The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-04-20
DEMOCRATS FLAY
TRUSTS IN FREE
LIST BILL
-------
Puts Responsibility for Wrongs
Up to the Senate
REDUCE REVENUE Sle,O16,4o5
Loss viii Be lnconslderabe in Com
parlson With Benefits to the
People
REDUCE REVENUE Sle,Ol6,4a5

Washington, April 20-The free list
bill was submitted to the House yes
terday by Mr. Underwood Chairman
of the Ways and Means Committee
and Democratic leader, with a careful
ly prepared report dealing separately
with each article named in the bill.
Democrats generally express great
satisfaction with the report, which is
expected to be sent out broadcast
over the country as campaign doc
ument in the next Presidential cleo
Ition.
The argument assails the trusts
which have been built up under the
Dingley and Payne.Aldrich tariffs,
and presses home to the Senate when
the measure reaches that body the
responsibility for the evils that are
the subject of complaint The free
list plan of tariff correction is named
in the report as complementary
measure to the Canadian reciprocity.
The report shows that the bin
would reduce the tariff revenue $10,-
Ol6,495, based on the importations for
the last fiscal year, an amount des-
cribed az "inconsiderable in compar-
sion with the great saving and adj
vantages to all of our people from the
additions to the free list provided
for
The report takes up in detail the
classified list of articles included in
the free list bill Regarding agricul-
tural implements it says their manu-
facture is controlled by trusts and
combinations that have sold in for
eign countries at lower prices than at
home. building up their foreign trade
from $3,S59,1s in 1890 to S2S,124,0 33
in 1910.
Bagging and baling materials, es-
sential in the transportation of agri-
cultural products, the report says
cannot receive benefits of protection
in home markets, and duties on them
have annoyed and burdened the far
mers to add to the profits OF exacting
trusts and combinations.
The placing on the free list of all
forms of leather from cattle hides and
skins, together with boots, shoes, har-
ness, saddlery, etc, the committee ar
CUES, will be of advantage in manu-
featuring and necessarily of benefit to
agricultural producers as well as to
all the people.
The beef trust is assailed in discus
! sion of the free listing of fresh meats
and meat products.
The existing duties on meats and
meat products it is asserted, are
for the advantage of this combination
only"-a combination that controls
the markets, both in buying and sell
ling, and the result is a SUBSTANTIAL ad-
dition to the high cost of living from
which the people suffer" Removal of
duties on these products, it is argued
will place the farmers in a free mar
ket as to foodstuffs ald food products.
For the reason that the public de-
sire that no artificial shelter shall be
maintained to protect abnormally
high prices on food articles in any
form" the bill also seeks exemption
from duty on wheat -four, semolina,
rye, flour, buckwheat -four, cornmeal,
and all prepared cereal foods, biscuits
bread and similar articles not sweet
ened.
In discussing free lumber placed in
the bill, hard wood excepted, the re-
port maintains that the ownership OF
timber in this country has become
practically monopoly and has pass.
d for the most part into the hands OF
teat corporations and interests
thich are specializing on the increas
ing scarcity.