New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-03-27
TAFT URGES REVISION
Of COTTON SCHEDULE
Recommends Reduction Of Duties
in Accordance with Tariff
Boards Report.
SOME RATES ARE EXCESSIVE
Consumers Pay Higher Prices
Than Are Warranted by Differ
ence in Cost of Production
Here and Abroad.
Irrom TIE Tribune Bureau 2

Washington, March 2G.-Strongly recon-
nandine a revision Of the cotton Fcheodle
In accordance with data gathered by the
Tariff Board. President Taft to-day trans
United 10 Congress a special message az
cornpsniAd bv the boards report on the cot
ton industry. The President praises the
work of the board and urges IFS conunu-
,nce hut the Democratic House, not being
DESTROYS OF expert aid in revising the tann'
Is not expected 70 heed the recommendation
20 far as further appropriations for the
board are concerned.
The Presidents message, which is q COM
prehensive summary Of the boards ind
ings, advises Congress that careful inyesu-
CATION has shown that some Of the rates IN
the cotton schedule are excessive. Now
that scientific information is at hand, the
President asks Congress 10 proceed with
an immediate revision of the schedule an"
reduction Of the inequitahle rates.
President Taft. in recommending revision
If the cotton schedule, specifies that re-
auctions shall conform 20 the protective
tariff platform on which he was elected
He points ont that in several previous mes
ssges he has expressed q wish for revision
Of the present tariff law. schedule by sched-
uis. when justified by an adequate knoWi-
edge OF the facts regarding each industry
as shown by impartial and non-partisan IN
auirieS such aa the Tariff Board has been
conducting.
An emergency appropriation Of $4,000 Is
asked by the President I'm order that the
Tariff Board may continue unhampered ii
its investigations until the end of the pres
ent fiscal year. He says lie has directed
the board TO take up the metal. leather,
chemical and sugar schedules. As the Dem
ocrats have revised" all these schedules.
except leather without waiting for scien-
tifc data and have cast aside the board
1 report on the wool schedule the plea for
additional funds probably will fall OH deaf
ears.
The Presidents Message.
The Presidents message IS, in part, as
follows;
The report Of the board shows the diff
Guilty Of stating in general terms differences
an costs OF production for a great variety
OF cotton manufactures The differences
vary widely, according to the character Of
the particular fabric. The report SHOWS
that the cost Of spinning cotton yarn i'm this
country is greater than in the leading com
peting country. In the case Of ordinary
warp and filling yarns forming the bulk
OF the production OF the domestic industry,
the foreign cost OF turning cotton into yarn
Is shown 70 he about 70 per cent Of the do
mestic cost
The duty on these yarns is two or three
times in excess of the difference in cost OF
production. On some highly specialized
yarns and on yarns Of the highest count
that Is, OF greatest fneness-the duty IN
some cases about equalizes the difference VA
conversion costs. IN many cases, however.
on the higher grades of yarn which ar
produced I'm this country. the duty Is in
auction, though by a much less amount
than in the case Of ordinary warp ano
hlling yarns.
YARNS into cloth as between this COuntrt
and it's chief competitor varies according
10 the character of 5ht fabric. In the case
Of many cloths of plain weave, the Aneri-
caH cost Of weaving seems 10 be lower than
the foreign cost due TO the greater mum
Der Of looms tended per weaver III m ms
country This reduces the labor cost q
Nard despite the higher earning OF the
American weaver. This conclusion IS fur
Their substantiated by the fact that cloths
of thjs description are sold by the domes-
f{c manufacturer i'm this country at prices
as low ae those charged ny the foreign
manufacture in his own country. In pro
nortion however a. the fabric become s.
more Complicated land therefore permits
~ fewer looms per weaver, the American
cost OF production increases. IN the cdso
~ most fancy fabrics Of complicated weave
fhe cost of weaving IS higher in this couh-
trv but on such fabrics the present duties
are IN excess OF any difference IN cost, anu
in many cases are In excess OF the total
conversion costs In this country
.rbe report further shows that in the case
nj a large variety of fabrics which permit
of ME- use Of many looms weaver the
pricte al which goods arc sold by The
American manufacturer are as low rs the
prices charged by The foreign MANUFACTURER
N his own market and in many cases lover
q siight reduction OF duties would ~ some
cases materially reduce the price TO the
consumer while IN other. cases 4 laIee re-.
ductlcn Of duties would not cnahtT Ihe
price 10 the American consumer ~ an
Tho Tariff Boards Report.
Tbs Tariff Board. IN its report makes no
recommendations. In the cost Of IA" ma
.sriai Z, saws. there b. practically no sd.