The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1911-05-31
OPEN WAR
WITHHOUSE CHIEFS
To Nebraskans Criticism Of Advocates of Duty on Raw
Wool, Underwood Replies, Unfair and Mislead-
ing and Fight Gets Hot.

a revision of the wooden schedule pro-
posed by the Democratic majority of
the Ways and Means Committee
In my Judgment, the statement is
unjust and unfair TO the members Of
the committee. and to the Democratic
Representatives in Congress who will
support the bill. When this Congress
met, the Democratic party adopted a
plan to revise the tariff, schedule by
schedule believing that was the fairest
way of presenting the Issues to the
House and ITO the country, and, at the
same time, the most effective way of
ed by the Republican party. Under
present laws there is a deficiency In
the Treasury. The Government Is In
need of all the revenue II is now receiv-
Ing at 1.-THE, the customs Sbouses, and more;
been ratified by the States. and1the spe-
cial taxes laid during the Spanish war
were unsatisfactory and unpopular with
the people.
Necessity for Revenue.
"It, therefore, devolved upon the
Ways and Means Committee, in their
efforts to revise the tariff downward,
to so write the schedules that they
would bring at least as much revenue
as they had under the present law.
I'VE have always contended that as
much or more revenue could be pro-
duced by reducing the prohibitiye sec
tons of the Payne tariff law and max
ing the tariff more. competitive and al
lowing more goods to come into the
customs houses, in this way reducing
the burden of the taxes on the people,
and at the same time supplying the
necessary revenue.
1T was from this standpoint that the
ways and Means Committee approach
ed revision Of the wooden schedule.
I'VE found we could increase the
amount OF revenue by reducing the
duties on manufactured wool, but we
could not Increase them sufficiently to
make up. for the S21.O0O.000 raised by
raw wool The committee, therefore.
levy a small tax on raw wool to make
up the deficiency in revenue. and to
make the schedule pay the $4,000 900
now collected under It at the customs
houses. There is S20,000.0O0 revenue from
manufactured and s2l.OO0,OOO from un-
manufactured WOOL
Reduction in Duties.
The Ways and Means Committee have
cut the whole schedule in two. They |
have reduced the duties on manufactured |
goods as low as they were under the |
Wilson bill that Mr.. Bryan voted for, |
when raw wool was placed on the free |
list. In that reduction, they have fallen |
short OF the 100000 now raised by !
some s13,OOO.o0O. and it was necessary In |
order to secure this revenue to place a |
revenu tax on raw vol imported into |
the United States.
IF the Wilson bill, which Mr. Bryan |
voted for, WIS an honest reduction Of !
the tariff in the interests of the people, |
a bill that reduces the taxes on wooden |
goods which the people buy as low as |
the bill Bryan voted for and advocated. |
certainly cannot be protective measure |
from his standpoint.
The Democratic party stands essen |
TALLY for a tariff for revenue, which J
means We shall collect at the customs |
houses the revenues required for the |
expenses Of the Government. The Dem !
ocratic party does not stand for free \
trade, and I do not believe when this |
bin Is published and the people under |
stand the facts they will De misled by |
the statements which Bryan has made. |
] feel sure the Democratic caucus |
will adopt the bill by large |
ma jority, that ii will go to the country |
as a Democratic measure, and that it |
will be approved by the Democratic /
masses as such"