The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-07-23


tween the Republican Senators who voted
against the tariff BILL Senator Cummins,
Of Iowa, yesterday gave out a statement
which purported TO be an expression OF
his personal views. but which is generally
understood substantially to set forth the
position OF the eleven Republican Sena-
tors who have shown opposition to the
Aldrich bill
Senator Cummins begins by declaring
that while It IS important raw materials
shall be admitted free. It is more I'M
portant. to his mind. that the rates on
manufactured products shall be substan-
TALLY reduced. Mr.. Cummins said, in
part:
While It is Of the utmost Importance
that iron ore. oil. hides. and coal be
dealt with as proposed by the President,
It Is Of still greater Importance that the
duties on manufactured products shall be
brought down somewhere near the pro-
tective point
1T VIII be Of little advantage to the
body OF the people to do away with I'M
necessary duties upon raw materials II
the manufacturers are permitted 20 keep
up the excessive duties that enable them
10 take extortlonate profits upon the
things that the people must buy and
use.
Fails 20 Reduce Duties,
Il shall not so through the bill item
by item, for It is impracticable 10 re-
cite the instances In which the Senate
bill fails to reduce duties as they should
be reduced. Those who have been con
tending for lower duties can AFFORD 10
surrender part of their just demands
If they can in the main obtain the re-
ductions which insure the people against
undue prices in the chief commodities Of
commerce.
1 instance, therefore, only the most
prominent features Of the Senate bill that
ought to be amended.
The iron and steel schedules, while
somewhat reduced are still much too
high. While the reductions in the steel
schedule generally are not sufficient the
work might be accepted II It were not for
one increase which. in my opinion. will
do the people more harm than can be
repaired by all the decreases in the
schedule
Structural iron and steel. the use Of
which Is so rapidly increasing. is
raised from the Dingley rate OF SO per
ton, and the huge rate of Sc per ton and A.
per cent ad valorem. which. at the pres
ent price Of this commodity, means a
duty Of SO a ton. an increase over the
present law OF Sc per ton, and over the
House provision OF SO per ton.
When II Is considered that the duty on
steel rails is $3.50 per ton and their mar
ket price is SIS per ton, the proposed duty
upon form OF steel which sells for S35
per ton is wholly indefensible.
Free iron ore is a desirable thing. but
when the welfare OF the consumer IS
taken into account. I venture the opinion
that it would be vastly better II a fair
rate can be obtained on but one of these
items to allow the duty on iron ore 10 go
az . cents per ton and cut the duty on
structural steel TO s. or S. per ton, where
II properly belongs and where Il could
still furnish complete protection TO home
producers, measured by the Republican
standard
In the lumber schedule II both rough
and dressed lumber as not free, as they
ought 10 be, the House rate OF 81 on rough
lumber should be preserved, and the diff !
ferental upon dressed lumber should be-
gin at % cents per 1.OO0 and not 90 be-
yond 60 cents per 1000.
House Paper Rate.
In the paper schedule the House rate
Of g per ton on print paper without the
possibility Of increasing it by counter /
vailing duties and free wood pulp. also
protects against the countervaiIing duty.
In the cotton schedule the Senate in
creases from beginning TO end should be
rejected; and while believe that there
should be reductions in this schedule. the
people might be willing to stand for the
House rate. barring. OF course, the hos
iery Increases.
The wooden schedule with respect TO
the compensatory duties 20 manufacturers.
Is manifestly wrong. and the artificial and
arbitrary plan OF estimating the relation
between unwashed and secured wool Is
grossly absurd. The woolgrower is sac
rihced in order 10 give undue protection
TO the worsted wool manufacturer.
The whole schedule Is so indefensible
that q readjustment seems Imperative.
Even 20 accomplish II, the conference re- !
port should be voted down and the bilrI
brought before the Senate again for
Il pass without particularizlng a hum
bred other increases made by the Senate
over the House rates. and the other
hundred OF Dlngley rates that have
passed both Houses without reduction.
as my purpose IS 10 do no more than 10
emphasize the importance OF insisting
upon reductions IN the duties upon manu- ]
factures as we'll as upon raw materials.
Our platform and our pledges embrace /
every dutiable commodity. and we should /
apply the same criterion from the frsr
70 the last. Il Will be most unfortunate
II, in trying 10 give relief to the rank ana |
file OF our people, we succeed in giving |
only manufacturers free raw materials /
and thus aid in the overprotection which |
they now enjoy"