Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-07-19
DEBATE ON TARIFF
OPENS IN SENATE
Chairman Simmons of Finance
Committee Explains Re-
vision Measure.
HOPED BILL WILL UNTAx
NECESSARIES OF LIFE
Amendments to House Schedules
Not Made in Spirit Of
Disagreement.

chairman Simmons OF the finance COM
mittee today formally opened the tarfn
DEBATE In the Senate. The seantor from
North Carolina entered into an extended.
though general. discussion of the ball as
amended by the Senate. defending the
measure. He said in part:
when the national conventions of the
two great political parties met In 1903
tney were confronted with this over
whelming demand for relief from the in
toierable burdens OF a tariff framed I'm
the interest of privilege, and which.
while enormously augmenting the wealth
| and power Of the few, restricted the op-
portunities Of the many, and advanced
the cost OF living beyond the income not
only OF the average man. but OF the
normally thrifty and well-to-do.
The democratic response to these com
plants and demands was unreserved and
unequivocal.
The response of the republican party.
while not so specific, was accepted by
the country as pledge to substantially
lower tariff duties and to remedy the
evils complained of at least to the extent
or limiting the power of combinations
and the protective industries to arbitrarily
NIX prices by admitting competition from
the outside. when prices here We're raised
above the margin of fair profit.
No Relief for People.
I'm the election Of that year the re-
publican party was successful. electing
the President and a majority in both
branches Of Congress. Feigning to re-
deem these pledges, the republican Con-
gress of 1909 passed the so-called Payne
Aldrich bill. re-enacting in effect the
Ddngley law. with few minor changes I'm
rates-some upward and some down-re-
sulttng In practically no change In the
general average. giving little or no relief
to the people on the one hand, and on
the other hand taking from the bene-
ficiaries of the tariff but little. il any
thing, which was regarded by them as
worth retaining.
THE substituted act was I'm effect and
substance so nearly the same as the one
1t superseded that the question whether
1t operated to revise the tariff down.
ward or upward was at the time and still
sa matter Of dispute.
Scarcely had the act gone into opera
ton when the dissatisfaction of the peo-
pie found -expresston in q nauon-w5de
agitation for its repeal, eliminating in
the congressional election of 1910 in the
overthrow of the republican majority in
the House OF Representatives and the
elevation to power In that branch OF Con-
gTess of the democratic party-pledged 10
revise the tariff to a revenue and COM
petitive basis.
Wilson the Victor.
In the national campaign OF 1871 the
republican party nominated Mr.. Taft
for President and the democratic
party nominated Mr. Wilson. In that
campaign the tariff and the record OF
the two parties as exemplificd by their
action in Congress with reference to
these scheduled bills. and Of President
Taft In his veto Of them, became the
paramount issue. Mr.. Wilson won.
THE bill now presented to the Senate.
1t is confidently believed is fair in
depreciation Of the will OF the people
and Is an honest compliance with the
pledges of the democratic party with
respect to the revision Of the tariff.
Il wish in the outset to say that amend
ments offered by the committee are not
proposed In a spirit of disagreement with
the House or with the theory of tariff re-
vision upon which that body acted. On
the contrary, they are offered with
view of further carrying out and perfect
ing the principles OF revenue-producing
tariff upon the basis of competitive rates
enunciated by the ways and means COM
mittee of the House a just and fair
Interpretation in the light of existing
conditions Of the platform pledges of the
dominant party upon the tariff.
Like the House. We have sought TO
find a basis of action which would un-
tax the necessaries of life far as
is consistent with the revenue needs OF
the government, which would lay the
heaviest burdens upon the luxlI1es or
the rich. and which would impose upon
those things which Were neither prime
necessities nor luxuries and which were
proper subjects of tariff taxation. a
rate sufficiently competitive to yield
revenues adequate to meet the needs
of the government on the one mani and
on the other operate as regulation or
domestic prices. by making outside
competition at all times possible.
At Work Two Months.
.Your committee had devoted two
months of earnest thought, study and in
vestigation in consideration of the bill
submitted to it, 1t has at all times
been impressed with the demand Of the
neople for tariff relief. from existing
tariff conditions and the necessity for
nromnt action in this behalf, but We have
felt that prudence and wisdom required
that there should be most thorough
scrutiny and analysis, and for this reason
we have not hesitated to take the time
NECESSARY for a thorough understanding
and study of the changes proposed ana
the effect of those changes upon the bust
ness interests Of the country, ooth as
thew affect the producer and the con-
sumner.
eft has constantly kept in mind
the evils which have resulted from our
existing tariff law in establishing monop-
olies. increasing the cost of living. and
imposing unnecessary burdens upon the
people. II has also had constantly IN
mind the pledges of the party now IN
power, and the just expectation or the
people with respect TO the fulnllment OF
these promises.
Many Theories Rejected.
TT has given due consideration TO the
rsnresentations of those interested In re-
tanning high rates and has duly con-
sidered the argument and facts upon
witch they have relied in support OF their
contention. Like the ways and means
I,omnittee of the House, il has rejected
many IF the theories upon which these
AAo..s 40 ha cod and likewise IL