Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-28
GIVES TARIFF PLAN
NeW|andS Presents Amend
ment to Steel Bill.
PROVIDES FOR REDUCTION
Gradual and Horizontal Decrease in
Rates Proposed.
BEST SOLUTION, HE SAYS
Senator From Nevada Believes He
Has Best Practical Solu-
tion to Problem.


presented to the Senate his amendment
to the steel tariff. proposing a gradual
and horizontal reduction of tariff rates.
Before the final vote is taken on the steel
bill Senator Newlands will urge his
amendment as the best practical solu-
ton Of the tariff problem now before Con-
gress. and as the proper way to reduce
tariff duties with the least effect on busi-
ness.
The preamble Of the amendment recifes
the present tariff situation as follows:
Recites Tariff Situation. a
Certain Of the duties heretofore levied
by law on articles imported from foreign
countries in to the United States are so
high as to encourage and facilitate the
imposition of excessive prices for similar
articles Of domestic production. and such
excessive duties fail to produce sufficient
revenue, and
Both the republican and democratic
parties have. by declarations in their re-
spective platforms, committed themselves
to a revision of tariff duties, the former
to a revision based on the ascertainment
of the difference in the cost of production
at home and a broad, with a fair profit
to the manufacturer, and the latter to a
revision and gradual reduction of the tar
iff to a revenue basis; and both parties
have declared that such revision should be
accomplished with due regard to the in
terestS of domestic workers and without
destructive readjustment of domestic in
duStrieS, and
Neither of such partise Is in compl lete
control of legislation and either party Is
able to prevent the other from carrying
out completely its principles and policies
and compromise Is therefore desirable and
necessary. in order to prevent q deadlock
in legislation prejudicial to the interests
of the United States"
What Amendment Proposes.
The amendment then proposes:
THAT on the 1st day of January, 1913,
a reduction of 10 per cent shall be made
in the duties now imposed by law on
articles imported into the United States
from foreign countries, and that on the
1st day of January of each year there
after, for the period of four years, a fur
ther reduction of per cent shall be made
on such duties until a total reduction of
so per cent in such duties shall be made
provided. however, that such reductions
shall not apply to duties on articles which
have been specifically fixed by law at this
session of Congress, or shall be hereafter
specifically fixed by law, and provided
further. that such reductions shall not
apply to duties on articles the importa-
tions Of which during the previous fiscal
year have equaled one-tenth OF the pro-
duction of similar articles and products
in the United States.
THAT the ascertainment of the facts
upon which the foregoing provisions shall
take effect shall be made by a tariff COM
mission consisting of five members to be
appointed by the President, by and with
| the advice and consent of the Senate OF
whom no more than three shall belong to
the same party: that the terms of the
commissioners shall be one. two, three.
four and five years. respectively. and that
the President, in appointing such COM
missioners. shall designate the terms OF
each: that at the expiration Of such
| terms the term of each successor shall
be for the period of five years"