The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1913-10-10
new TARIFF
BECOMES Law
Signed By President Wilson
Saturday.
Clothing is Reduced One Third,
While Foodstuffs Reduced
One Half.

Washington, Dot. A3.-With Presi-
dent Wilson's signing Of the Under
wood Simmons bill at 9 o'clock TO-
night brings into effect one Of the
most far-reaching revisions of tar
if rates and revenue laws enacted
for many years.
Proposed cotton futures tax pro-
vision was omitted from the bill by
majority leader Underwood's moving
to recede from the compromise of the
Smith Lever amendment in order to
save a parliamentary tangle.
A new income tax, applying direct
ly to the incomes Of citizens; the
abe lltion Of all tariff on scores OF
items of immense importance to
American industry and American
consumers and a heavy reduction OF
tariff rates on most of the articles
in general use in this country are it's
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 hun
dreds OF other employees of the treas
ury department Will plunge at once
into the task of collecting the ma
tons revenue on q new basis, and
with hundreds of now classifications
and new provisions Of law to CON-
plicate their activities.
The federal government has beer
spending nearly a billion dollars q
year and the new tariff law will
raise less than One-third of that sum
Recent estimates by tariff experts in
congress predict that the rates will
raise $24.OO0.000 year: and that the
income tax will raise $l22, 100000. The
remainder of the governments grea'
income is made up principally of in
ternal revenue taxes and postal re
ceipts.
The income tax probably will brini
the new tariff law most forcibdy II
the attention of citizens. Presiden
Wilson and Democratic leaders IL
congress believe, however. that tn
reduction Of duties ON clothing. food
stuffs and other necessarics of lif
and the complete removal of the dut,
from many like articles. will event
ually bring a reduction in the "cos
of living" without materially effect
ing bushes prosperity.
A brief summary of the new tariff
law as prepared for the senate foe
lowing:
! Average percentage of tariff rate
as compared to the value Of all i'm
ported merchandise: Old law, 3
per cent; new law, q per cent.
Value of annual imports added Z
the free Gist 81 .4S7. 00O, 900.
Estimated revenue from all impor
rates: Old law. $3.50. OOO. 900; new Law
4S, 900 900.
Estimated revenue from corpora
ton and income taxes: Old law, $37
OOO,O 900; new law. slOO. 000.O 900.
Altogether. consumers in the Unit
ed States probably will receive fror
abroad free of all tariff. more tina
81. OOO. OO0. 900 worth of merchandis
during the next year.
During 1912 the amount of "fre
imports" was more than $8s0.OOO
900, and when the tariff Is entirel
removed from wool. sugar, iron or
and cheap iron. and other import
ant items, the total is epected t
increase notably. Under the old La
more than SO per cent OF all good
brought to the United States from a
parts of the world paid no tariff an
that proportion will be increased b
the new law.
The free wool provision Of the ne'
law takes effect December l. 1913
the free sugar provision May 1. 1916.
The new tariff law. passed fou
years after President Taft signed tn
existing Aidrich-Payne daw. is tn
result Of more than nine months Q
work in congress. Hearings wer
started January 8. by the house way
and means committee. Chairma
Underwood introduced the tariff bi
April Z. immediately after Presider
Wilson had convened the new cor
gress. 1t passed the house May
and the senate September 3.
In the opinion of its makers. th