Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-08-06
Senator Lippitt Voices Protest
Against Cotton, Silk and
Wool Schedules.
WILLING FOR REDUCTION:
OPPOSED TO REVOLUTION
Senator Cummins and Senator Oliver
Also in Opposition-Progress
Of the Measure.

Declaring that the schedules in the
democratic tariff bill relating to cotton.
silk and wool are "capricious and illogi-
CAL" Senator Lippitt of Rhode Island to-
day advocated as substitute provisions
the Dingley law rates with horizontal
reduction of 20 per cent.
Il believe the cotton manufacturers as
rule are willing to try the experiment
of a reduction in the tariff said Senator
Lippitt. "They protest against revolu-
ton. Suppose. then. we take long
step and make a horizontal reduction
from the duties as they were in the
Dingley law. That Is SO plain that every
one can understand it is a reduction, ana
a material one and the reduction Is maoe
without destroying a method on wh1cn
duty has been applied all these years
methods the courts have interpreted and
the trade understands. In the last years
that schedule was enforced the average
duty on imports of cloth were ABOUT IS
per cent: 20 per cent taken Off this would
leave average duties of 10 4-lO per cent.
which Is materially lower than the 30
per cent on wool or the 45 per cent on
silk"
Senator Lippitt showed that the an
nual product of silk manufacturers Is
about 5000. 100000. Of wool manufac-
terers about 100000 OON and of cotton
manufacturers $sOOOOO.Ooe, and de-
clared that the democrats should be
careful how they disturbed these great
Industries. He said the democrats had
drafted the textile schedules of the
tariff bin apparently without any fixed
principle.
Discusses Rates of Duty.
He showed that while all three Of the
textile Industries are similar in opera
ton, and the skill and knowledge Of
the labor Is of the same general KIND,
the democrats have placed duty OF
45 per cent upon silk cloths Of all
kinds without discrimination, duty OF
35 per cent upon wooden cloths OF all
kinds. but that when 1t comes to cot
ton it has been thought necessary TO
grade these duties SO that they run
from a minimum of az per cent to
maximum of 80 per cent. with an aver
age of 16 per cent. This Is less than
one-ha1f the duty of wooden and aoout
one-third the duty upon silk. although
the average percentage or wages ~ n;a .he
total cost of manufacture is the hlgn-
est in the cotton of any OF the three.
Senator Lippitt said that the demo-
Gratis could not justify their reduction
i'm textile schedules on the ground that
the textile industries were cOntrOlleo
by monopolies. He pointed out that
there are 985 Independent establish
rnents producing woolens. 843 estab-
lishments making silk and 1924 estab-
lishments making cotton goods. he
showed that competition in this coun-
try had reduced the price OF the tex
tiles without relation to the tariff.
He criticised the democrats for franz
ing the textile schedule without adopt
ing a scientific basis upon which to go.
The ad valorem duties adopted, Sena-
tor Lippitt declared. will AFFORD a great
temptation to undervaluation. and Will
put a premium on the dishonest as
against the honest merchant.
Senator Cummins' Challenge.
Senator Cummins Of Iowa challenged
the democrats yesterday afternoon to ex-
plain the meaning of competitive
tariff as advocated by Speaker Clark.
Chairman Simmons Of the finance COM
mittee and other democratic leaders. He
declared that IL this meant a tariff which
would make it possible for American
manufacturers to sell at a reasonable
profit their goods in competition with
the foreigners also a reasonable profit,
he could no difference between that
and a protective tariff, in which he him
self believed.
The consideration of the tariff bill
moved along more rapidly. a considerable
part of the metal schedule being disposed
of. Senator Oliver Of Pennsylvania pro-
tested against the placing Of iron in slabs
blooms, loops. etc. and less finished iron
| I'm bars on the free list. The committee
amendment. however. putting these arti-
Giles on the free list was approved by q
vote Of ~ to -, number Of the pro-
gressive republicans voting with the
democrats.
At the request Of Senator Stone OF
Missouri the paragraphs dealing with
beams. Orders and other structural
steel. and with iron or steel wire, were
passed over because the trade" wish
ed to submit further facts which the
finance committee desired to hear.
Automobile Paragraph.
The paragraph dealing with automo-
bles caused considerable debate. Sem
ator Smoot charging that it was an alb
surdity to charge a duty OF As per
cent al valorem on automobiles valued
at s1.500 or more and to allow the fin
ished parts Of these automobiles to be
imported into this country at 80 per
cent ad valorem. Senator Brandegee
offered amendment making the
chassis Of automobiles valued at $500
or more dutiable at As per cent. but
this. too. was beaten by the democrats
and progressive republicans The SEN
ate committee rates on automobiles
were agreed to.