The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-20
He Quotes Taft in Proving That Tariff Rates Are
 Too High
BILL LOWERS TARIFF
 REVENUE $1O,OOO,O0O
Report Declares Reciprocity Bill Ad- vocated By Taft Is Admission of Republicans That High Pro-
 lection Has Failed

tee. on tnS SO-cdlleQ iiCc iios bill, submitted to the House today by Chairman Underwood. is merger of democratic political argument and an analysis of the proposed duty exemp- tions.
 The report shows that the bill would eeduce the tariff revenue s10.o16,495, based on the importations for the last fiscal year, an amount described as in considerable in comparison with the great saving. and advantages to all our people frou<fhe additions to this free list provide4 for.'
 Quoting 4fetident Taft's recent Can hdian recirFocity speeches. tne report seeks to convey the impression that the administration is convinced that pro- tective tain rate4 are too high
 Tn several raablic < addresses" it says. he tthe Fesidest) has admitted that tariff rates are too high, that such rates have resulted in excessively high prices felt espSaially in the increased cost of livingXNhich now bears heav- fly on our~ pedple and that they have not received the long promised benefits
 of domestic competition under high protective duties"
 Referring to the Presidents state raent that the republican party had modified it's tariff policy so as to limit 1t for purposes of protection to the difference in cost of production here epd abroad with a reasonable profit to the American producers, the committee report says:
 "1his is confession, as was the re- rublicsn platform of 1908, that the theory of high protective duties, as put forth by the republican party, has broken down. that combinations and trusts which prey upon the people have been fostered by the tariff, and that under tariff protection American man. rfacturers have forced unreasonable profits from the people"
 Recognition of Injury Again stbe report declares: "The caer adian reciprocity agreement now before the House is a recognition on the part ol the administration of the injurious effects of the extreme protective policy which has so long beer imposed upon the country and is an effort to mitigate \ Ats effects.''
 The reciprocity agreement. the com rittee assert. cannot afford the Amer fcan people all the needed relief from nBn pIlceS. AcllOn OH tHe dSIetlIleHt involves the necessity of further and immediate action in removing a number of duties on imports from other coun- { tries in order that justice may be done a to the great army of agricultural pro- N ducers. who, in the Canadian agree ment are to have all the alleged pro- lection removed from their products \ without a corresponding or a reciprocal E re mosal of the protective duties most H hnrdensome on the commodities they II must purchase as necessary to sustain their lives and industries"
 + The report takes up in detail the + classified list of articles included in | the free list bill. Regarding agricul- | turai implements it says that their \ manufacture is controlled by trusts and | combinations that have sold in foreign ! countries at lower prices than at home F building up their foreign trade from l $3.S5p.1s4 in 1890 to s2S,124,033 in 1910. Bagging and baling materials. essen l tial Tn the transports ton of agricultural implements, the report says. cannot re- ceive benefits of protection in home mar kets and duties on them have annoyed Al and burdened the farmers to add to the profits of exacting trusts and combina- i tons" Concerning hoops, bands and ties I of iron and steel barber wire for fencing, etc, the report says the high duties make the people dependent upon the giant steel industry which for years has sold products abroad lower than to domestic consumers, and declares that placing them on the free list will be a long delayed measure of equity and justice"
 Cheaper Leather
 The placing on the free list of all forms of leather from cattle hides and skins to- eether with boots, shoes, harness, sad dlery. etc. the committee argues, will be of advantage in manufacturing and necessarily of benefit to agricultural pro- all fos a1 "a
 The beef trust" is assailed in discus sion of the free listing of fresh meats and meat fproducts. The existing duties on meats and meat products 1t is asserted, sare for the advantage, of this combina- lion only"-a combination that "contros the markets both in buying and selling, and the result is a substantial addition to the high cost of living from which the people suffer-" Removal of duties on these products 1t is argued, will place the farmers in q free market as to food-stuffs land food products. For the reason that shall be maintained to protect abnornally high prices on food articles in any form" the bill also seeks exemption from duty on wheat flour, semolina, rye flour, buck wheat flour. corn meal and all prepared cereal foods, biscuits, bread and similar articles not sweetened.
 In discussing free lumber placed in the bill. hardwood excepted. the report main tains that the ownership of timber in this country has become practically monop- cly and has passed for the most part into the hands of great corporations and in- terests which are speculating on the in- I#creasing scarcity.
 & President Taft is again referred to. the <report quoting from his speech of Febru- &ary 26. 1911, in whhrh he said: By giving .pur own people access to Canadian forests i've shall reduce the consumption of our own, which, in the hands of compara- lively few owners now have value that Fequires the enlargement of our available ftimber resources
 4 Sewing machines. the report ayers, are sold abroad by American manufacturers l cheaper than at home and should not be protected
 The manufacturers would have by the FNproposed bill the additional advantage of tree lumber. W Salt, also included in the free list the report urges. should be free from arti- Acial enhancement in price. the domestic supply being dependent upon a limited number of natural deposits. controlled by
 concentrated interests.