The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1909-03-26

The lumber tarln is reduced 0O per
cent and the same is true of steel rails
and some other steel products.
Coal is placed on reciprocal basis,
as also are agricultural implements.
They will be received free from any
country that admits free similar arti-
cles exported from the United States.
The tariff on woods. first and second
class, is unchanged, as is also the i'm
ports on oil.
A reduction of 5 cents per hundred
pounds on refined sugar is provided.
Iron ore is admitted free.
Hides are admitted free and shoes are
redcued 40 per cent.
Wood Pulp Free
Wood pulp from countries not hav-
ing an export duty on certain forest
products is admitted free.
Printing paper tariff is reduced sc
2-3 per cent and so per cent, according
to value.
Coffee, under the terms of the bill as
drawn, will be admitted free of duty.
No change is made in the tax on
beer.
A heavy blow is dealt the importers
of tea, which was free under the Ding
ley law. The bill fixes duty of eight
cents pound from countries where
tea is produced and nine cents from
other countries.
The reduction of 50 per cent duty on
lumber will work greatly to the adj
vantage of Canadian lumbermen, it is
claimed, and was opposed by the inter-
ests of the great Northwest timber
belts. The arguments presented in
favor of the reduction carried great
weight, however. It was claimed
that the prices of lumber had been
excessive and that the great manufac-
turers have been curtailing the output
for the purpose of increasing the mar
ket price.
Hard Fight Due
It is asserted, however, that this
course has been taken by the Canadian
manufacturers also, and there is every
prospect of hard figth over the lum-
Der tariff before the question is settled.
It is expected that the establishment
of free trade with the Philippines, even
though limitations are placed on tobac-
CO, cigars and sugar, will work an i'm
mediate benefit in increased traffic to
the Pacific coast shipping interests.
The admission of wood pulp free
means much to the Canadian producers
and will have an important effect upon
the manufacture of print paper.
Inheritance Tax
The inheritance tax Is included, with
the following provisions:
On the direct Inheritance of from
SIC, 600 to 100000, one per cent tax.
On the direct Inheritance of from
500, 900 to $500, 900, two per cent tax.
On direct Inheritance of over $780,
600, tax of three per cent.
Collateral relatives and strangers
receiving inheritances will pay 5 per
cent on all amounts over $500.
The bill as presented also authorizes
the issuance of treasury certificates to
the amount of $3.50, 900, 900, to run
for period of one year.
In presenting the bill to the hous, 9
Chairman Payne said:
''The bill is a maximum and mini
mum tariff bill.
Revenues Improving
I'VE have a large decfiit but the
revenues under the present system are
improving from month to month, as
business. conditions become better.
The last normal year for imports was
the fiscal year ending June 80, 1905.
and the committee has therefore taken
the year 1906 as the basis upon which
to form an estimate of the revenue
producing qualities of the new bill.
with return to anything like nor
NAL conditions during the next fiscal
year, it is safe to predict that the de-
ficit will be entirely wiped out. but
IN case it is not the bill provides for
an issue of Panama canal bonds to re.
imburse the treasury.
There is also re-enacted a provision
for the issue of certificates to run one
year, for hte purpose Of replenishing
the treasury and raising an amount
from 500, 600, 900 to $3.50, OoO. 600.
THE bill provides for reciprocal
trade with the Philippines on all arti-
cles, but limits the imports Of sugar
TO be imported free to 800. 900 tons.
the wrapper tobacco to 800, coo pounds.
filler tobacco to 5000, 600 pounds. and
the free import of cigars is limited "a
loo, OO0. 600 in any one fiscal year.
In case of the importation Of sugar.
tobacco or cigars from the Philippines
N excess Of the limitations fixed il
the bill, the imports must pay the full
tariff rates. -