The Penn's Grove record., 1912-11-01
Democratic Tariff Revision.
Proposed Saving To Consumers
Which President Taft Vetoed.
r,pec1a, corresponoence.l

r5pec1aI correspondence
WaShington.-If you want to know
how consistently President Taft and
the Republican party In congress
blocked every effort Of the Democrats
In the last house Of representatives to
reduce the high cost of living all you
havo to do is to read the report Of
Congressman Oscar w. Underwood as
chairman of the committee on ways
and a
The congressman thus sums up the
Democratic bills:
1.-The farmers free list bill, passed
by the house, would have saved the
people $500, 100000 annually. This bill
removed the duty from agricultural
implements. Of which $50, 100000 worth
was exported and only $165,0O0 worth
was imported during the last fiscal
year-sewing machines, fence wire.
bagging and cotton ties, lumber, laths.
shingles, meats. flour, salt, leather,
shoes, etc.
Under our tariff law h barrel of
-four valued at 81 abroad is taxed Is
per cent ad valorcm at our ports, or 81
on the barrel. This bill ~,moved the
entire tax.
"Beef valued at $3.50 per 100 pounds
abroad pays a tariff tax equivalent to
1888 per cent, or $3.50 per 100 pounds.
This bill proposed to remove this en-
tire tax.
1.-THE Democratic wool bill proposed
to reduce/the average rate Of duty on
wool manufactures from 90.10 per cent
to 1896 per cent President Tafts
veto Of this measure means that the
American people will pay $5O,0OO,OO
more for their clothes this year than
they would have If President Taft had
signed It
"a wool hat valued at 81 abroad and
taxed Is cents upon its entry into the
United States under the present tariff
law would have been taxed only ~
cents.
"Flannel underwear valued at $27
per dozen suits Is taxed under the pres
ent law at the equivalent ad valorem
1dIC VI dDOuI 1OO pei SCht AhS ~
ocraic bill proposed to reduce tms to
40 per cent. A suit of ready made
wooden clothing worth in Europe $40
is taxed under the present law at the
equivalent ad valorem rate of Is per
cent, or $3.50. The Democratic bill
proposed to reduce this tax from Is
to 40 per cent and ave the consumer
$3.50 per suit.
1.-The cotton bill reduced the duties
ON cotton manufactures from 1912 per
cen to 27.O6 per cent. a reduction Of
the tariff burdens under this schedule
from not less than 5000. 100000 to
about $112,O 900 for a year, or a saw
ing of about $SS,OOO.OOO for a twelve
month period.
cit proposed to reduce the tax on cot
ton thread from an equivalent rate Of
"a per cent to 10 per cent. A suit of
ready made cotton clothing valued at
the foreign port at So Is taxed under
present law so per cent ad valorem.
or So a suit This Democratic bill pro-
posed to reduce this tax to 30 per cent
AuO save Tie COhSuAlcI S1.[O per suit
'The bill revising the metal schedule
reduced the average rate of duty on
the entire schedule from 1895 per cent
imports of 1910 to 22.42 per cent
This revision, it is estimated, would
have saved the American consumers in
q twelve month period more than $780,
100000.
"The revision of the chemical sched-
ule would have effected a saving to
American consumers of about ST, OOO,-
600 by reducing the price of all chemi-
Gals, and at the same time the revenue
to the government would have been
increased.
1.-The bill placing sugar on the free
list would have saved during a year
not less than $115.0Oo 900 to the con-
sumer. The tariff tax on sugar
amounts to about 1h cents per pound.
The amount of sugar consumed In con-
tinental United States in 1911 was
about 1868, 900, 1000 pounds, and the ap-
plication Of IN cents per pound to this
consumption affords the estimate of
ptAS,0VO,VOO 90 representing tie Sdtluk
to the people.
1.-THE house passed a bill providing
for an excise tax on incomes, thereby
transferring a considerable portion of
the tax burdens to the wealthy, who
are escaping their proper proportion.
1.-THE excise tax bill passed by the
house provides for the extension of the
corporation tax law so as to include
individuals, firms and copartner
ships. 1t accomplishes the very desir.
able purpose of transferring tax bur.
dens from those less able to carry them
to the, shoulders Of the wealthy. who
have heretofore escaped from a proper
share of taxation for the support of the
government.
1.-The present burden of indirect ta xa
ton falls upon people ha wing incomes
Of less than $1,000 per year. A man
whose net earnings amount to but s..
600 per year would under this bill Day
no tax. A man earning $4,000 Der
year would pay nothing on the first
$4,000 and $50 per year on the second
$1,000"