New-York tribune., 1909-04-06
SPEED ON TARIFF BILL
.SEN.4TE REPORT APRIL -.
Sererdl amendments offered ana
Others Projected.
From The Tribune Bureau.

Washington. April with the date fixed when
the Payne tariff bill is to pass the House. there is
air of expectancy and preparation In the Senate
Senators are getting down TO work on concrete
amendments. Three amendments were offered In
the Senate to-day by Senator Hepburn, Of Idaho.
and on Thursday Senator Stone. Of Missouri. VIII
propose an amendment on which he has been work
ing for some time. Other Senators are hard at
work and when the Payne bill reaches the Senate
il will be met by score Of amendments.
The amendments of Senator Hepburn possess the
rare merit Of originality. being something new on
the tariff question. one of them provides that the
government shall collect an annual license Zee or
two cents A square foot upon every posted sign or
display advertisement OF any article OF commerce
or trade which is advertised to enter INTO
interstate commerce.
The Idaho Senator holds that the most important
phase OF the tariff IS the question OF revenue He
regards unsightly the signs erected along ran
road rights OF way pointing out the DeIehls VI
certain patent medicines. soaps. brands OF tobacco
etc On the way from Philadelphia 20 New York a
few weeks ago Senator Hepburn saw so many ol
these signs that he became angry. lie oeheNes
they ought to be taxed. and thinks it possible TO
frame license governing then which VIII pc
constitutional Nr Hepburn says a license fee OF
two cents square foot viii yield an annual re'e-
nue. OF about S5,0o0000
The other amendments proposed by the ldaho
Senator provide the taxation Of lands IN excess
of one thousand acres held by individuals or coz
porations The rate of taxation fixed in the amend
ments is 10 cents acre. One OF these aileliu
nents is intended 10 reach lands containing COAL
iron lumber and like articles which enter into IN
Ierstate commerce. Mr.. Hepburn says ne hno"S
several men in the West who one million acres
of land. He believes they can well anord 10 coI-
tribute something TO the revenues OF the hauoh
for the protection which the government gives 'he
vast property interests He estimates that MS pro
posed land tax ought yield an annual income OIL
100000
Senator Stone, OF Missouri. will introduce On
Thursday an amendment providing for the mae
pendence of the Philippine Islands after hl'een
years Mr. Stone holds that the Payne tarif olii
commits the United States 10 indefinite occupation
of the Philippines He contends that II is HnpoSS-
bic to assess duties against importatlons from
the Philippines as foreign country uhoer 81
prenle Court decisions and says that II the PM
jppines are a part of this country It is equaHE
consistent with law and relations with other
nations He purposes urge free trade wl'h the
Philippines on books agricultural implements
machinery cotton and cotton manufactures Tor nj
years.
The Committee Finance held a short session
this afternoon at which the. administrative feat-
1Ires OF the new tariff were discussed II IS
believed Senator Aldrich will be ready to report
the Senate substitute for the Payne bill by
April Is.
the Senate to-day. but there no debate. After
a short executive session the Senate al p m
adjourned until Thursday.