Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1913-10-09
NEW TARIFF
NOW A LAW
PRESIDENT SIGNED THE DEMO
CRATIC MEASURE FRIDAY
IMPORTERS NOTIFIED


wood-Simmons traiff bill at 900 to-
night at the White House. Simulta-
neously, telegrame were sent to Gus
toms collectors throughout the coun-
try by the treasury department. put
ting into actual operation the first
democratic revision since 1894.
The speed with which congress dis.
posed of the last work on the bill and
sent the measure to the White house.
demonstrated the anxiety Of the house
and senate to get through with the
burden that has held them to con-
tinuous session since April.
The bill, accompanied by the con-
ference report agreed OH by the SEN
ate last night, came into the house as
soon as the body met today. For over
an hour the house debated the last
vote reached at :23 p. m. Two min
utes later the speaker affixed his name
to the completed bill, and within ten
minutes. the chief clerk carried it to
the senate and it was signed by Vice
President Marshall. The bill was
then conveyed to the White House
A happy group of legislators, men,
bers of the cabinet and friends en-
circled the president as he affixed his
signature, with two gold pens. He
presented Congressman Underwood
with the pen used in writing the name
"Woodrow'' and Senator Simmons the
one with which he completed his name.
After an. impressive silence, the
president delivered, in easy, natural
x~~oe m snoorh
which brought prolonged applause.
He declared that "the journey or leg,
islative accomplishment" was "only
partly completed" and that a great
service had been done the rank and
file of the country, but that "the sec
ond step in the emancipation Of busi-
ness is currency reform" He earn
estly called upon his colleagues to 60
on through with the "rest Of the jour-
ney" with fresh impulse.
The resident expressed a feeling of
every profound gratitude that he was
working with splendid men, who had
carried this thing through with
studious attention and doing justice
to all concerned. l am glad that
have had part in serving the people
of this country as we have been striv-
ing to serve them ever since can re-
member" he said, and who chad in
mind the accomplishment of some
thing like this at heart "ever since he
was boy"
President Wilson's signing of the
Underwood Simmons bill tonight will
bring into effect one of the most far
reaching revisions of tariff rates and
revenue laws enacted for many years.
A new income tax, applying direct
lv to the incomes of citizens; the
abolition of all tariff on scores of items
of immense Importance to American
industry and American consumers and
heavy reduction of tariff rates on
most of the articles in general use in
this country are its chief features.
While certain portions of the new
law do not take effect at once, most
of it's provisions and almost all the
direct tariff reductions, do.
At every port collectors OF Gus.
toms, appraisers of merchandise and
hundreds of other employees OF the
treasury department will plunge at
once into the task of collecting the
nations revenue of new basis, and
with hundreds of new classifications
and new provisions of law to compli-
cate their activities.
The federal government has been
spending nearly a billion dollars a
year and the new tariff law will raise
less than one-third Of that sum. Re-
cent estimates by tariff experts in
congress predict that the rates will
raise SPAS, 100000 year; and that
the income tax will raise $122,OOO,-
600 The remainder of the govern
ent's great income is made up prin.
cipally of internal revenue taxes and
postal receipts.
The income tax probably will bring
the new tariff law almost forcibly to
the attention of citizens. President
Wilson and democratic leaders in con-
gress believe, however, that the re-
duction Of duties on clothing, food
stuffs and other necessaries of life.
and the complete removal of the duty
from many like articles, will even
tually bring a reduction in the "cost
of living" without internally affect
ing business prosperity.
A brief summary of the new tariff
law as prepared for the senate fol-
lows:
Average percentage Of tariff rates
as compared to the value Of all i'm
ported merchandise: old law 81 per
cent: new law 27 per cent.
Value of annual imports added to
the free list, $147,000,0OO
Estimated revenue from all i'm
port rates: old law $3O5, 1000, 900; new
law $249,00O,000.
Estimated revenue from corpora
tion and income taxes: old law $751;
OOO, 900; new law $122,O0O,C0O.
Altogether, consumers in the Unit
ed States probably will receive from
abroad free of all tariff, more than
81, ,000,000,000 worth of merchandise
during the next year.
During 1912 the amount Of "free
imports" was more than $ss0,000,O00,
and when the tariff is entirely re-
moved from wool, sugar, iron ore and
cheap iron. and other important items,
the total is expected to increase no.
tably. Under the old law more than