The Washington herald., 1909-03-18


The new tariff bill 10 revise the sshed-
ules OF the Dingley tariff act was intro
duced al the opening OF the House OF
Representative yesterday, and inme-
diateiy referred 10 the Committee On
ways and Means. The committee will
meet this morning at 10 O'Clock. and prob
ably viii report the bill back 10 the
House this afternoon OF tomorrow.
The new measure Is known as the
Payne tariff bill, and vas prepared by
the Ways and Means Committee after
series Of hearings and deliberations last
ing since the adjournment OF Congress
last June.
The attempt Of the bill Is to decrease
the schedules as a whole. but al the same
time raise The revenues OF the countrv
by imposing taxes on articles heretofore
placed or the free list. and By raising tbs
revenues on other articles. Il IS also the
purpose Of the bin 10 encourage the in
dustries OF the United states wherever
possible.
The annual revenue under the new act.
il Is estimated. viii be about $50 00a 90
about 100000 in excess of the present
revenues OF the country. This, however.
IS made possible BY decreasing schedules
which were heretofore prohfbirive. and
Increasing those regarded as too small.
In al, the Republican members of the
Ways and Means Committee ssy. the bin
is Just. and viii prove beneficial 70 the
country a. large
Hides on Free List
The average decrease in revenues IS
about IS per cent. although some of ths
4 schedules have been doubled. while others
( have been cut % less than half wha-
I they formerly were
Under the new schedules the duty on
rough lumber is cut in half. while a Ike
: reduction IS made on steel and steel
products Iron ore and hides are placed
on the free list. and there is no duty on
coffee The duty placed on tea is :
cents when Il Is imported directly from
/ the country in which IL is raised. and @
/ cents when handled through another
country.
Leaders Amused.
The Republican leaders are much
amused over the attitude Of some Of the
( Southern Democrats These Democrats.
I long advocates or tariff for revenue onIy.
+ are Inclined 20 be angry with the Re
7 publican members Of the WAYS and
( Means Committee for cutting the duties
on articles produced in large quantities
b in certain OF the southern States
: The three Republicans En- the North Car
olina delegation have resolved 20 protest
/ against the 80 per cent reduction in the
dcty on lumber, which is not strange in
view Of the fact that they are members
of the party which has stood for The
{ protection principle. but SIX or the seven
/ remaining members OF the North Caro-
Z lima delegation. all Democrats. are just
. as indignant as their Republican breth-
+ ren over the slicing OF Of the lumber
duty. and VIII Join them IN an effort TO
I have IT re-tore6-
Il had been generally thought that a
tax OF cents would be placed on coffee.
/ but this plan. IL is said. was al ndoned
+ Monday az midnight. when Il y seen
( that the Republican members OF the com
I rnittee we're hopelessly divided on the
question.
( Coffee Is placed On the reciprocal list.
/ II any country. dependency. or province
! shall impose an export duty or other
/ tax. directly or indirectly. upon coffee ex-
/ ported 70 the United states. q duty equal
/ 10 such export duty. tax, or charge shall
be levied.
/ The nex measure IS minimum ard
maximum bill The maximum rates are
+ generally equal 90 the minimum rates and
/ a per cent additional The maximum
-stes do not 20 into effect until sixty
/ davs after the passage OF the act
The greatest question that confronted
/ the committee was that % raising the
revenue. The business 0f all the coun-
+ try has been depressed for the last two
years. and thus has affected commerce
/ and greatly reduced the revenues How
/ ever. the business conditions OF the world
I are gradually improving. and Il was IN
/ the face Of this that the committee was
/ able 70 hold some Of the schedules down
TO the low figures reported
Basis Of Estimates.
The committee took the year Of 1916 as
I the basis 20 form their estimates OF the
( revenues for the new bin. Should the next
/ fiscal year prove prosperous. and normal
I conditions return. the revenues for 1si.
would show a considerable increase over
] the estimates OF the committee.
With anything like the return o nor
nal conditions Il IS believed the na-
uonal deficit viii be completely wipec
out. but IN case it is not. the bill pro
vides for the issues OF Panama bouds
I 20 reimburse the Treasury for the So
OoO000 paid out in the original purchase
OF the canal. This would make I'D an
probable deficiency
The bill also provides Tor re-enactins
4 the measure FOR the issue OF certificate;
70 run one year. 20 replenish the Treas
ury. raising the amount from $4,000 0oa tc
| S2f5 000.G0o an amount sufficient 10 pro
vide al any time against two or three
/ years OF depressed business conditions.
The new rates on plate glass are largely
/ increased. This was done solely 10 pro.
tect American industries and 70 allow TIE