davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1912-04-26
Conclusion.

The fact that every tariff measure ex-
cept one which has thus far been pre-
sented to the Sixty-second Congress has
passed the House by more than the
Democratic majority in the House of
Representatives, prompts and justifies
the following differences:
O That the revision of the tariff
downward to revenue basis in the in
terest of the consumer is pre-eminently
the issue before the people
81 That the Democratic majority in
the House have, during the Sixty-second
Congress, met the responsibilities of
tariff revision entrusted to them bv the
election of 1910
90 That by wise, courageous. and
efficient work the Democratic majority
of the House have held their own forces
intact and won to their assistance Re-
publican Representatives, who appreci-
ate the necessities and demands of the
people to Tighten the present excessive
tax burdens and to reduce the high cost
of living.
90 That the real secret of these eff
tective results is found in the efficient
and effective work of the WAYS and
Means Committee under its popuIar
chairman and to the splendid House
floor leadership of the Honorable Oscar
w. Underwood
% That the political situation points
unmistakably to tariff revision as the
l9lZ issue between the two great politi-
cal parties and to Underwood as the
logical standard bearer for the Demo-
Gratis
Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1912-04-26

Had the tariff revision bills of the
Sixty-second Congress passed by the
House been enacted, it is believed that
the sum measuring the saving resulting
TO the consumer shown in Table 2
would have proved to have been con-
sentative. As indicated by the table,
the total saving of l2-month period is
estimated at $743,0O0,OOO, or an average
saving of over So for every person in
the United States. In other words, the
Treasury would have sustained loss
of only about $6,0O0000, and for each
dollar that the Treasury was asked to
forcgo, the people would have received
relief i'll prices to the amount of $l23.
Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1912-04-26
Canadian Reciprocity.

The first tariff work of this Congress
was the Canadian Reciprocity Agree
ment, which prompted the President to
assemble Congress in the extraordinary
session of April a, 1911. So marked
was the dispatch and effectiveness with
which Mr.. Underwood handled the Ca
madam Reciprocity Agreement in the
Ways and Means Committee and on
the floor of the House that the meas
ure was passed within three weeks after
the converting of Congress. This bill
was fully in accord with Democratic
principles, reducing, as it did, the tariff
Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1912-04-26
Cotton.

The Underwood bill passed the House
at the first session of this Congress
proposed to reduce the ad valorem rate
on cotton manufactures from 48.l2 Der
cent to 27.06 per cent, reduction OF
the tariff burdens under this one sched-
uie from not less than two hundred
millions to about one hundred and
twelve millions of dollars for a wear OF
saving of about $8S,OO0,OOO for a r.
month period. The estimated loss in
revenue, because of this very material
and much-needed relief to the people
would have cost the Treasury only about
three millions of dollars, which means
that for every dollar lost to the Treas,
ury by the enactment of this bill, the
tax burdens of the people would have
been lessened by about 5000
In the report of the Ways and Mean.
Committee on the cotton bill blouse
Report No. 65, Sixty-second Congress
LIST Sess), submitted by Mr.. Under.
wood to the House of Representatives
is this statement:
IF it is assumed that only about
one-half of the rate of duty is ac-
tually effective, that is, increases do
mestic prices, and, of course, the
duty is only protective in proportion
as it really does raise domestic
prices, then it may be estimated that
the domestic consumption is in
creased in price to the people
Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1912-04-26

There are 230 Democrats in the House
OF REPRESENTATIVES, 16l Republicans, and
one Socialist. The Democratic majority,
therefore, is 68. AS shown by the rec
ord OF the passage votes, every Under
wood bill except that revising the Chem
ical Schedule received not only the solid
support of the Democrats in the House,
but enlisted many Republicans. While,
as stated, the Democratic majority is
only o5, the free list bill passed with
majority OF ~; the wool bill by 100
jority this session; the cotton bill by
ll2 majority; metal bill by 101 majority;
and the excise bill by majority of l9l
votes.
Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1912-04-26
Wool.

