Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-09-21
TAFT EXPLAINS
VETO OF BILLS
TO CUT TARIFF
Continued from First PageD

tariff schedules would be in December.
and al that time its predecessor, by con-
sent of both parties. had fixed as the
proper time at which a full report as to
the most objectionable schedule ought to
be reported. With the money granted
me by Congress I had provided board.
non-partisan. and with the same person
mel as the statutory board would have
had to make report not only upon
wool, but also upon cotton.
Although many of the democrats had
assisted in the support OF the statutory
tariff board bill and had advocated such
a means of securing accurate lnforma-
ton in respect OF the probable operation
of tine proposed revision, the House at
once began to make a record FOR political
purposes by passing three tariff bills. the
wool bill. the free list bill and the cotton
bill. They gave no public hearings of any
kind on either of these bills. and they
presented no satisfactory information
upon which the effect OF any of them
upon the industries involved could be
judged. Their Investigations may have
been sufficient to satisfy the conscience
Of a tariff for-revenue man who believes
In any reduction. however great of aI-
listing duties, hut for one pledged as am
to maintain a tariff high enough to en-
able existing industries to live the case
is different.
THE wool bill proposed a revenue duty
of ~ per cent upon raw wool instead OF
II cents pound. reduction of con-
siderably more than ~ per cent of the
present duty. and an average duty of 80
per cent WOODEN cloth and manu-
features. This was avowedly tarif
for revenue. and was not drawn for the
purpose of protecting the Industries. 1t
passed the House and went to the Senate,
where an insurgent republican senator
proposed substitute in which the duty
on wool of the first class was fixed at 40
per cent. and of a second class. or carpet
woods. at 10 per cent and the average
percentage on the wooden manufactures
was made 80 per cent ad valorem Ii was
claimed by it's author to he a protection
bill ft was never submitted to a com
mittee. no evidence ever taken in
regard to il. and ii was evolved from the
independent Investigation of a single
senator.
"A majority of the insurgents and the
democrats in the Senate compromised on
a bin which made the tax on raw wool,
first class. ~ per cent: second class. 10
per cent: and the average duty on wool
ems. -, per cent. The bill. against the vote
of nearly all Of the regular republicans ana
come insurgent republicans. passed the
Senate and was sent to conference, where
a bill was agreed upon in which the duty
was - per cent raw wool. and an
average of ~ per cent on wooens. This
bill had the effect of raising the duty on
carpet woods. as fixed iii the Senate. 10
per cent and fixed in the House.
per cent. Here was the first case pre-
scented to me. There was nothing in the
record in either the House or Senate
from which | could obtain any informa-
I on as to the effect of this bill upon the
wool and wooden industry of this coun- |
try. | submit that tn" history of It's
making shows no principle whatever In |
the bill except compromise between two
opposing prime pies for the purpose OF
passing tie hill. without any indication
as to its effect on the industry to which
II applies.