The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1913-10-10
TARIFF Goes
into EFFECT
Underwood Simmons Bill Is
Signed by President
ARTICLES IN GENE3AL USE

Large Number Free Listed, Causing
Loss of $57 ZOO, 900 In Customs
Revenue-WiII Be Made Up by Tax
on Incomes-summary of New Law
and Some of Its Chief Features
Surrounded by the leaders of a unit
cd Democracy. President Wilson
signed the Underwood Simmons tar
iff bill at the White House.
simultaneously kilograms were sent
to customs collectors throughout the
country by the treasury department
putting into actual operation the first
Democratic tariff revision since 1894.
A happy group of legislators, mem
bers of the cabinet and friends en-
circled the president as he affixed his
signature with two gold pens. He
presented to Representative Under
wood the pen that had written the
word Woodrow" and the one which
completed his name to Senator Sim
mons.
President Wilson's signing of the
new tariff bill brings into effect one
OF the most far-reaching revisions of
tariff rates and revenue laws enacted
for many years. A 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 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 its provisions and almost all the
direct tariff reductions do.
The federal government has been
spending nearly 81, 900, 900, 900 a 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 $249,
900, 600 a year; and that the income
tax will raise 1922 200, 0O0 The re-
mainder of the governments great
revenue is made up principally of in
ternal revenue taxes and postal re-
ceipts.
The income tax probably will bring
the new tariff law most forcibly to the
attention of citizens. President Will
son and Democratic leaders in con-
gress believe, however, that the re-
duction of duties on clothing, food |
stuffs and other necessaries of life,
and the complete removal of the duty |
from many like articles will eventually |
In
ing" without materially affecting busi- !
ness prosperity.
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, II percent.
Value of annual imports added to |
the free list S147, 900, 900.
Estimated revenue from all import |
rates-old law, 1905, 900, 900; new
law, S249, 900 200.
Estimated revenue from corpora
lions and income taxes-old law, $751;
600, 900; new law, 1922 900 900.
Altogether consumers in the United
States probably will receive from
abroad free of all tariff more than ST.,
600, 900 900 worth of merchandise dur
ing the next year. During 1912 the
amount of free imports" was more
than $3.50, 900, 600, and when the tariff
IS entirely removed from wool, sugar,
iron ore and cheap iron and other i'm
portant items the total is expected to
increase notably.
The free wool provision of the new
law takes effect Dec. l, 1913; the free
sugar provision May l, 1916.
The new tariff law, passed four
years after President Taft signed the
existing Aldrich- Payne law, is the
result of more than nine months of
work in congress. 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 tariff 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 clothing
especially of the cheaper grades.
A reduction of one-third (averagel
on cotton clothing.
Reduction of the sugar tariff and
It's ultimate adjustment in 1916.
A reduction of one-third (averagel
In the tariff on earthenware and glass
ware.
Adjustment of all tariff on meats,
tsh. dairy products, flour, potatoes,
GOAL, iron ore, lumber and many
classes of farm and Office machines.
General tariff reduction on all i'm
portant articles in general use.
| IQ130CTORFR 1914