Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-04-20
Democratic Policies and Duty
Exemptions Analysis Merged.
Tariff Revenue Reduction Thus
Brought TO S1O,016,495.
Detailed Cons liberation OF Classified
ArtieIes--Points Attempted.

Washington. April 19-The majority
report of the ways and means com
mittee on the so-called Farmers Free
List bill, submitted to the House to-
day by Chairman Underwood, is a
merger of Democratic political argu
ment and an analysis of the proposed
duty exemptions.
The report shows that the bill would
reduce the tariff revenue 0.016, 495,
based on the importations for the last
fiscal year. an amount described as
inconsiderable in comparison with the
great savings and advantages to all of
our people from the additions to the
free list provided for
Quoting President Taft's recent Ca
madam reciprocity the report seeks to
convey the impression that the admin
istration is convinced that protective
tariff rates are too high.
I'm several public addresses it
says, "he dhe PresidenD has admitted
that tariff rates are too high. that such
rates have resulted in excessively high
prices, felt especially in the increased
cost of living which now bears heavily
on our people. and that they have not
i'-tiNtb tic i'liS pipiliiEFt i'Si'iit1 VI
domestic competition under high pro-
tectiVe duties
Referring to the Presidents state
statement that the Republican party
had modified its tariff policy SO as to
limit it for purposes of protection TO
the difference in cost of production
here and abroad with a reasonable
profit to the American producer. the
committee report saws;
This is a confession, as was the Re
publican platform of 1905, 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 peo-
Pile have been fostered by the tariff,
and that under high tariff protection,
American manufacturers have forced
unreasonable profits from the people
Again the report declares: 1.-The
Canadian reciprocity agreement now
before the House is Il recognition on
the part of the administration of the
injurious effects of the extreme pro-
tec5ive policy which has 50 long been
imposed upon the country and is an
effort to mitigate its effects
The reciprocity agreement, the COM
mittee asserts, cannot afford the
American people all the needed relief
from high prices. Action on the
agreement involves the necessity of
further and immediate action in re-
moving a number of duties on i'm
ports from other countries in order
that Justice may be done 20 the great
army of agricultural producers, who.
in the Canadian agreement, are t.
have all the alleged protection re-
moved from their products without
a corresponding or reciprocal removal
of the protective duties most burden
some on the commodities they 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-
tural implements it says their man
ufacture is controlled by trusts and
combinations that have sold in for
eign countries al lower prices than
at home. building up their foreign
trade from $3.S591S4 in 1899 to So, =
124,033 in 1910.
Bacgirg and baling materials. es-
sential in the transportation of ag-
riCultural products, the report says,
cannot receive benefits of protection
in home markets and duties on them
have annoyed and burdened the
farmers to add to the profits of eN-
acting trusts and combinations" Con-
corning hoops, bands and ties of iron
and steel. barbed 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"
The placing on the free list of all
forms of leather from cattle hides
ana skins. together with boots, shoes,
harness, saddlery. etc. the committee
argues, will be of advantage in man
ufacturng and necessarily of benefit
to agricultural producers as well as
to all the people.
The beef trust" is assailed in dis
! meats and meat products" it is as
serted. ARE for the advantage of this
combination. Only"-a cCmbina ton
that controls the markets both in
buying and selling, and the result
Is, a substantial addition to the high
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