The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-03-26
RAW MATERIALS
BE FREE
49,
Plea for Crumbpacker, Lead
Ing Downward ReViSiOniSt
ON WAYS AND MEANS
cites Hides as an Example-Benetit to
Farmers From Duty More Than
Offset by Lower Cost Of Shoes,
Harness, Etc.

Washington, Marco 26.--Declaring that
Che chief commendatory feature Of the
Payne tariff bill is the placing Of certain
crude raw materials used IN manufacture
on the free list, Representative Crum.
packer Of Indiana, the most pronounced
downward revisionist among the Repub-
licah members OF the ways and means
committee, in speech yesterday dis.
eussed at length some Of the most inn
portant, schedules in the new measure.
He said that tariff bills are peculiarly
Che result Of compromise, and he had no
doubt The Payne bill Is great improve.
ment over the Dingley law.
1T is not The policy Of protection
he said, ito simply surround special in.
terasts with conditions under which they
may make increased profits. Trusts ex.
Isl IN free trade countries as well as in
Countries that maintain protective tar
IFS The chief difference Is that in a
free trade country there Is no tariff be-
hind which a combination can find shell.
ter IN increasing prices uniustly and inn
posing upon The people; while in pro.
lection country, If the tart IS higher
than is necessary to cover the difference
ii the cost Of production, combinations
may degenerate into trusts and raise
prices clear to the top Of the protection
wall with entire safety
Protectors vital Aim.
lie said that thu vital purpose Of
protective tariff is to increase oppor
tanities for the employment Of capital
and labor II the development Of the nat
ural resources. II there were no protec-
lions to American labor the level Of
wages in this country would grayitate
to the level Of wages in foreign coun-
tries; and the present tariiI policy tends
10 keep up high standard OF wages
and living
Notwithstanding the high scale wages
in this country, he said. the United
states can successfully compete With the
entire world in many lines OF production
because 1t has the greatest market Of
any country, and because its 00O00000
people have 4 consuming capacity equal
20 that Of almost half the entire popu
lation Of the globe.
The theory Of the free raw materials
doctrine" he continued, is that 1t pro
notes the greatest development of in
duties. and giyes the greatest opportuni
ties for the employment Of capital and
labor Duties upon raw materials are
a handicap upon American manufactur
grs for the export trade. They operate
TO protect competitors in the neutral
markets, by seriously increasing his cost
of production, There IS no great pro-
dueing country III the world, except the
Iinited staets, that does not give its
manufacturers the benefit Of free raw
materials. gs.s. ss. IL
Defends Free Hides.
lie made lengthy argument in favor
Of free hides. asserting that the duty on
hides has increased The cost Of shoes
for the wage Garner bnt has not created
any demand for additional capital nor
created employment for a single addi-
tional laborers The average farmer, he
contended, will derive more direct benefit
i'll the decreased cost Of boots, shoes. har
ness, and other. leather products, than
BIZ now derives from the tariff on cattle
hides.
Mr.. Crumpaeker declared that many
Industries, If placed upon an equal foot
ing with foreign competitors, with re
spect to materials, could well afford to
pay the high scale of American wages
and still become important factors in
the open markets He proposed, as 4
means Of expcndin9 our trade with
South America, that raw materials from
that continent be admitted free, to be |
made into. finished products IN the United |
States and sold back TO the South Ameri |
can countries He, said the drawback |
provision Of the Payne bill will tend
largely to increase export trade, +
Attaching the .fariH for revenue only |
policy Of the Democratic party, Mr.. |
crumpacker declared this To Bs a sham |
and. d fraud. He discussed the maxi |
mum and minimnm provision. 81 the |
Payne bill and declared it o be a wise |
provision.
Il predict for this BILL. said Mr.. |
Crumpacker, +.if IL shall be enacted into
law, the sincere approval Of all the peo-
Pile. OF. the country who are interested |
only in promoting the general welfare.
Following its enactment. ! confidently |
look for such a revival Of industrial |
as win foreshadow another era |
Of prosperity more splendid, if possible,
than that which followed tie enactment
Of the DingIey law in 1897"