The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1911-08-23

der to show that the real advance and
reform in tariff making are to be
found in the acquiring of accurate
and impartial information as to the
effect OF the proposed tariff changes
under each schedule before they are
adopted, and further to show that il
delay in the passage of bill to amend
schedule X can be had until Deem
her, congress will then be in posses
sion OF a full and satisfactory report
upon the whole schedule.
This brings me to the consideration
OF the terms Of the bill presented for
my approval. Schedule X is the most
complicated schedule in the tariff. 1t
Classics raw wool with different
rates for different classes, it affords
the manufacturer what is called a
compensatory duty to make up for the
increased price OF the raw material
he has to use due to the rate on raw
wool, and for the shrinkage that takes
place in securing the wool for manu-
facture, and it gives him, in addition,
an ad valorem duty to protect him
against foreign competition against
cheap labor. The usages which pre-
vail in securing wool, in making the
yarn and in the manufacture of cloth
present complication OF technical
detail that prevents anyone, not es-
pecially informed concerning wool
growing and manufacturing, from I'M
|derstanding the schedule and the eff
iect of changes in the various rates
and percentages.
Investigate Schedule.
If there ever was schedule that
needed consideration and investigation
and elaborate explanation by experts
before its amendment, it is schedule
X. There is widespread belief that
many rates in the present schedule
are too high and are IN excess of any
needed protection for the wool grow
er or manufacturer share this be-
lief, and have so stated in several pub
tic addresses. But | have not suffi-
cient data upon which l can judge
how schedule X ought to be amended
or how it's rates ought to be reduced
in order that the new bill shall fur
nish the proper measure of protec-
ton and no more. Nor have sources
of information which satisfy me that
the bill presented to me for sigma
ture will accomplish this result. The
parliamentary history of the bill is
rot reassuring upon this point. 1t
was introduced and passed in the
house as providing tariff for revenue
only, and with the avowed purpose of
departing from protective tariff
policy.
The rate Of duty on raw wool OF
all classes was changed from a spe.
cific duty of IL cents pound to 20
per cent ad yalorem. On the average
of the importations for the last two
years this is a reduction from 47.24
per cent to 20 per cent.
What 1t Provides.
Rates on cloths were reduced in the
bill from the present average duty
Of 1927 per cent to 40 per cent, and
On wearing apparel from 81.31 per
cent to As per cent The bill was de-
feated in the senate, and so was a
substitute introduced as a protection
measure. The proposed substitute
fixed the duty on raw wool, first class,
at 40 per cent and on second class
of carpet woods at 10 per cent, and on
cloths at SO per cent, and on wearing
apparel at the same rate. On recon
by the senate, which was
a compromise between the house bill
and the senate substitute bill, and in
which the rate on first class wool was
10 per cent and on cloths and wear
ing apparel SIS per cent. In confer
ence between the two houses the rate
on all classes of raw wool was fixed
at 20 per cent, this being an increase
on carpet woods of 8 per cent, as fixed
in the house bill, and of 10 per cent as
fixed in the senate bill. The confer
ence rates on cloths and wearing APP
parcels was fixed at 40 per cent.
| do not mention these facts to crit
else the method of preparation of the
bill, but | must needs refer to them
to show that the congressional pro-
ceedings make available for me no &C
curate or scientifically acquired in
formation which enables me to de-
termine that the bill supplies the meas
ure of protection promised in the plat
form on which was elected.
Effect Uncertain.
Without any investigation of which
the details are available an avowed
tariff for revenue and anti-protection
bill is by compromise blended with a
protested protection bill Rates be