The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-01-14
Sentiment FavOrs Inclusion
of These Provisions in
Plan to Be Submitted to
the Extra Session
UNDERWOOD FAVORS
A LARGE REVENUE
FROM LUXURIES
Lumber Schedule Evokes Much Dis
cussion - Elimination of Tariff
Will Cheaper Lumber-Man-
ufacturers and Importers
of Silk Join Issue

Washington, January 13.-Eree rough
and dressed lumber. hewn and squared
timber, shingles, laths and fence posts,
retention of approximately the present
high tariff on the higher grades of silks
and reductions in the cheaper silks used
by the common people, and penalizing
drastic tariff bar to shut out "dynamited"
silk, were indicated today parts of the
expected democratic revision programme.
The House committee on ways and
means deovted the day to hearings on
wood and silk schedules of the tariff law
and when the testimony and expectations
were closed the sentiment favored the in
clusion of these provisions possibly to-
eether with free meats, in the tentative
plan the committee will frame to submit
TO the extra session of Congress.
Silk Presents Complexity
The burden of the testimony on the
wooden schedule was plea for the pres
ervation of the present rates. SILK, ia
volving immense interests. presented a
complaxity of technicalities perhaps
greater than in any of the other IS
schedules of the tariff law. Silks" ac-
cording to Horace b. Cheney of South
Manchester, Conn.,, as spokesman for the
silk manufacturers of the country, de-
pended upon fashion; if women want any
thing they'll pay the amount they have
to get it,
women always want something that
looks fancy said C. A. Streuli of New
York, waving aloft hat lining, while
joining with Samuel Kridel, another ini-
porter, in protest against the present tar
~.
silks are luxury, that is, most silks, .
commented Chairman Underwood of the
committee.
Mr.. Underwood outlined his view in
which he represents the democratic ma
Jofity of the committee that will frame
the new schedule.
Revenue on Luxuries
I'VE want 10 get a large amount of
revenue on luxuries." said Mr.. Under
wood, $50 that we can put a less tax on
the necessities of life. Where there is a
large percentage of imports, we don't
want to cut the rates. We are desirous,
however. of cutting the rates where there
is no competition and no revenue
Samuel Kridel and F. E. Kip of Bridge
port, Conn, who said he was agent CT
world, disa greed as to European trust
Vaccinations.
81 have bought velvets supposed to have
come from one of the members of the So
called syndicate and have never received
any rebate" said Mr. Kridel, who added
that he did not know of the real existence
of such a trust that gave rebates to I'M
porters
Representa- tive Hill of Connecticut gave
names of firms that he said, fix concur
rent prices, distribute territory and give
10 per cent rebates to importers here.
Mr.. Kip said he knew there was syn
dicate of velvet manufacturers In france
thet imposes contracts binding buyers
from them for a three year period and
allowing rebates of 10 per cent, denied
where a buyer deals with any one out
side of the trust and that this compina-
ton comprises 90 per e'entt or the SILK
velvet manufacturers of France, Ger
many and England.
Representative Palmer of Pennsylvania,
democrat, In a persistent examination OF
witness Cheney, asked If the duty on
cheaper silks did not actually go to the
manufacturer.
Duty Goes to Workman
NO. replied Mr.. Cheney, ''it goes to
+he workman For every dollar you might
get by reducing the tariff you would
take two dollars away from the work.
men through decreased wages.
Mr.. Cheney agreed that If the commit
,aa rewrite the silk schedule, it would
ba practicable to make some changes to
.oualize points of minor Importance. Mr..
palu1er observed that the present rates
on the cheaper silk goods were practi-
,allv prohibitve. Mr. Cheney agreed that
some articles are very nearly prohipi-
tive. :,
.aThe cheapest velvets and pushes
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