Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-12-13
SEN. CUMM|AS
OPENS ATTACK
ON PAYNE TARIFF
Makes Speech Advocating Limi-
tation OF Power of
Amendment,

WASHINGTON, Disc. 1a-Contend-
ing that the present tariff low imposes
excessive duties and that the country
at large demands its amendment
Senator Cummins, Of Iowa, today de-
nvered a speech In the Senate In ad-
.vocacy of his resolution limiting the
power Of amendment of bills dealing
with the separate schedules of the law.
The speech was the first attack Of
the session-on the Payne-Aldrich law.
and 1t received careful attention. The
Iowa senator disavowed any intention
of opening up q general tariff discus
sion. Still 10 found it difficult to avoid
a general expression on tariff ques-
tons.
1T is well known" he said, that L
consider excessive n inexcusable
many of the duties levied by the law
of 1908. I know also that many people
believ hat the law should be
amended. During the recent political
struggle / did not hear a single utter
ance by a Republican that did not adj
nit thai the law contains duties that
ought to be changed n that It is the
duty of Congress to act speedily.
Cannot Amend Schedules.
Declaring, then. that under existing
parliamentary usage in the House and
Senate the amendment OF a tariff law
Is u of the question, he commended
that the first step to be taken was the
modification of the rules so as to render
it possible to amend an Individual pro-
vision of the tariff law without taking
up the entire tariff question.
THE real issue he said, lis whether
we shall so amend our rules as to
permit the amendment of the law
schedule by schedule
Mr.. Cummins had not proceeded lar
until he was compelled to submit to
Interruptions. Senators Aldrlch. Hale,
Lodge and Carter participated in the
debate.
Mr.. Aldrich afforded the Iowa senator
much qualification by expressing con
currence with the latter.
81 think" said the Rhode Island
member, that We are all agreed that
1t is desirable to taxi up the tariff by
subjects, not by schedules.
He expressed, doubt, however, as to
the adequacy of the Cummins amend
ment to accomplish this result, con
tending that the adoption of the reso-
luton would have the effect of cur
failing the constitutional power of the
House to originate tariff legislation.
Mr.. Bacon also contended for the
right of each House TO formulate its
own rules.
nauaa. RaunhIfcuu Sentiment E
Mr.. Hepburn would not give assent
to the proposition that all Republicans
are agreed to the policy of piecemeal
tariff revision; he advocated the pro-
tectiye policy and declined to be com
mitted TO any other policy.
After an experience with five tariffs,
l believe that some way should be de-
vised for the amendment Of tariff laws
without entering into a general revi-
said Mr.. Lodge, planting him
self squarely on Mr., Cummings side.
The debate drifted into a technical
parliamentary discussion of the pro-
priety of dealing with the subject by
means of a joint resolution, as is pro-
posed by the Cummins resolution. Mr..
Aldrich thought there might be concur
renee on the part of the two Houses,
but he did not accept the theory that
the question could be dealt with by
joint legislation. On the other hand,
Cummins contended that general
concurrence without legislation would
absolutely impracticable.