Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-08-25
FIGHT ON TARIFF
NEARING The END
Expected It's Provisions Will
Be IN Effect by Middle of
Next Month.

Washington, D. c., Aug. 25.-The
end of the long tariff debate in the
senate is in sight. The upper house
of congress is expected to pass within
two weeks the bill reported by the
finance committee without substantial
change. Another week will be occu-
pied by the conference committee in
adjusting differences between the two
house. BY the middle OF September
the democratic tariff law should be
in effect.
The business interests of the country
have been kept in a state Of uncer-
tainty over the tariff for more than
four years, from the time, in fact, when
the Aldrich tariff revision was enacted.
They realized that revision would be
unsatisfactory TO the people, but be-
cause the senate was controlled by
standpat republicans 1t was not expect
ed any change could be made for ar
least two years. With the house dem
ocratic and the senate republican in
November, 1910, It meant further
postponement OF tariff legislation. 1t
was only as q result of the elections
/ last year that the democrats gained
control of both houses OF congress, and
( it IS due to the flrmness Of President
! Wilson that the standpat democrats in
the senate have been forced to agree
to the reductions which have been
made in numerous duties.
! Interest In Washington SO far az the
tariff is concerned now centers in the
work OF the conference committee. 1t
Is that body which really writes the
laws for the government OF the coun-
try. Deliberating in secret, nothing
Il known of It's labors until It makes
report to the Eenate and the house.
BY reason Of party control the changes
It recommends usually are adopted,
Ordinarily the conference committee
is not supposed to touch any duties
which are the same IN the bills passed
by the two houses. Republican con
ference committees did so, however
/ and 1t will be interesting to see what
the democrats will do in this respect
1t has become known that the house
leaders are not satisfied with the sen
ate bill. They claim the reductions
made by the senate have been SO Sc
we're that II the bill was passed by
that body should become law not
enough revenue would be collected tC
pay the expenses OF the government
For example, the removal by the sen
ate OF the duties on burlap would NEAR
loss Of some 100000 in revenue
The changes made by the senate il
the textile schedule also are unsatis
factory to the house leaders.
The senate sought to make up the
loss in revenue consequent upon the
cuts 1t made by imposing tax OF one
tenth of 1 cent per pound upon bana
|, mas, The house insists that banana!
are the food Of the poorer classes anC
will demand the free listing Of thi'
fruit.
The house will fight for the provision
rejected by the senate, which gives
reduction of 8 per cent in the duties
on goods imported in American bot
toms. 1t will urge the reinsert!on Il
the. bill OF its anti-dumping clause
which aims to prevent foreign manu-
facturers from flooding American maj
kets with goods below the price
. charged for them in Europe.
The house objects TO the senat
changes in the income tax section O
, the bill The belief exists that COZ
poratiO.s now taxed under the cOrpoI
, alton tax law will be exempted if tn
5 senate provision be not modified.
> The house will accept the senate pre-
visions placing cattle and wheat on tn
free list with a countervailing duty.
is expected the house likewise vii
= accept the free listing of products o