The evening world., 1911-04-19
FREE TRADE CUTS
YEAR
FROM THE REVENUE
But Loss Will Be Offset Ivy
Gain TO The People in Cost
of Living, Say Democrats.
FOLLOW TAFT'S lDENS.
Trusts AsSailei by House Com
mittee in Favorahly Report
in Tariff Bill.

in Tariff Bill.
WASHINGTON. April ia-Thc ma'or-
ity report Of the Ways and Means Com
mittee on the so-called Farmers Free
List bill, submitted 10 the House to-day
by Chairman Underwood, IL n merger
Of Democratic political argument and
an analysis OF the proposed duty ex-
om-,ions.
reduce the tariff revenue slo.ole,4s5,
based on the importations for the last
fiscal year, an amount described -
"inoonsiderable in comparison with
the grsat saving and advantages 20 all
Of our peopis from the additions TO
the free list provided for"
Quoting President Taft's recent Cana
dian reciprocity speeches. tho report
seeks to convey the impression that the
Administration is co WINGED that pro-
tectlve tariff rates are too high.
Tariff Rates Too High.
"In several public addresses It says.
"he Che Presldenp has admitted that
tariff rates are too high. that such
rates have resulted IN excessively hlsh
prices. felt especially IN the Increased
cost OF living which now bears heavily
on our people. and that they have not
received the long promised benefits OF
domestic competition under high protec-
tive duties.'
Referring to the Presidents statement
that the Republican party had modified
its tariff policy 80 as to limit II for
purposes of protection to the difference
IA cost of production here and abroad
with a reasonable profit to the Ameri-
can producer. the committee report
says:
"This 10 q confesBion, as was the
8spublican platform OF 1903, that the
theory OF high protective duties, ~
put forth BY the Republican party. has
broken down, that combinations and
trustI which prey upon the people
have been fostsred by the tarin, ana
that under high tariff protection Amer
lean manufacturer have forced un-
reasonable profits from the people"
Reciprocity Not Enough.
Again the report declares: The
Canadian reciprocity agreement now
before the House Is a recognition on
the part OF the Administration of the
Injurious effects OF the extreme pro-
tsctve policy which has so long been
imposed upon the country and Ii an
effort to mitigate It's effects"
The reciprocity agreement. the COM
mittee asserts. cannot afford the
American people all the needed relief
from nigh prices. Action or the
agreement involves the necessity of
further and immediate action in re-
moving a numbe OF duties on imports
from other countries In order that
Justice may be done 10 the great army
of Agricultural producers who, In the
Canadian agreement. are TO hays all
the alleged protection removed from
their products without a correspond
ina or reciprocal removal of the pro-
tective duties most burdcnsome on the
commodities they must purchase as
necessary to sustain their lives and
industries"
The report takes up In detail tho
classified list OF articles included In the
free list bill. REGARDING agricultural
implements It says their manufacture Is
controlled by trusts and combinations
that have sold IN foreign countries at
lower prices than At home, building up
tAeir foreign trade from s3.SJ9.lSi in 1880
10 SIS. l2i, oS3 IN 1910,
The report says the high duties on
stesl and iron products make the people
dependent upon the giant steel indus
try which for years has sold products
abroad lower than TO domestic consum-
ers. and declares that placing them on
the free list will be "a long delayed
Measure OF equity n Justice"
Beet Trust Asssiled.
The beef trust" Is a~ssailed I'm dis
cuss.on Of the free listing OF fresh
meats and meat products. The exist
Ing duties on meats and meat products. Do
1t IS asserted. are FOR the advantage ut
this combination Only"-a combination
;hat controls the markets both IN buy
dng and selling. and the result Is a
substantial addition to the high cost OF
living from which the people suuer.
Removal OF duties on these products,
It is argued, Will place the farmers ii
"a tree marNet as 20 foodstuns aud food
products. For the reason that the pub
Ike desires that nc artificial shelter
shah be maintained 10 protect abnor.
mally high prices on food articles n
any form the bill. also seeks exemption
4, ON duty on wheat nour, semollna, ~,
flour, buskwheat flour. cornmeal and al
prepared cereal foods, biscuits, bred,