Omaha daily bee., 1910-02-13

~creases, 40 increases and 1,1b0 items o.
the dutiable list unchanged, but this did
not represent the fair proportion In most
Of the reductions and the increases, be-
cause the duties we're decreased on those
articles which had a consumption value
OF nearly 1900. 100000. while they were in
creased on those articles which had a con-
sumption value Of less than ST.
100000. 200. OF the Increases the con-
sumption values OF those affected which
are Of l~uxuries, to wit, silks, wines,
liquors, perfumes, pomades ana like ar
ticles amounted to nearly sOO0.OOO.OOO, while
the increase not on articles OF luxury az
fected but about $500, 900. 900, as against de-
creases on about 5000. 900, 900 Of oonsump-
ton,
Advance ON Luxuries.
II repeat. therefore. that this was a
downward revision. II was not downward
with reference to silks or liquors or high
priced cottons In the nature OF Injuries.
IL was down ward IN respect 70 nearly 81!
other articles except woolens, which were
not affected at all. Certainly IL was mot
promised that the rates on mxuries should
be reduced. The revenues were falling off;
there was a deficit promised, and il was
NAe Ni0N NhG hSNtAuCh bnOut0 DC In
creased. II was no violation Of the promise
to Increase the revenues by increasing the
tax on ~luxuries provided there was down.
ward revision on all other articles.
THE one substantial defect in compliance
with the promise OF the platform was the
failure to reduce woolens. Does that de-
feet 30 color the action OF the republican
party as to make It a breach of faith lead
ing to It's condemnation. I do not think
So Parties are like men. Revisions are
like the work OF men--they are not perfect.
The change which this tariff effected was
q marked change downward in the rate of
the duties, and It was a recognition by the
party that the time had come when in
stead Of increasing duties they must be
decreased, when the party recognized In
Its platform, and In much OF what II did,
that the proper measure of protection was
the difference In cost Of production of arti-
Giles here and abroad, including a fair
profit to the manufacture There was a
dispute as to what that difference ls and
whether 1t was recognized in the change
OF all the duties downward. Particularly
was this the case on the materials that
enter into the manufacture, OF paper and
paper itself. The reduction on. print paper
was from IS to 1915. or about 81 per cent.
Much Misrepresentation.
There was a real difference OF opinion
on the question OF fact whether the new
duty correctly measured the differences In
the cost Of production OF print paper abroad
and print paper here. II affected the count
Ing roomS-of the newspapers OF the coun-
try and Invited the attention of the news
paper proprietors who had associated them
selves together like other Interests for the
purpose Of securing a reduction OF the tar
itf. The failure to make a larger reduction
showed itself clearly in the editorial coll
umna OF a great number OF the newspapers
whatever the party prediction. The
amount OF Misrepresentation to which the
tariff bill in its effect as a downward re-
vision bin was subjected has never been
exceeded in this country. and It will doubt
less take the actual operation Of the tariff
biA for several years to show to the coun-
try exactly what the legislation and it's
efteets are. 1t is perhaps too early to in
Etitute the fnirest comparisons between the
Payne-Aldrioh bill and the bill which pre-
ceded It, but the Payne-Aldrich bill has
been in operation now for six months and
figures are at hand from which we may
make a reasonable inference, first. as to
WHISTLER II Is a revision downward, and,
second. as to It's capacity for producing
rsvenue, for Il must be borne IN mind
that the passage Of the law was deemed
not only for the purpose OF changing rates
In their effect upon the industries OF the
country, but also for the purpose OF in
crcssing the revenues, and the success Of
the measure lie TO be judged by its results
in both these respects.
AveraRe rate Of Duty Paid.
"rhe bureau OF statistios is authority
Tor the statement that during the first
six months OF the operation or the Payne
law, which has Just ended. the average
rate OF duty paid on all dutiable imports
was 2l.Oe per cent ed valorem. The aver
age rate Of duty paid on all imports for
the Same ak months for the four pre-
eeding years under the Dingley law was
2i.OS. This would show that the reduc-
ton In the Payne law is asa per cent of
the value OF the goods, or that the reduo-
ton below the previous tariff rates Is
IL per cent, showing a downward revision
of this extent in those goods which are
dutlnble. But this Is not all. Under the
Payne law Sis per cent Of the gross lm-
ports OF the last six months have been
entered free, while under the four years
preceding. for the same six months, the
free list amounted 10 4b.46 per cent OF
the total importRtions; SO there was not
only a reduction of duty on dutiable Inn
porst OF about 12 per cent. but also an