New-York tribune., 1909-04-09
TARIFF REVISION
TO BE DOWNWARD
MR. ALDRICH SO ASSURES
THE PRESIDENT.
Many Reductions of Duties in Sen
ate Substitute for the
Payne Bill.
Payne Bill


President n
formed by Senator AIdrich this evening that
there would be no occasion for his vetofng the
tariff bill when the senate got through viii, n
as the Senate substitute provided for reductions
from the Dingley bill on every item which could
pe regarded as a necessity. so rearranged the
classification that necessities and Injuries could
easily he distinguished. and at the same time
provided for sufficient revenue 10 meet the ex-
PeTses Of the government without the inclusion
Of any special form Of taxation. The duty on
gloves and hosiery has been materially re-
duced according TO the Senator from Rhode
Island. as has that every other genuine ne
cessity.
Mr. Aldrich took with him to the White House
this evening the draft OF the Senate s11bstit11+s
so far as it has been completed by the Finance
Committee. and showed the President the work
ne and his Republican colleagues on the COM
mIttee had done The committee has completed
most Of the schedules, although the maximum
and minimum and the administrative provisions
are still unfinished The President was agreeabIv
surprised at the changes made by the Senate
committee and the extent to which the sub
stitute makes good the pledges Of the party
Mr- Taft asked various questions to all OF
which he received satisfactory answer. and
he now believes that there should be no trouble
+ in pas-.ng the bill in the Senate and that the
course Of the committee will greatly expedite
its consideration
Mr.. Aldrich assured the President that those
Senators who have feared he would insist on
increases Fl duties TO a point which might re-
suit in disapprovaI Of the bill by the Executive
were now satisfied with the result and this as
sertion was confirmed by Senator Lodge a
others. who assured The President that ICY
had found their fears sroundiess They said
that Mr. Aldrtch had needed the warning Of the
prs hat
faith and carrv out the pledges of the national
platform would be vetoed. and they believed the
President need have no hesitation about ap
proving the bill as reported 20 the senate
BURDEN PLACED on LCXURIEs
In a number Of instances the taxes imposed
by the Payne bill are materially lowered. and
in others they are inereasd somewhat. out the
final result is in accordance with the Presidents
admouiti.n that the burden of taxation must
not fail the poor. that the consumer must
receive ample consideration and bIxuries must
bear the brunt of any increases Congress found
II necessary To- make.
II Is appreciated. OF course that there is a
material difference between the completion Of
q tarin bill by the Finance Committee and its
inaI adoption by both houses o. Congress. but
Nr AIdrich is convinced that the bill viii 50
far command the support Of the Republicans
in the Senate that il viii not be difficult %
obtain a majority for every schedule, and that
so far as tine Democrats are concerned il viii
only ba necessary 20 permit them 20 talk them
selves out before taking a vote. The minority
Senators are So widely divided and are so lack
ing tu unity and discipline that little fear is
felt that they viii be able To form any COM
biuatIou Of sufficient strength To defeat the
wishes cf the Finance Committee.
1Ir. AIdricH said that the real struggle would
come when the bill went into conference. and
inttmated that at that point ne and his asso-
cistes WOULD I3ok To- the President for assist
auce to prevent deadlcck or too determined
opposition To- the Senate amendments by the
House
It il believed that tFe new cIassiiCations will
contribute materially 20 the ease with which
the public VIII understand the bill and with
which Republican campaign speakers can ex-
plain its provisions and justify them before the
voters
Senator AIdrich reviewed the purposes of his
committee vi,h regard To the ma ximum and
minimum provision. and the President ex-
pressed himself as convinced that the changes.
which have been outlined i'm these dispatches
constituted q marked Improvement on the pro-
vision contained i'm the Payne bill Mr. AIdrich
also outlined The views Of the committee with
regard 20 the administrative features of the
bill. the methods to by employed i'm determin-
ing the valuation Of imports. and President
Taft expressed his entire approval Of all thu
changes which the committee purp5sed TO make
in the Payne bill
FINANCE COMMITTEE At WORK.
Three long sessions were held by the Finance
Committee to-day and tonight tt is expected
that by tomorrow night practically every para
e~-,ph of the schedules and the free list of the
Senate substitute viii be written II is possible.
however that the bill may not be reported 70
the Senate until Tuesday If the House passes
the Pavne bill az "a reasonable hour tomorrow.
=, that the euzrossed bill can be sent % the
Senate bv noon ON Saturday. meeting OF the
full Finance Committee VIII be held Saturday
,s-srroon or evening sor the adoption OF the
s,,hs+ftuts If however. the House bill does not
rs,cn the Senate until Monday the Financs
,,7,r,5ttee.s substitute Will not be reported until
Tuesday.
There IS little doubt that lumber viii be made
4,,iabIa in the senate bill The Iumbermen be-
1tove the rate viii be 81 80 g thousand. and feel
certain il viii not be less than 81 The pulp
and raner manufacturers are confident that they
have won their fsht and that the Finance Com
r,trtee will disregard the recommendations Of
the main committee but they VIII find that
while the duty on paper has been increased.
tbara ls no. great Increase on pulp II is under
stood that hides are on the free list. although
an that question the committee is almost evenly
divided.
Senator NcCumber has made a hard fight for
the restoration of the duties harley and
harley malt The PAYNE bill cuts the barley :
duty from 50 To II cents bushel. and the
barley malt duty from ~ cents to - cents a