The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-04-01
Short Speeches Are The Rule And Many Congressman k
 press Their Views
INTEREST IS LAGGING
 IN THE TARIFF DEBATE
Lumber Industry Is Defended By Sew eral Members and Porto Rican
 Commissioner Asks 5-Cent
 Tax Per Pound on Coffee.

Washington, March 31.-Ths Payne tariff bill again was picked to pieces in the House of Representatives today. There were no prolonged speeches, and in conse- quence many were afforded an oppor- tunity to express their views. Lumber. coffee, wood pulp and print paper, to- haeco coal, zinc and the bill generally were discussed The arguments on lum- Der today came from the south. through MT. Pujo of Louisiana and Thomas of North Carolina, who did not want the protection afforded the lumber industry disturbed. There was an interesting presentation of the wood pulp question by MT Mann of Illinois, who defended the proposed reduction of the tariff on that product. MT. Larrinaga, the Porto Rican commissioner, made an exhausted plea for a tax of cents a pound on coffee from that colony. Others who spoke were Messrs. Morgan of Missouri, Brantley of Georgia, Douglass of Ohio, Rothermel of Pennsylvania, Lowering of Massachusetts, Sulzer of New York, Mondell of Wyom- ing and Griest of Pennsylvania
 That interest in the tariff debate is tagging was evidenced by the presence of only t=fS dozen members at the opening of the night session. There was smaller number Of spectators in the galleries than during the past two nights Maiden speeches were made by Messrs Rucker. Colorado; Latta, Nebraska; A. Mitchell Palmer, Pennsylvania, and Morgan, Okla homa. The other speakers at, the night Hessla, see As2ssi e i4 eis,s lfow < Ed wards, Kentucky Hubbsfd. west -vir- ginia; Craig, Alabama, aad Guernsey Maine. .e-., .s.t.J'#
 Lumber Industry.
 Defending the lumber industry of his state, MT. Pujo, democrat of Louisiana protested against the proposed reduction in the duty of lumber saying it would in- 1ict great loss on the wage earners in that industry, and that were lumber to be placed on the free list, the loss would reach $3,000,00 annually.
 He protested against free trade with the Philippine islands, Should opportunity offer he said, he would press an amend ment providing for the same duty on rice from the Philippines as elsewhere. He urged an income tax instead of the in- heritance tax feature of the Payne bill
 Free importation of tobacco from the Philippines was opposed by MT. Grest of Pennsylvania, such being uncalled for and unwise. It was a question, he said whether that provision would not prove a boomerang to the Philippines as, well as detriment to the American people.
 Defense of Party.
 Defending his party against the charge that it stood for free trade, Mir. Thomas democrat, of North Carolina explained a tpr ri hat .t revenue for the needs of the government economically administered. He insisted that the reductions in the Payne bill were more pretended than real, and more in the interests of the manufacturer and protected interests than in the interests of the consumer. It was an unjust dis crimination against North Carolina, he charged, to reduce the tariff on lumber and mica.
 Charging that the Payne bill main tained high duties on food and clothing. MT. Connell of Massachusetts said that the measure was blow at the American home, the American breakfast table the American woman. The American woman has never yet appealed to her husband, father, brother or son for relief but that her appeal has been quickly needed he declared
 He discussed at length the tariff on tea. coffee, cocoa and other articles of food,
 
 reduced the duties on cotton and woolen clothing.
 Suffrage for Women.
 Praising his state for extending suf- frage to women, MT Fucker of Colo rado, in his maiden speech, asserted that elections in Colorado had thus been purified He criticised his predecessor, MT Bonynge who was member of the ways and means committee, for lxsIl Creased the tariff ladies' hosiery, ladies gloves and children's toys.
 Protection for the lumber industry was advocated by MT. Edwards Of Kentucky who upon being questioned by MT. Hefin of Alabama admitted that any duty which would benefit the lum- Der industry would benefit him person ally.
 Do you think you ought to vote for duty on lumber then?" asked MT. Hehin.
 "lf there is any man in this House representing large congressional dis trict who would not be personally af- fected py something in this bill I wish he would make himself known" re piled Mr. Edwards.
 MT Macon of Arkansas and Mr Hefin claiming that they would not be affected. MT. Edwards said:
 "If there is a man here who would not be anected he Is politician and does not make his living in some other business, as most of the representa- lives do."
 Criticism of Pinchot.
 Criticising Clifford Pinchot, chief for ester, for favoring a duty on lumber, Representative A. M. Palmer of Penn aIsi. | said he would like to see the Fse9l. .tic party express its disap-
 v-l ,f the Payne measure in a con- %t@R riff bill. The discord which he
 sted among the republicans was s the fact that protection en-
 aY d greed.
 nting arguments in favor of an