The overwhelming manner in which
the Democratic Party was given the
control of the House of Representatives
in the election of 1910 clearly repu-
dated the Republican failures at tariff
reform i'll the Payne-Aldrich Act of
1909 and plainly instructed the Demo-
Gratis to proceed at the earliest prac-
ticable moment with a downward reyi-
sion. Hence it was that upon the con-
vcning of the Sixty-sccond Congress in
the special session of April a, 1911, the
Ways and Means Committee, under the
guidance of Underwood as Chairman.
i'll an effort TO make Immediately effec-
tive the mandates of the people with
regard to tariff revision, at once applied
itself to the work of revising Schedule
*, which the President of the United
States had so repeatedly detained ut
tcrly indefensiblc
The Underwood bill was the result of
elaborate and painstaking Investigations,
during which all the information avail
able with regard to the production and
manufacture of wool was assembled and
examined. The rates of duty worked
out and embodied in this bill were fixed
without any reference whatever to pro-
lection, but with an intent to reduce
the "indcfcnsible" rates which have been
so long burden to the consumer and
with the only other view of producing
the necessary revenue from this sched-
ulc. This bill reduced the average rate
of duty on wool manufactures (im-
ports of 19lO) from oO.lO per cent to
42.55 per cent The analysis of the
Report of the Tariff Board failed to
reveal anything that required single
change i'll the rates fixed therein, and
Mr.. Underwood and his committee
again presented without any change
the results OF the committees investiga-
ton OF last summer, and embodied in
the bill presented to the House at that
time. Therefore, the only real effect
of the l2-months' delay in the revision
of Schedule X, based upon the ne
ccssity, as stated by the President. of
awaiting the report of the Tariff Board,
was TO allow manufacturers another
year of excessive rates and to compel
the people to pay for their wooden cloth
ing during the year over S50O0OOOO
more than they would have paid under
the rates of the Underwood Bill.
blouse Report No. IS, ODD Congress. LIST
SESSION. In his speech, delivered in
the House OF Representatives March
%, 1912, Mr.. Underwood showed that
the practice of the Republicans in adj
herring to specific duties in the Wool
Schedule was to conceal from the pub
lie the real effect of the rates. Under
the Republican Wool Bill of this ses-
sion, which was framed through the
assistance of the Tariff Board, tho high
rates of duty were placed upon the
cheaper goods used by the poor people
and lower rates on the more expensive
articles used by the rich Furthermore,
when carpet woods are used in the man
ufacturing OF the cheap clothing for
the poor-and such is the case to some
eNtent-the duty would be increased by
the Payne proposed bill from the rate
OF the present act of cents per pound
to- ! cents in the Republican proposed
bill, an increase of Is per cent. This is
a serious Joker" on the poor people OF
the country
Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1912-04-26
Review of Work of Sixty-Second
Congress.


The principal promises on which the
Democrats won this election were:
CD To revise and liberalizc the rules
of the House.
e2) To pass n bill providing for the
publication Of campaign expenses pre-
ceding elections.
CD To admit New Mexico and Ari-
IONA to statehood.
ca To pass a resolution submitting
constitutional amendment for the pop
ular election of United States senator's.
(5) To economic in national expcn-
ditures.
CO. To revise the tariff downward 20
revenue basis.
The thorough and business-likc way
in which all these promises nave been
kept mark real epoch i'll the legisla-
tive history of this country. The rules
of the House werc libcralized by the
Democrats by a radical change in the
manner of appointing committees. The
Ways and Means Committee was des-
ignated the committee on committees.
thus vesting in it right which had
been lodged in every Speaker of the
House from the first 10 the sixty-frst
Congress.
Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1912-04-26

House a purely revenue measure.
You could not destroy the
iron and steel business of this
country if you put every item
in it on the free list. This great in
dustry is able to sustain itself, and,
more than that, it has a protection
in large part of this country, not
due to legislative enactments, but
due to the law of gravity"
Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1912-04-26

These figures indicate that the value
OF the articles included in the Free
List Bill consumed in this country, dur
ing year. amount to $2760,000.000,
and assuming that the tariff is effective
III increasing prices to the extent of
one half the rate of duty, the burden
carried by the people because of the
tariff on these articles amounts to
$59OO15,00O, which is IA per cent of the
estimated total consumption value
Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1912-04-26
Underwood's Speech.

