The Washington herald., 1910-05-13
PAYNE FIRES FIRST
GUN In CAMPAIGN
Defends Tariff Law Which
Bears His Name.
SOUNDS CONGRESSIONAL SLOGAN
Republican Leader and Author of
Tariff Act I'm Speech I'm House Out
lines Course Party VIII Pursue in
Coming EIections-WII stand Pat
on the Issue-CriticlSm Unjust.

The Republican Congressional campaign
was opened in the House yesterday.
Representative Serene Payne. of New
York. chairman of the Ways and Means
Committee. sounded the party slogan for
the coming conflict In defense Of the new
tariff law which bears his name, linked
with that Of Senator Aldrich.
It was a fat announcement that the
Republican party will 80 before the
country in the elections standing pat
on the tariff question.
For more than two hours the old Re
publican war horse sounded the battle
cry, which translated. was The best
tariff law ever enacted" lie had a big
audience. The solid Republican member
ship grouped about him as he pounded
up and down the aisles, laundering out
Rll the facts from the tariff lexicon that
he could marshal TO prove his case.
It was noticeable that Mr.. Payne
touched only the high lights Of the tariff
landscape. So far as he went. his pres
entation of the subject was most favor
able 10 his cause. He made an excellent
showing on the Items Of the bill which
he discussed, but on many Of the pro
visions Of the law against which there
has been the greatest protest in the coun-
try he was silent.
Tariff Charges False.
He claimed that the law had been sub
jected To constant Misrepresentation. and
said that in ninety-uiue cases out Of a
hundred the assertion that the tariff had
been increased was false. Regarding the
wooden schedule. which has been SUBJ
jected 10 bitter attack. Mr.. Payne
thought that the country had hardly yet
become aware that not a single increase
in duty had been made in the whole
schedule
As revenue producer, the bin had &C.
COmplisaed the first requisite of a tariff
law. the production Of money for the eX
penses Of government As TO the in,
creases on wines, liquors. and other lux
uries. Mr.. Payne had no excuses TO make
Also there had been some increases in thu
cotton schedule, made necessary by tn,
protection OF that industry in accordanc,
with the principles of the Republican
platform.
Mr.. Payne was interrupted but little al
he fred The opening gun of the campaign
As he progressed lie moved away from
his seat in order to face . large numbe
OF his hearers, until finally ne move,
uncn the lower steps Of the rostrum. an,
there concluded his remarks.
The speech is regarded as formal motto
20 the country that the Republican part,
assumes all responsibility Cor enactinl
the present tariff law. and tina, # is read
20 defend that law. This, apparently 8
the only course open 70 the party and d
the programme adopted by the regula
leaders
Mt Payne. touching upon the problem
Ct living cost. said that much criticism
Of the law had started from tradesmer
who. anxious to Increase profits. ha
raised prices end blamed the tariff
According 90 Mr. Payne. the most per
sistent Islander against the law is on IN
question Of downward revision.
"The minority leader" he said in
dulges In IL when be says that the rate
are . per cent higher than the D.ngle
rates. He takes no account of the milIlo
Of dollars Of articles transferred 20 IN
free list But the free list is a part q
the imports Of the country and a ties
that does not take into account the fire.
list, is no criterion"
The sugar schedules in the bin wer
discussed At some length by Mr. Payn,
Had Too Much Revenue.
Sugar is recognized in all tariffs as
great revenue producer" he said Wv
put it on the free list in the McKinlc
law 20 get rid Of the revenue Of whic
we had a great surplus. We needed IN
revenue from sugar I'm this law. and W
cut down no part Of the duty except O
sugar coming from the Philippine Island
which we made free, and the redner
duty"
Declaring that the prices Of commod
tiles have been increasing yearly for te
years all over the world. Mr.. Payne In
sisted that Il was foolish to blame sue
increases as have occurred since the or
actment OF the new tariff law last Al
gust on that measure.
THE opponents Of this law are read
20 jump at the conclusion he said. 'ths
the increases have been on account
the law. and they have blamed II for a
advances In prices. A little reflection
showing them the error Of their wa,
one reason for the advance in prices no
universally conceded is not only the il
crease in the production of gold. but III
cheaper methods OF its production. tt
supply IS even greater than the deman,
and this supply is obtained at less cos
All this accounts in part for the gener.
Increase in prices the world over and 81
pecially in those countries on a gold b,
sis. When we come TO look at the tart
for this increase, we find the increas,
in prices are upon articles on which n
duties have been lowered in the presel
law, or where they remain exactly at n
same figure as I'm the Dingley law. a
kinds Of farm produce. meats. butte