The Hawaiian gazette., 1913-08-12

Of the Underwood Simmons tariff bill
Is now under way in the senate. and
every attempt Is being made by the
Democratic members of that body TO
expedite the passage of the bill. Sen.
ator Simmons has devised new meiho |
of conducting the debate. The Presi
dent has been little peeved at the
thought that the senate might take its
time in discussing the tariff and has in.
timatei TO the leaders Of his party
that he wants il showed through the
senate as rapidly AS possible. Acting
on this suggestion, Senator simmons
now plans to place zach important
schedtile OF the tariff bill in charge of
individual senators who are to "spe
cializen on that particular schedule
and be ready to defend it when it is
attacked by the opposition. Under this
plan, Senators Ollie James of Ken
lucky, aud Reed of Missouri, are to be
in charge of the sugar schedule.
Senator James, during the prelimi.
nary tariff debate, championed the
cause Of the sugar refiners and in the
Democratic caucus as well as in the
lobby investigation, Senator Reed has
shown his antagonism to the domestic
sugar industry. This attitude ON the
part of these two gentlemen probably
is responsible for their being selected
to defend the sugar schedule against
the onslaught of its opponents.
Senator Simmons, by this method,
a lx. nat, ult nH ta "a
the part of his Democratic colleagues.
Yesterday .he stated that the Democr<s
were not going to take up time debat
ing the bill; that if the bill prove not
to be for the benefit of the country,
it will demonstrate that the tariff ideas
Of the Democratic leaders in congress
are wrong; if it proves to be well for
the country, it will demonstrate that
the opposition is wrong.
A Sweeping Defense.
In making the opening address of the
debate, Senator simmons claimed, in
substance, that the bill would prove
to be a panacea for practically all the
ills that this flesh is heir to at the pres.
emit time. He thinks that there is no
doubt that the measure, if enacted into
law, will materially reduce the high
cost of living, VIII take the burden
of taxation off the poor and place it
on the rich, and that the passage of
the bin will mean the tightening of the
hold of the Democratic party upon the
"common peepul" for years to come.
The senator painted roseate picture
of the surplus which would accrue in
the federal treasury ms result of the
i. = a.. Al, 30
show a surplus revenue az about two
million dollars over government expen-
ditures at the end of the first year
under the new tariff bill.
The entire revenue to be derived from
customs, internal revenue and all other
sources is computed by proponents of
the measure at 1896 $4,000, and the
disbursements, as estimated by treasury
experts, will aggregate 1894 100 900, al
though the last congress appropriated
nearly 81 ,l00,0 100000. In figuring out
the revenue at 1896, $4,000, the finance
committees report, which Senator Sim
mons followed closely in his remarks
bases its estimates of the revenue on
two months under the present tariff
and ten months under the new SEIZED.
ules. The prospect looks well when
figured out on paper, but the enthp.
siasm of the friends of the bill was
given a setback, when il was pointed
out by one of its opponents that at the
present time there is at least 800.
100000 worth of imports now in bond.
ed warehouses waiting for the new
tariff to go into effect, and it is esti.
mated that under the new rates this
will mean loss of $35, 100000 to the
United States treasury.
Deficit Appears.
TIE truth of this is found in the
official report of the treasury for the
first seventeen days of July. The fig.
ures reveal deficit for that period
of $ls,5ls,074 as against $l0,262, s47
for the same days last year. The re.
ceipts show falling off of about ST.
100000 despite an increase of $1,000.
900 collected through the corporation
tax. If then the committee, in making
up it's estimate of the revenues to show
that there will be surplus of $4,000.
600 during the first year of the new
tariff, figured on the normal receipts
from customs during July and August
it is easily to be seen that on account
of this $l00,000,000 worth of imports
being held up for lower rates. there i.
more likely to lie a deficit during the
first year of $33.000,O00 instead of a
surplus of $2,000,000.
Roots Warning.
Another shadow OF gloom was cast
over the free trade camp day or two
ago when Senator Root addressed the
senate on the income tax provision OF
the Underwood Bill. Senator Root,
who is conceded to be very fine con.
stitutional lawyer, attacked the consti.
tutionnlity of this provision, notwith.
standing the fact that the income tax
amendment had been rat fed by a ma
jorty of the States. The senator
claims that IL win not hold in the
courts and there are some who believe
that his attack upon the measure is an
indication that when it becomes law,
its constitutionality will be tested in
the courts, which means that the mat.
ter will be tied up for many months.
and, IL this be true, it will further re.
duee the government revenues during
the first year and add to the embarrass.
'bent of the Administration In meeting
necessary expenditures.
Seeking Courage.
To sum the wnOls matter up, II NAV
be said that the Administration lead.