In his speech on the Free List Bill
delivered i'll the House of Representa-
tives, May 2, 1911 Congressional Rec
ord, PIP. 794 to 1867, Mr.. Underwoo
said:
II believe that the American
manufacturer and the American
producer are entitled to large per-
centage of the American market,
but they are not entitled to a mo-
nopoly. They are entitled to a fair
opportunity to dispose of their goods
at home, but they are not entitled
to have the tariff wall built so high
that it prohibits competition and
gives them a chance, by combina-
tons at home, to exploit the Amer
lean people for the benefit of them
selves. A reasonable reduction of
the tariff to a competitive basis,
where there is a chance for fair
competition to regulate prices, will
not only be beneficial to the Amer
lean people, but will increase the
revenue at the customs houses.
"The first articles we place on the
free list are agricultural implements.
Our domestic production of agricul-
tural implements amount to over
SIT 100000; we import less than
$l65,OOO and exported during the
last fiscal year over $28,00O.0O0.
After paying the freight and some
times adverse tariff rates to get into
foreign countries, Our manufacture
ers of these farming implements are
able to compete with manufacturers
there and sell a very large percent
Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1912-04-26
Sugar.

In Difference to a very general and
persistent demand on the part of con-
sumers, the committc placed sugar on
which passed the House March IS. 1912
whereby the consumers would save dur,
ing year not less than one hundred
and fifteen millions of dollars from SUI
gar prices and, if enacted, will sub
stantially reduce the cost of living. The
tariff tax on sugar amounts to about
~ cents per pound. AS this entire
tax enters into the price of sugar to the
consumer it is easy to estimate the con-
sumer's burden because of tariff duties
on sugar. The consumption of sugar in
continental United States amounted in
1911 to about 1868 100000 pounds, and the
application of X cents per pound to
this consumption affords an estimated
saving to the American consumers from
placing sugar on the free list of not less
than $l15,0O0OO0 during the first year
under this bill. (See House Report, No
59l, SiNty-sccond Congress- lst SEES
sion.)
In the speech of Honorable Oscar w.
Underwood on the Sugar Bill, delivered
in the House of Representatives. March
II, 1912, he said:
81 do not believe any bill has been
presented to this House or will be
presented that more clearly marks
the dividing line between the two
great political parties of this coun-
try than does the bill presented for
consideration. The minority mem
bers of the Ways and Means Com
mittee contend that we are about to
destroy great industry; that this
industry has a vested right in the
taxes levied at the customs house.
The position the Republican party
has always taken is that such taxes
are for the benefit of industries and
going one step further, it is but
natural for them to recognize a vest
ed interest in the power to tax the
American people for special privi-
leges. On the other hand, the party
that | represent on this floor have
never contcndcd that it is legitimate
to levy taxation for any other pur-
pose than to raise revenue for sup
porting the Government of the United
States. We have never recognized
any man or any industry as
owning the vested right in their
power to tax the American peo-
pie. Your party, the descendant
of the Fcdcralists and Wings,
have attempted to cngrait, and have
engrafted, on the legislative his
tory of this country those princi-
pies brought here from the English
Crown" X "The American
people were taxed $52,0OO,OOO at the
customs houses in 1911 and over
$60,000,000 by the refners and pro-
ducers of sugar to maintain this in
dustry."
The resulting loss of revenue amount
ing to about hfty-thrce millions of dol
lars for 1911, was cared for by the I'm
der wood excise bill.
Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1912-04-26

The figures of this table are based
upon official statistics of the Govern
ment. The consumption statistics are
obtained by combining the production
and import figures and deducting the
exports. The production figures used are
those of the u. S. Census Bureau, the
imports and exports which enter into the
compilation are as published by the
Bureau OF Statistics of the Department
of Commerce and Labor. Except in
the cost of sugar, where according to
the testimony, the full amount of the
duty went into the price paid by the
consumers, it has been the plan to
reckon that the duty has been so per
cent effective in increasing prices.
Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1912-04-26
Effective Leadership.

