stenographers the speech he in
tended to deliver last night and
which represents a statement on the
accomplishments and demerits of the
Payne bill from an administration
point OF view. more thorough in it's
simple appeal for an understanding
by the people than any document
which has heretofore been issued from
any source.
The statement contained only
enough figures to make clear a point
which the president has dwelt upon
for some time in his confidential
talks, that the measure of the new
bill should be taken by the amount
Of reductions made on articles of gen.
eral consumption compared to the
increases on articles little used.
Uses Payne Table in Speech.
The President, by means of table
prepared at his request by Mr.. Payne,
showed that the tariff had been in
creased on articles whose consump-
tion in this country amounts yearly
to $651, ,000, 900 and that of this amount
$579, 100000 is represented by such
luxuries as silks, wines, liquors, per.
fumes and pomades, leaving a balance
of $272 900. 900 representing increases
on articles not luxuries.
Against this the President set, with
great emphasis in his delivery, the
fact that the tariff had been reduced
on articles, mostly necessities, whose
consumption in this country amounts
annually to $4,000. 100000.
The President went into the details
of every schedule of the tariff BILL
dwelling especially ON the schedules
which were the subject of the greatest
fight and which developed more
strongly the insurgent movement.
Wool Schedule Too High.
AS to the woolen schedule, Mr.. Taft
declared without hesitation or equivo-
cation that the rates Of the Payne
bill were too high. It was found early
In the fight, however, he asserted.
that the wool and wooden manufactur-
ing interests in the Republican party
were 50 strong that any attempt to
change the Dingley rates would result
in a defeat Of the bill.
II am sorry that this is so,' said the
President, "and I wish it could have
been otherwise.
1T is one important defect In the
bill and in the performance of the
promises of the Republican platform
That 1t will increase the price Of wool
en- cloths or clothes, however, I very
much doubt"
Az to cotton goods the President as
serted that it was found by the taking
Of evidence that on the lower grades
Of goods the manufacturers were max
ing decent profit. AS to the higher
grades 1t was found that through court
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