The Washington times., 1912-04-29
CUMM|NS OPENS
FIGHT ON TARIFF
IN UPPER HOUSE
Resolution, Expected for
Some Time, Comes in Form
of Amendment.

Senator Cummins introduced in the
Senate this afternoon his bill for the
revision of the metal schedule. This
marks the real beginning Of the tariff
night IN the Senate. Senator Cummins'
Dill is In the form of an amendment
to the metal schedule. 1t proposes re-
auctions even greater in some cases
than the House bill. 1t provides free
ores except lead and zinc.
The probabilities are this bill will
pass the Senate by a combination of
progressive and Democratic votes.
Senator Cummins gave this synopsis
of the bill:
The metal schedule of the Payne
Aldrich tariff law is composed of eighty
two paragraphs. The proposed amend
ment writes fifty-four of these para
graphs making specific changes In the
duties. AS to twenty eight of the para
graphs the reduction is horizontal. In a
general way, the fifty-four paragraphs
which are rewritten comprise what is
generally known as tonnage iron and
steel, together with lead and zinc. They
include the commodities which are US
| ually handled in tonnage quantities. The
! twenty eight paragraphs in which the
| reduction is horizontal cover the more
highly organized and manufactured
forms of metal. such as cutlery,
| watches, and the like The specific
changes in the fifty-four paragraphs are
founded upon the information obtained
In the exhaustive Investigations carried
on by the Bureau OF Corporations, Bu-
reau of the Census, and the Immigra-
| tion Commission.
In so far as has been possible, spe-
| I,tt kax.
the ad valorem duties adopted in the
schedule passed by the House of Repre-
sentatives. but in some Instances the
reductions are greater in the proposed
amendment than in the House bill. AS
| illustrations and as a basis of compari-
sen with the House bill the following
may be mentioned: Iron ore Is made
free as 1t Is in the House bill; in the
amendment pig iron pays a duty of 81
per ton; in the House BILL per centum;
in the amendment scrap iron, 90 cents
per ton; in the House bill. per centum.
| In the amendment billets and the like
g per ton: in the House bill, 10 per
centum; in the amendment steel rails.
$3.50 per ton; In the House bill, 10
per centum, and as the foreign price
| of steel rails Is about the same as the
domestic price, $3.50 per ton Is less
| than 10 per centum OF the foreign price
in the amendment structural iron and
steel bear So and S. per ton, according
to the condition of manufacture; In the
House bill all forms bear Is per centum
The amendment Is much lower than the
| House bill.
In the amendment bar iron and the
like bear a duty of $3.50 per ton, in the
| House bill 10 per centum: the amend
| ment is slightly higher than the House
| bill. On plate iron and steel the amend
| ment bears a duty of 81 per ton on the
| cheaper forms and Is per centum ad
| valorem on the higher priced forms
| the House bill Is 20 Per Centum on al
forms. In the amendment iron and
steel sheets bear a duty OF $40 or $l2 pei
| ton, according to thickness, in the
! House bill Is per Centum; the amend
ment is lower than the House bill. lr
the amendment iron and steel prepared
| for timing bear a duty Of $2.S per tor
more than common black sheets, in tht
| House bill Is per centum. In the amend
ment tinplate bears a duty OF SIS pei
ton. in the House bill ~ per cent? M
the amendment Is lower than the House
bill. The foregoing will show the gen
eral reductions that aye proposed ir
comparison with the House bill.
In the House bill certain articles, suct
as barbed wire, cotton ties, sewing ma
chimes, cash registers, and machine
tools, are put on the free list; In tn,
amendment they are made to bear III,
same proportionate duties that othel
articles of like cost are made to bear.