Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-03-19
THE TARIFF BILL.

Washington, Mdrcn lo-li!!Iltuidlt
" after the House convened today Mr..
Payne y. Y, chairman of the com
mittce on ways and means, reported
back the tariff bill without amend
mcnt.
Mr.. Payne offered a resolution pro-
yiding for the printing of "O,0OD copies
of it, $4,000 of which shall be in d"cu-
ment form and cmbodying the views
IF the minority After q good deal of
discussion the resolution vas adopted.
The report accompanying the bill.
which was presented by Mr.. Payne, Is
mada up in the main of extracts from.
the statement regarding the schedules
which was yesterday given out by Mr..
Payne but the Introductory portion of
it explains the committees reasons for
it's course Two principal reasons for
the REIMBURSEMENT of the schedules are
given. The first is that in the f. years
since tire enactment OF Tn" Dlngley
bill. many new complications in the
tariff have arisen. and il is stated that
the public demand has been confirmed
by the Information received by the
committee since it began its inVeStiga
ton. In the second place it is stated
that SINCE the Dingley hill went into
effect a large number of foreign co,ln-
tries hay, adopted tariffs with maxi
mum and minimum rates. 50 that Sec
ton 3 of the present law is not regard
ed as sufficiently broad to meet the
changed condition as these new Cor
tgn tariffs force the higher rate on Il
Iarge Tart of our exports. The COM
mitt"n expresses tn" opinion that the
v-iI1 fhnGa
lions 1t is stated that the bill proposes
. reduced rate on the bulk OF imported
articles.
The committee then states that the
preparation Of the bill has been no
easy task. The popular demand for the
cutting of rates is referred to and
againsc this is set tine Republic, an pol
icy If protection whose cardinal prin-
ciple it is stated is the protection of
American industries and American
workmen against the difference in cost
OF productiGn ut home ana abroad.
The necessity for more revenu" Mt
the present time is also discussed. II
is asserted that until the recent dcpr"s-
sion in business the revenues under
the present laws have been sufficient
to meet the expenditures of the gov
ernmcnt and It is pointed out that
from 1867. the date of the enactment of
the Dncley bill, until 1909. there has
been a surplus of receipts fer this
period exclusive of postal revenues
was $6J5S. 900. 26l and the expenditures
about exclusive of postal expenses.
$G.4S3, G64, SIG.
Comment is then made upon the eff
feet of the present industrial d"prcs-
sion and me committee says
1t is the hope of the committee that
with a return OF business prosperity.
the revenue will show Il large per
Centagc of increase and prove entire
" adequate for any natural and eco
homical seal" of expenditures.
II is then pointed out that even since
the beginning of the present month
there has been an upward tendency of
receipts In explaining the provision
for authorizing the issue Cf Sl5,ooo00o
of additional Panama cailli bonds, the
report says that the committee believes
that the entire eXpcnditur" for the
building of the Panama canal should
he met by 4 bond issue
Mr. Payne says that for more than
two years tariff experts HAY" cen IN
vestigating tariff rates. and consular
agents have been studying the tariff
schedules of other countries. MIR.
Payne speaks OF the great assistance
rendered the committee by the depart
ment of commerce and labor and the
state department.