The Oskaloosa herald., 1910-12-15
SENATOR CUMM|NS
HITS TARIFF LAW
Makes Attack on Recent Legisla-
ton, Rouses Debate.
PlECEMEAL REVISION IS PLAN
Begins Contest for Change In Rules
to Permit Dealing With Separate
Schedules - Lodge and
AIdrlch Assent.

Washington, Dec. 14.-Contending
that the present tariff law imposes ex
cessive duties and that the country
at large demands it's amendment, Sen
ator Cummins of Iowa delivered a
speech in the senate in advocacy 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 it precipitated a general discus
sion in which Senators Aldrich, Hale,
Lodge and Carter took part.
81 consider excessive and inexcusa'
BILE many of the duties levied by the
law of 1909" said Senator Cummins.
81 know also that many people believe
that the lew should be amended.
During the recent political struggle
! did not hear single utterance by a
Republican that did not admit that
the law contains duties that ought to
be changed and that 1t is the duy of
congress to act speedily"
Change in Rules Held Necessary.
Declaring then that under existing
senate the amendment of tariff law
is out of the question he contended
that the first step to be taken was
the modification of the rules so as to
render it possible to amend an indi
vidual provision of the tariff law
without taking up the entire tariff
question.
1.-THE real ISSUE" he said, lis wheth
er we shall SO amend our rules as to
permit the amendment of the law
schedule by schedule"
Senator Aldrich expressed concur
renee with the Iowa senator.
81 think" said the Rhode Island
member, that we are all agreed that
1t is desirable to take 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
resolution would have the effect OF
curtailing the constitutional power Of
the house to originate tariff legislation
Hepburn Is Heard in Dissent.
Senator Hepburn would not give
assent to the proposition that all Re
publicans are agreed to the policy Of
piecemeal tariff revision; he advo
Gated the protective policy and de
clined to be committed to any Other
policy.
After an experience with five tar
ifs, believe that some way should
be devised for the amendment of tar
iff laws without entering into gen
eral revision" said Senator Lodge
planting himself squarely on Senator
Cummins' side.
Senator Aldrich thought there might
be concurrence on the part of the
two houses, but he did not accept the
theory that the question could be
dealt with by joint legislation. Or
the other hand, Senator Cummins con
tended that general concurrence with
out legislation would be absolutely i'm
practicable.
1CPCw Woutd FhulSV SAhASS Soto' iSo
Senator Depew introduced a bill
to increase the salaries of the chic
Justice of the United States to $4,000
and those Of the associate justices tt
$4,000; circuit judges United States
TO $4,000; district judges to $4,000
The salaries at present are: Chic
Justice, $4,000; associate juctices
S12,5OO; circuit judges, $1,000; dis
trict judges. $4,000.
Step for Tariff Commission.
The first steps we're taken by the
finance committee Of the senate
toward carrying out Presidents Taft:
wishes for permanent tariff com
mission with adequate powers.
TIE committee considered the vari
GUS suggestions presented to congress!
in connection with demands for {
modification of the law creating thu
tariff board. AS the session was th'
first held this winter, the members o
the committee had had no opportunit,
for an exchange of views.
~nr rsnanrn0t suapln an m MI