The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-04-24
TO NATION
WILL BE FOUND IN
NEW TARIFF BILL
(Continued From FIrat Pnge.l


and 1t was some time before MIR. I'm
derwood began his speech.
THE enactment of this bill into law
viii mark the end of an era in the
fiscal administration OF this country
and the beginning of n new one IN.
began. while the Democrats applauded
MIR. Underwood discussed The origin
OF the present high tariff system"
declaring that II was instituted as an
emergency measure during the civil
War.
In mis- discussion he followed closely
the arguments outlined in the report OF
the Democratic majority OF the Ways
and Means Committee.
Our great responsibility" declared
Mir. Underwood, lis in the interest and
rights of the great mass of consumers
among the American people From our
as secondary TO the rights OF the con-
sumer'
Referring to the increase in the cost
of living, Mr.. Underwood said:
"A great proportion OF this Increase
was caused by the abnormally high
featuring interests OF the country un-
der the Republican tariff"
Mr.. Underwood said, however that
the passage of the Democratic bill
would not Immediately he followed by
reductions in the cost of living.
=
in reasonable time after the mer-
chants have disposed OF the goods
bought under high protective tariff
the people OF this country Will md
tile cost of living decreased"
Attacks Protection Theory.
Mr.. Underwood vigorously attacked
| the theory OF founding protective
, tariff on tho difference in cost Of pro-
duction at home and abroad "a duty
No
ence in cost OF production between two
countries he said, protects no one,
| since 1t is more than is needed by the
most efficient producer and less than
is needed by the less efficient producer
You Republicans cannot write n sue :
ccssful tariff bill on that basis and
tho proof OF II is YOU never have ="
The Democrats applRudcd.
y do not contend" MIR. Underwood
continued. that In this bill we havo
been able TO wipe out at one fell swoop
All the ineQuitics. injuStices and rank
favoritlsrn that you Republicans have
engraftcd on the body polite for tho
last five decades. But we have PLAYED
favoritcs with no one. We have had
no favored manufacturers debating our
rates
But We have not gone at this ,arift
wall with an axe. There arc many in
dustrics that have been built up en-
tircly on the basis OF your protective
system and wherever II has been pos
siblc with substantial justice 10 tho
great body OF consumers VIC have
lowered this tariff wall with n Jack
screw and not with an axe"
Mr.. Underwood did not take no the
income tax feature OF the bill In dc
tail declaring Representative Hull of
Tennessee. was responsible for framing
the provision and would explain it
later.
An Honest Revision.
II believe this is an honest revision
of the tariff downward" MIR. Under
wood said in conclusion. 1T believe that
II VIII not in any way jeopardizc legi-
innate industry--and by legitimate in
duStry | do not mean the mills that
have gorged themselves on dividends
and allowed floors and machinery to
rot Legitimate American industry,
brought To tho firing line by open com
petition. will carry American energy
and American genius to the markets
Of tho world
Gratis OF the House after II burst OF
applause rushed forward to congratu-
late the majority leader.
Representative Gardner. of Massa
chusctts, took the floor to open the
Republican side of the debate lie
gave two reasons for dismissal OF the
Republican party from power. one tina;
forms" and another the fact that the
country desires revision OF tho
tariff much more far-reaching than the
Payne law"
He paid a tribute to Representa- tive
Payne. OF New York. with the state
mcnt that the cotton and wool seized
ules had been written into.the law over
his protest.
Mr.. Gardner asserted that tho Re
r fa11
guidance of one OF those too powerful
OhRarchics which men call machines
and it is true that this machine was
not representative OF the rank and file
who voted the ticket"
The head and front OF his party's
offending, he said, was that we failed
to move with the ages
The nation will not have the Payne
law he said. "If necessary, the ma
ton would rather elect Congress OF
numbskulls and charlatans who would
administer a new elixir rather than
retain Congress OF acsculapians. who
Insist on compromising the old formu-
las which tho nation refuses any
longer 10 swallow. Perhaps tho old
political physician in the end may
prove right
lions greatly hampered the Democra
tic tariff for revenue without harming
| legitimate Industry
Clumsy as IL is" he said, "rnislead
Ing TO the farmer as 1t Is. inconsistent
and unjust as are many OF It's provi-
sions. this bill nevertheless is an at
| tempt to carry out the promises Which
! you Democrats made TO the people
Therein lies the dificulty-your pro-
misses conflict with each other.
You cannot make ono and tho same
| tariff Keep up the price which the
| farmer receives. and yet reduce the
price which his customer pays. You
cannot fairly impose free trade on the
fisherman and tho shoemaker and the