Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-03-23
Chairman Payne Continues to
Explain Tariff Bill.
AT GARRETT
Denies That the Revision Is Upward
as Intimated.
SHARP COLL0QUY OVER HIDES
Members Crowd the Aisles and Well
in Front of the Speakers Ros-
trum, Displaying Interest.

When the House met at IL o'clock to-
day there was slim attendance of MEM
bers. which led Mr.. Macon of Arkansas
TO suggest the absence of quorum. AS
Mr.. Payne was to continue his explana-
ton of the tariff bill. the Arkansas mem.
ber said he should be given a full hear
ing. The point was not pressed. how
ever. and Mr.. Payne took the floor.
No sooner had he begun than he was
piled with questions from all sides. Again
he was asked. this time by Mr.. Moore of
Pennsylvania, if there would be an op-
portunity to offer amendments to the bill
in the House. "Or,'' Mr.. Moore added
must we look elsewhere?" meaning the
Senate.
That" replied Mr.. Payne. 'fs entirely
in the judgment of the House and in its
control" All he was seeking to do. he
said. was to finish his speech. and to
him it seemed an impossible task.
Indignant at Garrett.
In his replies to questions Mr.. Payne
was decidedly more aggressive than he
was yesterday. He became highly in
dignant when Mr.. Garrett Tennessee) in
quired it, taking the bill as whole, it
was not revision upward"
lie SoHtielndn has uO TISul W Sdy
that" the republican leader sharply an
nounced. "It is not fair to say that as
an honorable man.
With good deal of emphasis he de-
clared that. taken as a whole. the re-
vision was downward, but as to luxuries
it was. he said, revision upward. and
ought to be. He said that any intelli-
gent man could understand by reading
the bill its general trend. and he charged
that the idea of interpolating such a re-
mark as that made by Mr.. Garrett was
not fair to me. to the committee nor to
the country
Disclaiming any improper motive, Mr..
Garrett said he wanted to know the real
fact.
You asked the question by way of
suggestion" Mr.. Payne retorted with
some warmth. "and you meant to insert
that remark in the body of my speech
Sharp Colloquy Over Hides.
An instant later Mr.. Payne had a sharp
colloquy with Mr. Garner of Texas. who
asked for an explanation regarding free
hides.
Il will get to hides said Mr. Payne,
hotly. Il know il is local issue with
the gentleman" he said. and" he added,
with an unconscious pun. II know he
will try to hide himself behind a revenue
duty i'm order to meet the demands of
those democrats in his district who are
clamoring for duty on hides
The democrats in my district" quickly
retorted Mr.. Garner, ARE also clamorng
for free leather. free harness and free
shoes
Continuing his explanation and answer
ing many queries. Mr.. rayne said that
the cut In the metal schedule would not
destroy the tin plate industry in the
United States.
Mr. Payne became somewhat irritated
when Mr.. Capron R.I) interrupted h s
explanation of the file schedule The
Rhode Island member asserted that Mr.
Payne was not stating the whole case
land should not make it appear as if he
was speaking attorney for the i'm
porters."
Mr.. Moore PA got into the discussion
and. answering both him and Mr.. Ca
prom Mr. Payne declared that the re-
vision of the steel file schedule would not
destroy that industry in the United
States.
Alleged Hide Trust Attacked.
And now / come TO hides" Mr. Payne
said with a sigh of relief He made a
general attack on the so-called hide trust,
and said the big four packers con-
trolied the hide industry in the United
States.
DO you think, interrupted Mr. Reeder
(kan). 1.-The big four would be generous
enough to turn this tariff over to the con-
sumers?'
OH responded Mr.. Payne they
wouldn't turn ANYTHING over TO anybody
unless obliged to-
The result of placing hides on the free
list. Mr.. Payne declared, would be 10 pro-
tect the Independent tanners and gve
work to the men employed by them 1T
won't hurt anybody in the United States
he said. except the middlemen and the
packers
While Mr.. Payne was discussing this
schedule the members crowded the aisles
Nf fk,n
auently several questions would be put by
them at one time. and there was constant
demand on his attention.
His good humor apparently had
turned. and he replied TO each one in turn.
Farmers and Free Hides.
When later hides were again the topic
Of discuss on. Mr.. Garner asked the ways
and means chairman If he thought the
removal of the duty on hides was render
ing the farmers real benefit.
Il do replied Mr.. Payne with EN-
phasis.
1T is a good thing" Mr.. Garner re-
marked, that the gentleman does not
have Ia run for Congress in some districts
know of, because he would have d pret-
~ hard time of it
To that observation Mr.. Payne replied
that farmers We're honest. intelligent and
fair people and should be dealt with
I
exclaimed The more you demagogue
the more you lose their respect. the more
you will weaken your hold upon their at
tention.
Reduction of Duty on Shoes.
Continuing his defense OF the removal
of the duty on hides. Mr.. Payne rdi-
culed the arguments of those who defend
the duty in behalf of the farmer He
said that those arguments would mot
convince justice of the peace away
back in the woods The way TO help
the farmer. he insisted. would be to re-
| duce the cost of the leather which goes
into the common shoes he wears. The
committee had reduced the duty on sole
leather SO that II gave the manufacturer
the barest kind Of protection to his labor
employed.
| Mr.. Payne said the commission had
! made relatively a larger reduction on
| shoes than on any other article. One or
! Two shoe manufacturers had declared
/ they would submit to free shoes If they
I could get free hides but they had also