New-York tribune., 1909-04-03
MAXIMUM IND MINIMUM
Tariff COMPROMISE.
Substitute for ProrisiOn of Payns
Bill Understood to Hare Presi-
dent Taffs 4pprOJal.
[Fcon rhe rrIsune Rureau.l


the approval of the President and the Finance
Committee and will be made public when tbs
substitute for the Payne bill is reported to the
Senate The new plan is compromise which
meets the views of the President as expressed in
his first tariff conference with Senator Aldrfch
and others. and yet avoids the objections which
the Senator from Rhode Island has to the Payne
provision Under its terms the minimum rates
will go into effect Immediately after the passage
of the bill and remain In force for from nine 70
twelve months. the exact period remaining TO bs
decided At the end of that time the maximum
rates will go into effect automatically except n
the case of those countries which have demon-
strated to the satisfaction of the President that
they are giving to the United states as good
opportunities for trade as they grant to any
other nation
1t is maintained that so far as American tariff
rates are concerned the effect o< the substiturs
will not be materially different from that of the
Payne provision. but from a diplomatic point OF
view it Is asserted for the AIdrich plan that IL
obviates the punitive character Of the maximum
rates unavoidable under the Payne provision:
that it places on foreign nations the burden OF
proof that they granting TO this country con-
Cessions equal those granted to any other
ton, and that it relieves the President of the
unpleasant necessity of enforcing the maximum
/ rates. which will go into effect automatically
unless he is in position TO say that he is salts
fled the United States is receiving every conces-
sion from a given country which it grants to
any other nation Incidentally. the provision
delegates to the President ample authority TO
ignore any minor or neighborhood trade agree
ments which. in his Judgment are not ininical
TO the trade of the United States
The long period before the maximum rates go
into effect il is Contended will afford all for
eign nations abundant opportunity arrange
their tariff agreements to obtain the mini
mum rates from the United States 1t win its
friends say, further establish the market price
of commodities in the United States. and with
I the knowledge that most foreign countries will
take the steps necessary to secure the minimum
rates. wiz prevent American manufacturers
from organizing their business on the basis OF
the maximum duties. and. finally. the certainty
that most foreign countries will avail themselves
Of the minimum rates WILL IL is maintained.
prevent the imposition of the maximum duties
/ in Individual cases from creating fictitious val
/ ues in the United States.
CREATES A TARIFF BUREAU
/ A further provision of the Aldrich substituts
/ creates tariff bureau which will be charged
/ with the duty OF obtaining information regard
/ ing the imposition OF tariffs in foreign countries
with view to advising the President when il
is proper TO grant the minimum rates. and viii
also act rs a clearing house for tariff infOrma-
ton which now reaches this government through
numerous channels and several different Depart
nents.
Such information will only b gathered.
but collated and prepared in the most con-
venient form for the of the President and
the Congress This bureau Will be in no sense
tariff commission. as it will have authority
to make recommendation to Congress regard
ing tariff rates but viii merely serve
bureau of information for the use OF the Exec
utive and the Congress.
Before the Cabinet meeting to-day President
Taft had a conference with Mr.. Aldrich and
Secretary MacVeagh. Senator AIdrich assured
the President that the committee is making most
satisfactory progress with the tariff bill and
said there would be little delay in taking
the measure up in the Senate following vote
in the House The administrative features OF
the Senate bill then were taken up for discus
sion. which will be resumed at the White House
next week Senator AIdrich left here for New
York to-day and the Finance Committee will
not meet in his absence
There have been reports 10 the effect that shs
majority sentiment in the Senate was opposed
TO the minimum and maximum principle. Pres
fdent Taft has not shared this belief. and to-
day he received definite assurance as to the
correctness of his position, when Senator AID
rich outlined to him his position and that
Of the majority Of the Finance Committee. The
Aldrich plan gives 10 the Executive compIets
power of inquiry and decision The Suprems
Court of the United States. in a involving
the constitutionality OF the Mckinley tariff act
decided that Congress by a similar method OF
administration not delegatng its authority
10 the Executive. Congress will fix absOluts
rates. which will apply under circumstances
which 1t prescribes and discretion will rest with
the President.
The Finance Committee to-day considered ths
Bacon resolution providing that minority mem
bers of the committee shall be entitled to sit
with the Republican subcommittee to cross
examine witnesses. In the debate yesterday the
principal complaint made by several Democrats
senators was that the testimony given before
the committee was ex parte and that II would
not he fair TO have this given to the country .
statement of the facts. After full discussion to-
dav II was decided that the testimony OF the ex-
narts who are summoned by the Republican
subcommittee shall not be made public, but be
omen TO the personal inspection Gf the minority
members of the committee. No report on the
F7acon resolution will be made. and the Repuo-
loan members of the Finance Committee will
continue to obtain information the tariff
ouestion and TO frame the new schedules in ac-
cordance with the plan mapped out at the be-
Ginning After the schedules have been
made the minority members OF the committee viii
ha called in and requested TO assist in framing
the administrative features Of the law. The sub
committee will not meet until Monday. certain
indspendent work having been assigned to the
,nsmbers Many Senators have constituents who
desire to. appear before the committee. next
week II will b, impossible TO hear One-tenth OF
those who have made application. but the COM