The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-08-06
BY WATTERsoN sTEALEY.

Washington, August 5.-(Specia1)- 1.-THE
Aldrich tariff bill became the law of
the land at midnight. 1t was signed BY
the President few minutes after .
O clock Congress adjourned sine die at
s. Its passage marked the end of a
heated four and half months debate
caused siareeit by the refusal of republic
cans to a eapt Tho dicta of Senator
Aldrich Of Rhode Island. Seven republi-
cans voted against the bill in the Senate
while not democrat voted for 1t. West
ern republican senators are free to ad-
NIT that the measure makes of the mid
die western states doubtful territory. They
join with the democrats in denouncing the
measure and no democratic criticism has
been passed upon the new law that has
equaled in severity that of members of the
republican party.
The bill as shown by the table prepared
by tariff experts and given out by Repre-
sentative Clerk, the democratic House
leader, revises the tariff upward. 1t ex-
ceeds the old Dingley act by nearly 3
per cent. Regardless of party platform.
party promises and the speeches of Judge
Taft the country gets what it voted
against, taking as sincere republican pro-
testations that revision downward would
be forthcoming. There was never a more
fragrant violation of anti-election declara-
tions than was written into law today
and If the republican party can get Off
with 1t, 1t is politically invulnerable.
Closing FormaIities.
With the adoption of the conference
report by the Senate the long and fit
full struggle over customs rates and ex-
traneous forms of taxation ended and
nothing remained but the observance Of
the previously determined programme for
the closing formalities at the capitol The
concurrent resolution directing the COM
mittee on enrolled bills to make the cor
rection in the shoe and harness rates
was speedily put through each house and
by the time President Taft reached the
capitol the text of the tariff bill, print
ed on parchment with the shoe and har-
ness corrections made directed by the
two houses, was ready for the approval
bagging was kept off the free list In
President Taft signed the tariff bill at
sos O'Clock and 1t becomes effective at
midnight The new rates went into ex-
istence tonight and steamers rushing
across the Atlantic with hurried custom
houses closed today will tomorrow be
charged the new rates on their cargoes
There are portions of the bill, such as
the tobacco schedule and maximum and
minimum features which go into effect ac
yo,io ath 6ota bi1t
dates are all specifically stated in the bill
and do not affect the rates which go into
effect tomorrow.
Senators on Hand.
The conference report was adopted by
the Senate at 2;10 o'clock by a vote of
A to 81 The attendance was the largest
the Senate has seen since the vote was
taken on the railroad rate bill. All of the
AZ votes in favor of the bill were repub-
licans. Seven republican insurgents stood
by their guns to the last, and voted
against the bill along with the "a demo-
Gratis. Fourteen other senator's were
paired, but there were actually only
seven absentees.
No sooner had the report been adopted
than Senator Aldrlch called up the con-
current resolution to authorize the cor
rectng of the shoe and harness rates.
Senator Culberson tried to amend this
resolution 80 as to have another cor
rection made placing cotton bagging on
the free list. This was tabled by vote
of 43 to 26, four republicans voting with
the democrats in favor of not laying the
proposal on the table. Senator Stone
offered an amendment to make shoes and
leather, as well as harness, free along
with hides. 1t. too, was tabled by a vote
of 4s to %, three republicans voting to
80 Ia IT.
the concurrent resolution Of Aldrich
was adopted on roll call by vote of SO
to O. Every senator present voted to
give shoes and harness the lower rates
Of 10 per cent for the former and 20 per