The Washington times., 1913-04-21
RAP
TARIFF MEASURE
Minority of Ways and Means
Committee Files Report on
the Underwood Bill.


The minority members of tine WAYS
and Means Committee filed with the
House today their dissenting views OIL
the Underwood tariff bill. which the
Republicans criticise from beginning to
end.
The ad valorem rates of the biz are
denounced. and it Is declared that every
secretary of the Treasury except Walk
er has inveighed against ad valorcIn
duties. .-..
Republican members of the Ways and
Means Committee made their -eDort
public in advance of the actual presen-
tstion of the Underwood bill. following
its approval by the Democratic caucus.
The Republicans. i'm other words, get in
the first blow by exploiting their views
before the majority report is filed.
Will Analyze Bill Later.
The proposed bill seems to meet with
universal approval on the other side OF
the Atlantic" is one of the Republican
thrusts at the Underwood measure.
There is no excuse for the radical
change in our revenue system proposed
In this bill,'' says the minority report,
referring to unparalleled prosperity un-
der the protective system. "The people
have not asked for it. The party pro-
posing II is ia power, not by the grace
Of q majority OF the American people,
but by a division in the ranks of the
majority on other questions than that
OF protection. The Administration has
the power to enact this Legislation. The
accounting for the abuse of that power
will come later"
R.o,,hI,cap ,,,euhers of tha Ways and
Means Committee assert that the Demo-
cratic bill, on its very face, is not a
revenue measure, and is-out of harmony
with the oft-proclaimed Democratic
doctrine of "a tariff for revenue only.
In presenting the bill, continues
the minority report the committee is
met with a threatened deficit in revenue
Of about 500 100000 which it is COM
PEELED to meet by extraordinary meth
DDS OF taxation used heretofore only in
time of war"
Tie minority members make no at
tempt to analyze at this time what they
term the glarine Inconsistencies of the
Underwood bill. 1t is explained that
this analysis will come during the de-
bate in the House. and Is impossible at
this time because no minority member
of the Ways and Means Committee had
an opportunity to examine the Under
wood bill until 1t was introduced In
the House. "Our acquaintance with 1t
is therefore too brief for analysis here.
says the minority report.
The Republican report makes speci-
fic reference to the wool and cotton
schedules, saying:
"The reports Of the Tariff Board on
schedule K and 1 show that the duties
on these two schedules ought to be
revised but not in accordance with the
ill-coneidered rates proposed in this
bill"
VIII Reverse Economic Policy.
At the minority conference tomorrow
night II VIII be determined whether
the Republicans shall present substi-
tutes for these two schedules OF the
Underwood bill
Tho report reviews the prosperity of
the country under the protective sys-
tenn. and declares that the Underwood
bill aims at a complete reversal of the
tested economic policy of the Govern
ment Especial criticism is made of
The Democratic plan to repeal the bene-
ficial maximum and minimum clause
of the Payne law, under which we
against the discriminating tariffs of
Europe" 1t is declared that the pro
vision authorizing the President, with
the consent of Congress, to negotiate
trade agreements with other nations is
q useless one, as the President and
congress already have this power.
While fearing a Treasury deficit un-
der Democratic rule, the minority men,
bers assert proudly that no new Ad-
ministration ever inherited such a full
Treasury as the Wilson Administration,
and that all must admit the prosperous
condition Of governmental finances.
Charge Numerous Determinations.
In its brief criticism of the defects of
the bill. six minority members say that
even casual study shows numerous dis
ordinations. The report continues:
And yet it would be erroneous TO
charge that all the rates have been
laid with an eye single TO revenue only.
Some of them carry incidental protec-
tion.' which, on the face of il. shows
that incidental protection was planned
as part of the scheme of the trainers
OF the bill. These features are spas
nnodic and generally have a local color
ing.
This bill aims al a complete re-
versal of the economic policy of the
Government. During a period of nearly
fifty years We have had a protective
tariff in this country. Under it we have
built up manufacturing industries not
approached by those Of any other coun-
try. The farmers have prospered mar
vnlously. In purchasing power, the only
true test, the wages of our laborers
wages of any other people Under the
present tariff law this universal pros
Perity has reached the very highest
crest. Every laborer willing to work Is
fully employed. Even the poorest class
Of laborers employed at the lowest
wages have still been able TO send sur
Plus earnings TO their native countries. .