New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-10-04
COUNT ON CUT IN
HIGH LIVING COST
Democratic Leaders Believe
This Will Result from the
New Tariff.

Washington. Oct 3.-President Wilson's
signing OF the tariff bill brings Into effect
one OF the most far-reaching revisions OF
tariff rates and revenue laws enacted for
many years.
new income tax. applying directly 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 reduc-
ton of tariff rates on most OF the articles
in general use in this country are It's
chief features.
While certain parts OF the new law do
not take effect at once, most Of its pro-
visions and almost all the direct tariff
reductions do.
At every port collectors Of customs, APP
praisers OF merchandise and hundreds or
other employees OF the Treasury Depart
ment will plunge at once into the task OF
collecting the nations revenue on new
basis. and with hundreds of new classi-
ications and new provisions Of law to
complicate their activities
The federal government has been spend
ing nearly 100000, year. and the
new tariff law will raise less than one
third Of that sum. Tariff experts In Con-
cress predict that the rates will raise
t2i9, 5000 a year and that the income and
corporation taxes will raise sl22.oCo.oOo.
The rest OF the governments great In
come Is made up principally of internal
revenue taxes ana postal receipts.
Effect on Cost Of Living.
The income tax probably will bring the
new tariff law most forcibly to the at
tention of citizens. President Wilson and
Democratic leaders In Congress believe,
however. that the reduction Of duties on
clothing. foodstuNs and other necessaries
of life and the complete removal OF the
duty from many like articles will eventu-
ally bring reduction In the cost OF liv-
ing without materially affecting business
prosperity.
A brief summary OF the new tariff law.
as prepared for the Senate. follows:
Average percentage OF tariff rates. as
compared to the value of all imported
merchandise. old law 81 per cent, new
law q per cent.
Value Of annual imports added 10 the
free list. 100000.
Estimated revenue from all import
rates. old law s3O5,ooo,oco. new law sAs,-
10000.
Estimated revenue from corporation
and income taxes, old law 100000. new
law Sl22 10000.
Altogether, consumers in the United
States probably will receive from abroad
free OF all tariff more than 5000 700
worth OF merchandise during the next
year. During 1912 the amount OF free
imports" was more than $50. 10000, and
when the tariff is entirely removed from
wool. sugar. iron ore and cheap iron and
other important items the total is ex-
pected 10 increase notably. Under the old
law more than SO per cent Of all goods
brought to the United States from all
parts OF the world paid no tariff. and that
percentage will be increased by the new
law.
The free wool provision OF the new law
takes effect December /. 1918, and the free
sugar provision May /. 1916.
Most important Features.
In tho opinion Of its makers the most
important features OF tho new tariff are:
4 reduction OF nearly one-half IN the
average tariff on foodstuffs and farm
products.
The placing OF raw wool on the free
list and a reduction OF nearly two-thirds
i'm the tariff on woollen clothing, espe-
cially of the cheaper grades.
Reduction OF one-third (average) on
cotton clothing.
Reduction OF the sugar tariff and It's
ultimate adjustment in 1916.
Reduction OF one-third (average) in the
tariff on earthenware and glassware.
Adjustment OF all tariff on meats. fish,
dairy products. -four. potatoes. coal, iron
ore, lumber and many classes Of farm
and office machinery.
General tariff reduction on all important
articles in general use.
4 great amount Of work will fall on
the Treasury Department. 1t is expected.
I'm working out the details OF the new
income tax and the methods OF collect
ing the direct taxes from individual citi-
zens The tax on corporations, now fixed
at one per cent of their income. remains
the same and becomes part OF the gen.
eral income tax law.