The Washington herald., 1911-12-21

OF course, there Is no doubt that the
report will be ordered printed by the
Ways and Means Committee, but it was
merely a reminder to President Taft
that they are not committed to accept
ing his tariff boards findings, and in
tend to act independently.
Statement by Underwood.
Here is the comment made by Leader
Underwood on the Taft message and the
taril- boards report:
The President in his message favors the
placing Of a specific duty on secured wool
as the base for importations of raw wool,
Instead of placing duty on raw wool and
then increasing the duty on secured wool
If the committee should adopt a specific
rate Of duty for raw wool there may be
much in the argument of the President,
but in our bill at the asst session We
paced an ad valorem duty on raw wool,
believing that that was the fairest way
to equalize differences in the value of
importations, and at the same time the
most successful way of collecting reve-
nue.. have no doubt that when the COM
mittee reaches the new bill II will again
place an ad valorem duty on raw wool
instead of a specific duty, and 1t will not
be necessary for us, therefore. to go into
the question that the President recon-
mends in reference to the duty on
secured woods.
"As to the facts contained In the report
of the tariff board, have not had a
chance to examine them. 1t will be nee
essary to have them printed and COM
pared with the facts which the commit
tee now has in its possession before n
conclusion can be reached as to what
rates should be Incorporated in the bill
that will be presented to the House."
Warren for Supervision.
A statement by Senator Warren, Re-
publican, of Wyoming. indicates that
there will be no opposition from the wool
growers of the country. Senator War
rem is himself a standpatter and one
of the largest wool growers in the United
States. He said:
| 1T is understood that the President,
although not Gs literally inclined in his
message as the wool growers had hoped
he might be, expects, and would prob
ably favor, upon the showing made by
| the tariff board, legislation providing
! for a duty of at least 70 cents a pound
on secured basis for first and second
class woois, with close government su-
pervsiOn, and the sampling and testing
of every package of wool imported, to
determine the shrinkage, this test to
be made by government employees in
government establishments.
| HIS Will lne
| of the skirting clause, under which for
egn growers have benefited at our ex-
pense, would be an improvement, in that
respect, upon present methods Although
a rate of say 20 cents a pound on the
| secured product is seemingly a reduction
| Of about SO per cent, yet, considering that
! American wool has an average shrink
age of 66 per cent. and that foreign wool,
such as has been imported, has an aver
| -ir,lr Of hV,f rnf,f he
| cents pound duty on raw wool has real
| ly not given us a protective rate of over
| % to % cents a pound on the secured
product. The actual reduction, therefore.
| If duty of say 20 cents a pound should
be imposed, would be about to 5 cents
a pound on the secured product"
Facts Are Significant.
Even John Dalzell Of Pennsylvania one
of the very high priests of protection in
| the House, had kind word to say in re-
gard to the Presidents downward revi-
| sion message, as follows:
The Presidents statement that, tax
| ing all varieties of wool into account,
the average cost of production OF wool
| in America is higher than it is abroad is
| significant. This applies to raw wool as
well as to manufactures. AS to manu-
! faCtures, the report of the tariff board
Il
chinery cost and labor are higher in this
country than abroad. This goes to show
| that the figures of the tariff board ought
| to be given careful consideration in any
| law that may be enacted, SO as to pro-
| tect American wool and American WOOL
ems in the production of one and the
manufacture of the other"
The great speech in the Senate of the
! late Senator Dolliver, in his fight against
| the iniquity of the wool schedule, is
| vindiCated by this tariff board report
and the recommendations of the Presi-
dent" said Senator Bristow. Judged by
what the President says, there will be
no justification for a refusal to make
material cuts in this schedule. have not
seen the report of the board, and depend
entirely on what the President has said.
He has been very slow about 1t, but he
seems to be coming to the tariff position
of the prOgressiVeS at last. favor a
reduction of these duties. but am now,
as I always have been, Republican who
believes in the doctrine of fair and rea-
'onable protection"
VIII Shape New Schedule.
Senator Penrose, chairman of the Sem
ate Finance Committee, declared that so
far as he was concerned it would be the
purpose of the Finance Committee to
construct bill in accordance with recon-
mendations of the President.
This subject" said Senator Penrose
will came before the committee inform
all after the holidays, but when the
bill has passed the House, the Senate
committee will give to it that attention
the Importance of the subject-matter
requires. Personally, shall do all can
to assist I'm constructing a measure that
will be satisfactory to the country"
Representative Kendall, a Republican
progressive of Iowa, declared that in
his opinion the President could safely
count on the progressives of the House
to support him N the position he had out
lined in yesterdays message. Represent
ative Hubbard, another progressive Of
Iowa, regarded the message as a strong
one, with recommendations which would
be hard to disregard when based upon
expert information.
The House Committee on Ways and
Means will not take up the framing of
the tariff bill until after the holidays.
They will be ready to report it about
February l. Senator Smoot, of Utah, is
already engaged in preparing a measure
in accordance with the tariff boards re-
port which he will offer as a substitute
for the House bill when the latter reaches
the Senate.