Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-05-28

Editor Courier:
have before me your issue of the
10Th, inst, in which you quote from a
speech by Vice President Sherman,
wherein he sets out specific articles
wherein he claims the tariff has been
reduced under the Payne Tariff Bill
I believe, you as newspaper desire
that your readers know the facts in
the discussion now going on regarding
the present tariff and as to whether
the tariff has been lowered or IN
creased. Vice President Sherman, as
quoted by you says, WAS the reduc-
ton of so per cent on boots and shoes
Iridiculous?" l have before me the text
of the old tariff or Dingley bill. also
the Payne tariff bill, or new tariff; the
old tariff placed duty Of 25 per cent
ad valorem on boots and shoes, the
new tariff one of Is per cent ad va
loren, a difference Of 40 per cent, not
Of 60 per cent. Again he asks, WAS
the reduction of 40 per cent on lumber
ridiculous?" From a comparison OF
the wood schedules Of the old and
new tariff bills, I am unable to locate
this forty per cent reduction; the old
rate on hewn lumber not less than
eight inches in diameter was one cent
per cubit foot, the new rate one hall
! per cent per cubit foot. a reduction OF
safty per cent, but the old. rate on
1 j
thousand, the new rate fifty cents per
thousand, an increase OF 66 2-3 per
cent laths under the old rate were
| twenty five cents per one thousand
pieces the new rate the same; hubs
for wheels, etc, under the old rate
1000 ad valorem, the new rate the
same; casks, barrels, packing boxes,
| the same under the new; pickets,
slaves Of wood, ETC., 1910 ad valorem
under the old rate, the same under the
new; sawed boards, planks. ETC., under
i the old rate $500 per thousand, board
measure, the new rate $3.50 per thou
sand, reduction of $3.50; If planed on
one side, the old rate $3.50. the new
planed on two sides or tongued and
grooved, the old rate $500. the new
rate 1925, reduction $50; all sawed
cabinet woods. the old rate 1870 ad-
valorem, the new rate the same. These
examples comprise the chief articles
of lumber under the two rates, and
only in the one instance does 1t reach
as high as the 4o% claimed, and TAX
| ing into consideration the increase
when the duty is ad valorem and re-
mains at the old rate, it is doubtful If
there has really been any reduction on
lumber, as whole. Again he asks
WAS the reduction of $50 on meat
|ridicu.ous?" The old rate on bacon and
hams was five cents per pound, the
new four cents, q reduction OF zoe;
! on live poultry the old rate was 3
cents per pound, the new rate the
same, on dressed poultry the old
rate was cents per pound. the new
the same; on fresh meats the old
rate was cents per pound, the new
one and one-half cents per pound, a
reduction of $3.50: under the old law,
1 IL
| served, not especially provided for, the
rate was $3.50 ad valorem. the new rate
! the same This section covers all
meats not set our previously, and COW
| ers a great variety and amount OF
meat products. He asks WAS the re-
duction Of $50 on harness and saddles
ridiculous?'; the old rate was 45%
for saddles and harness. ad valorem,
the new rate $3.50 ad valorem.
reduction of 222-9% on the face Of
the bill, but no reduction in reality.
when the cost in 1897 is compared with
the cost in 1909. Again, WAS the re-
duction Of 500 on steel rails ridicu-
lous?"; the old rate was 7-20 Of one
cent per lb., the new rate TAO of one
duction Of 60% is claimed on iron
ore. the old rate was 40 cents per ton.
the new rate 25 cents per ton, re-
duction of 37kI; on pig iron the old
rate was $500 per ton, the new rate
s2.5 a reduction of 371z% as claimed.
OF the reduction in the iron and
schedule. it may not be inst proper to
say that it has been ridiculous" but
it is probably true that the old rate
was not only ridiculous" but beyond
all reason Again it is asked WAS, the
reduction Of $3.50 on agricultural i'm
plements ridiculous?" The old rate
was 20 % ad valorem, the new 1870
ad valorem a decrease on paper of $50
but no reduction in reality. OF coal 1t
is asked WAS the reduction of $500
ridiculous?" The old rate for lump coal
was 81 cents per ton, the new rate 60
cents per ton. reduction of 10 367go;
screenings under both rates 10 cents
per ton, Anthracite coal on the free