The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-10-03
One of the Most Far-Reaching
ReviSiOnS of Rates
Enacted for Many Years by the
American Congress.
REDUCES THE AVERAGE RATES
To % Per Cent From 81 Under
the Old Law.
Add Imports Valued at $147,-
100000 to Free List.

| Washington, Oct. 3.-President Will
sons signing of the UnderWood-Sim-
| mons bill which is expected to take
place at o'clock tonight brings into
| effect one of the most far-reachine
| reVlsions of tariff rates and revenue
| laws enacted for many years.
| A new income tax. applying direct
| ~ to the incomes of citizens; the abol-
| ition of all tariff on scores of items of
| immense Importance to American in
| dustry and American consumers and
| a 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 customs,
appraisers of merchandise and hum
dreds of other employees of the treas
ury department will plunge at once
revenue on new basis. and with
hundreds of new classifications and
new provisions of law to complicate
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 $249,000,000 a year; and that
the income tax will raise 100000, 900.
The remainder of the governments
great income is made up principally
of internal revenue taxes and postal
receipts.
the new tariff law most forcibly to
the attention of citizens. President
Wilson and the Democratic leaders in
congress believe, however, that the
reduction 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 reduction in the cost
of living without materially affecting
business prosperity.
Summary of the Law
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 81 per cent.
Value of annual imports added to
the free list STAT. 100000.
Estimated revenues from all i'm
port rates: old law 1905, 100000; new
law 100000.
Estimated revenue from corpora
ton and incomes taxes: old law $37,-
100000; new law $122, 100000.
Altogether, consumers in the United
States probably will receive from
abroad free of all tariff more than
81, 900, 900 worth Of merchandise
during the neXts year. During 1912
the amount of free imports was
tariff is entirely removed from WOOL
sugar, iron ore and cheap iron, and
other important items, the total is eX-
pected to 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 proportion will be in
creased by the new law.
fro -iSIfa "a I1n onTE-i
law takes effect December l, 1913
the free sugar provision May l, 1916. ,
The new tariff law, passed four
years after President Taft signed the
existing Payne-Aldrich law, is the re-
suit of more than nine months of work
in Congress. Hearings were started
January s, by the house ways and
means committee. Chairman Under
Z, Immediately after President Will |
son had convened the new congress. |
1t passed the house May and the
senate September 9.
The Important Features.
In the opinion of its makers, the |
Democratic leaders of congress, the !
most important features of the new
tariff are:
A reduction of nearly one-half in
the average tax on fOodStuffS and !
farm products. |
The placing of raw wool on the
free list. and a reduction of nearly |
two-thirds in the tariff on wooden |
especially of the cheaper |
grades
A reduction of third (average) on
cotton clothing.
Reduction of the sugar tariff and it's
ultimate adjustment in 1916.
A reduction of one-third (average) in
the tariff on earthenware and glass
ware.
Adjustment of all tariff on meats,
fish. dairy products, flour. potatoes,
coal iron ore, lumber and many classes
Of farm and office machinery.
General tariff reduction on all impor-
tant articles in general use.
Throughout the long fight over the
bill, the Republican attack on the
measure has been directed against
hose rates which the Republicans de-
struction to American industries,
through the competition of foreign
The Democratic sup
oorters of the new law have insisted
hat except in those cases where pub
ic welfare demanded radical changes
he tariff has been reduced only to a
point where it Will stimulate compe-
ition," without turning American mar
1ets over to foreigners.
A great amount of work will fall
lpon the treasury department, it is ex-
)ected, in working out the details of
he new income tax and the methods
If collecting the direct taxes from indi-
iidual citizens of the United States
The tax upon corporations, now fixed
It one per cent of their income. re-
mains the same, and becomes part of |
he general income. tax law. A staff
# special deputies. collectors and
lgents will be employed to organize
md conduct the work of income tax
collection.