The strongest possible evidence of the
splendid work of Hon. O. w. Under
wood in framing these important bills
and in securing their speedy passage
through the House of Representatives is
afforded by the following record:
Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1912-04-26
TABLE |.

Consumption and estimated Saving to
consumer 70hich 70onid haze resulted
from the enactment of The Free List
Bill:
Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1912-04-26
TABLE 2.

Consumption, probable revenmc loss,
and estimated saving to consumer re-
Snliing from measures gojich passed The
House during The Sirty-sccomd Con-
gresS.
Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1912-04-26
Chemicals.

The Underwood bill revising the
Chemical Schedule passed by the House
at this session of Congress made a
thorough ovcrhaulng of this very anti
quated schedule. The bill not only cor
reefs the numerous defects in the CLASH
fcations of the schedule, but makes 4
systematic adjustment of rates in the
light of the present industrial condi-
tions of the various businesses, as well
as in the interest of the consumers.
To this end careful study was made
of the chemical free list and low rates
of duty were levied upon non-competi-
tive articles not produced in this coun-
try, with the view of having them share
in equitable taxation for revenue pur-
poses. The chemicals used i'll the tex
tile industries were given special atten-
ton, an adjustment being made in &C
cordance with the revision of the cotton
schedule proper. This plan was also
observed with regard TO the wool in
dustry, the paper industry, and special
consideration was given to the interest
OF the consumer, i'll the matter of the
chemicals and drugs used for medicines.
The revision of the chemical schedule, if
enacted into law, would effect a saw
ing to American consumers of about
$l7,OOO,O00, and at the same time the
revenue to the Government would be
increased by about $4,00OOO0. (See
House Report No. 326, Sixty-second
Congress, LIST SESSION.
Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1912-04-26

age OF their total products.
Why do you retain the prohibitive
tax on sewing machines? A ma
chine sells in this country to the
poor working man who earns his
bread by daily toll at $40 to $50.
am informed by men who have
been in the Oriental trade that the
same machine is laid down in the
Orient at $825 wholesale price. If
that tax is not i'll the interest of
protected monopoly, why did you
keep ii i'll the Payne bill? You got
no revenue from it, not dollar.
You levy 4 tax without n dollar of
revenue and keep it there in order
that you may have Il tariff wall be-
hind which a monopolistic combina-
ton may thrive and flourish. If this
bill passes it will allow free COM
petition between the meats of Ar
gentinc and those sold by the Beef
Trust. There is no question but
that the price of meat affects great
combinations which control the meat
products of this country. These
combinations fix the price of meat
according TO the demands Of the
market and the necessities of the
case. This is the only way we can
secure competition in meat prod
ucts. | believe this will reduce the
cost of meat products and hence
the cost of living"
In the report of the Ways and Means
Committee on the free list bill blouse
Rcpt. No. "A, Old Congress, LIST Sess. J,
presented by Mr.. Underwood, is this
statement:
"In framing the measure
especial consideration has been given
to our agricultural classes and to
the masses of Our population to
whom the necessities OF life mean
so much. The general public are
anxious that no artificial shelter
shall be maintained to protect alb
normally high prices of food arti-
cles in any form. The bill accord
ingly places on the free list all
meats, wheat flour, seminole, rye
flour, buckwheat flour, corn meal.
oat meal, rolled oats, and all pre-
pared cereal foods, together with
biscuits, bread, waters, and similar
articles not swcetcncd, and like
wise places on the free list bran.
mddlings, and other offals of grain
which are important stock foods"
THUS THE BILL MET THE
WISHES OF THE FARMERS WITH
FREE AGRICULTURAL NIPPLE
MENTS AND FREE FENCE WIRE
THE COTTON GROWERS WITH
FREE BAGGING AND TIES: THE
BUILDERS WITH FREE LUMBER.
LATHES, AND SHINGLES; THE
POOR SEAMSTRESS AND THE
FARMERS WIVES WITH FREE
SEWING MACHINES: AND THE
GREAT MASSES OF CITY FOLK,
PRESSED FOR FOOD AND CLOTH
ING, WITH FREE MEATS, FREE
LEATHER AND SHOES, AND
FREE SALT.
The following tabular statement pre-
sents a summary of the results of the
tariff work of the Sixty-second Con-
gross and shows in TELLING FIGURES
WHAT THE LEADERSHIP OF OS-
CAR w. UNDERWOOD HAS
MEANT FOR THE COUNTRY:
Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1912-04-26

