News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1913-08-13
PAGE TRIES TO SAVE TALC
Vermont Senator Unsuccessful in
Effort to Retain Duty


duty on tale for the protection of the in
dustry in Vermont. The following is
taken from The Record:
Mr.. Page: Mr., President May / ask
the senator from Maine on what particll-
lar ground the committee has reduced the
duty on tale from 20 to Is per cent?
Mr.. johnson of Maine, / will say to
the senator that it is in general line with
the reductions which have been made all
through the bill.
Mr. Page. The committee was not
looking for an increase of revenue under
this item, was it? l observe by the hand
book that the revenue commencing at
$4,000 in 1896, and increasing to $4,000
in 1905 and $4,000 in 1912, under the
committees estimate will be $4,000 in
1914; so that | judge that as a revenue
producer you reduce rather than increase
| the revenue on tale.
Mr.. Johnson of Maine. Under the
estimate, the senator is correct; there
| WOulIl NC
Mr. Page, Did | correctly or incor
rectly understand that one of the princ
pies that actuate the Democratic party
in the preparation in this tariff bill is that
there shall be strong competitive basis,
| and that where competition is severe and
| the industry is not in the hands of trust
it has been the policy of your party to re-
tain the duties on all industries in order
that they may live? Am correct in that
assumption?
Mr.. Johnson Of Maine. / will say to
the senator that | am informed that tale
enters into other manufacturers and in
line with the general rates under the bill,
the basket clause carrying a duty of 10
per cent, we made the duty upon this
article to correspond We took French
chalk, which had been classified, think,
with other kinds Of chalk, and put it in
this section with taIcum.
Mr.. Page. his happens to be an arti-
Gle that is produced in my own county,
and | was little curious to know Just the
basis of the committees reasoning.
I recall very distinctly that during
the campaign which led up to the election
of President Wilson it was asserted many
times by him that he did not wish to dis
turb any legitimate industry if it was on
competitive basis | cannot understand
why this industry, which needs protection,
should be disturbed, in view of the fact
that the increase of imports has been very,
very great for these many years, | think
the imports are about three times as large
as they were in 1885, and they have in
creased about $50 per cent. since 1905.
| happen to know, because I am in a
position to know from close association |
with this corporation that makes tale in
my state, that it has been figuring on the |
very closest basis in order to live. Year |
by year the amount of imported tale has |
increased. Let me give you the figures.
In 1896 there were 100000 pounds |
imported; in 1905, 100000 pounds;
in 1912, 100000 pounds; and your
estimate is that in 1914 under this bill
the imports will be 22,0OO,0OO pounds.
With this constant increase of tale coming
from foreign countries it seems to me it
comes entirely within the pledge of the
President that where a small industry was
on a competitive basis it should not be
disturbed.
| do not know that | care to discuss
this matter or to take time with it, be-
cause it is very small one but | hardly
think | can do less than make a motion
to restore the present duty of 20 rer cent.
| will not ask for a roll call upon it, |
believe that if there is any article in the
whole schedule that comes within the
promise of the President that business
that is on strictly competitive basis
should not be disturbed if it is tale
If the President did not mean what he
said about business on a competitive basis
like this, what did he mean when he told
is that such industries should not be dis ,
5urbed? | think his statement was that t
of American goods that
we're on a competitive basis need have no
ear that they would be disturbed. |
know that this little industry in my own
county has been struggling very hard for
he past eight years to meet the intense
md immense competition of foreign inn
'orts, and your own statement here
shows that the importations have been so
'reat that it seems to me you ought not
o disturb this schedule.
Mr.. President, l move that line 5 of
ection 20 be amended by striking out as"
md inserting in lieu thereof go"
The Presiding Officer. The amendment &
will be stated. !
The Secretary. 1t is proposed, on page J
8, line 5, to strike out "15' and insert ;
90" :
Mr. Gronna. Do | understand that S
he amendment by the senator from Yer
mont is to paragraph 90?
Mr. Gallinger. No; paragraph TO- a