In the national election Of November
1910, the people were thoroughly
aroused against the Republican Party,
and the Democrats swept the country
Overwhelmingly. The people in thus
repudiating the Republicans made GER
tam demands, and in the campaign Of
that year tho Democratic leaders
pledged tho Party to advanced reforms
on a score of important issues.
Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1912-04-26

about Is per cent. Taking
the figures of domestic consumption
based on mill and import values,
an increase of Is per gent amounts
to SOS, 593,673 for 1910 This would
indicate that the American people
pay annually about $20O,OOO,0OO
more for their cotton goods by rea-
son of the present tariff rates. The
total amount of duties collected on
all these manufactures imported in
1910 was $3S,077, S44; in 1909, $685.
O0O,4Ol. Hence, it would appear that
the people pay from SIS to So for
every 81 paid into the Treasury in
duties on cotton manufactures"
In his speech on the Cotton Bill, de-
llvered i'll the House of Representatives
July 20, 1911, Mr.. Underwood said:
"The difference between a pro-
tective and revenue tariff is that
revenue tariff never enters the
domain of protecting profits, but
must act from that point downward.
A protective bill begins to protect
small profits, and goes up as the
Payne bill did until it protects enor-
nous profits. With that definition
in view, | believe this (cotton) bill
is along the line of revenue tariff"
AS clearly pointed out by Mr.. I'm
ierwood in this speech, the effect of the
dill would bring substantial relief to the
struggling for an existence by
reducing the price of clothing
md hence the cost of living.
Saturday news. (Watertown, S.D.) 19??-19??, 1912-09-12

of themselves, their communities and
the advancement of the worldwide
cause of brotherhood. II 4
Dunn Receives an Ovation.
E. G. Dunn, the wheel horse of Iowa
cooperation, introduced as possibly
Iowa's next governor received an ova~
ton from the great audience at the
evening meeting.
He spoke on What Iowa is Doing
for Cooperation" showing that Iowa
has 347 farmers elevators with nearly
10000 members.
Mr.. Dunn contrasted the positive
achievements Of cooperation in the
past eight years with the negative
methods of fighting the trusts by
lawsuits. 7s "a e. * .,
He recounted. how eight years ago,
at the very time when they were
starting their fight against boycots,
pools and price fixing in the grain
trade, when they were advised to Sc
cure injunctions against these wrongs
in that very month the beef packers
combine was indicted in the courts.
Today the meat trust is still in the
oourts, but in the grain marketing
business the farmers of Iowa, through
their organizations, have practically
control of the business. They have
redressed their wrongs. IS
Positive methods of fighting wrongs,
preventing them, are better than rem
edying them by law.
Plea for Consumers.
Mr.. Dunn, like previous speakers,
insisted that the cooperative move
ment must consider the consumers
| "a Ia cb
how impossible it is to get a decent
in the cities receiving $3.50 per day,
way we must perfect the system of
shall not have to pay Is to Is cents
per pound for pork, which brings the
producer 5 cents per pound on the
hoof. He advocated local packing
plants as one step in more economi.
cal distribution. ..s
Farmers cooperation is not and
should not be an effort for monopoly
privilege, but simply a means Of get
ting square deal and is a benefit
to other classes of society as wen as
producers so far as it cuts out waste
and graft.
Mr.. Dunn made an eloquent pie:
for better education. He showed tht
fallacy in the idea of many well-of
farmers that have gained their wealth
BY their own independent" efforts
He made clear that no mans lant
would be valuable or his crops mar
ketable without the help of com
munity about him, with its roads
schools, churches and other social in
situations. Therefore the man VIII
says, 81 will not help educate othe
peoples children, because owe then
nothing" is the biggest liar in tn
state. &