New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-05-02
Finance Committee Members
Decide to Change Rates in
the Cotton Schedule.
MANUFACTURERS PROTEST
House Jams Through Agricult-
ural Programme, Refusing
to Modify Sugar Duties
by Decisive Majority.

Senate Finance Committee have pracu-
cally decided that the cotton schedule OF
the tariff bill must be amended in sew
eIal important particulars. A flood OF
protests has poured in on legislators our
ing the last few days from manufac-
turers both North and South. who con-
tend that The bill as it now stands is
inequitable in that II cuts the protection
afforded them by the present bill. and
imposes on them an unjust burden by re-
tanning a high rate OF duty on some Of
the materials which enter into their
products.
The Finance Committee probably viii
modify the items covering yarns. ging-
hams and. indirectly, hosiery. to make
the reduction bear more equitsoly on
these branches.
republicans are disposed to LOOK on these
notifications as the opening wedge in
the revision of the House bill by the
Senate Democrats. however. assert that
the changes do not materially affect the
rates fixed by the House bill. and that
the Fundamental rates will not be tam
pered with. II is not probable that either
President Wilson or the members OF the
Ways and Means Committee will reso-
lutely stand out against any modification
Of the bill by the Senate
Change in Cotton Yarns.
Manufacturers contend that there
should be a graduated rate on cotton
yarns prcportionate TO the amount Of
labor expended on them The House bill
cuts the rate on yarns about 30 per cent.
but does not differentiate between plain
and mercerized or dyed warns. The
amount Of labor expended on mercerized
and dyed yarns is much greater than on
The coaTser plain yarns. Members Of the
Finance Committee are disposed 10 raise
the rates on the higher grades so that
the competitive basis, in which labor is
so important an element. may be main
tanned.
For largely the same reason the House
rates OF ginghams will probably be
raised The rates on cloths var from
10 TO 22ia per cent. according TO the labor
cost The rate on ginghams is about 10
per cent. The manufacturers contend
that the labor expended on ginghams is
equal 10 that required in the manufact-
ure of cloths given the highest rate. The
bill will be changed i'm accordance with
this view.
Similarly. the dyes used i'm the manu-
facture Of hosiery VIII be reduced, the
manufacturers having pointed out that
while the rate on the finished product has
been cut down there has been little
change in the rate on dyes that enter
largely into the cost OF manufacture.
There are several items OF this kind,
which will be modified, but there is no
inclination to tamper with the general
tariff principles laid down in the bill. II
was reported about the Capitol to-day
that a proposal 10 postpone the date when
the sugar schedule shall so into effect
until January is under consideration.
Bill Pushed in the House
With diminishing opposition from Re
publicans and PrOgressves, who have re-
allied the futility OF trying to amend the
Underwood bill. the House made material
progress to-day in tariff revision. despite
wearisOme debate on extraneous subjects.
and there is a fair chance OF completing
the bin by Saturday night
Democrats put through i'm rapid success
sion the remaining paragraphs Of the
steel schedule. the lumber schedule and
the sugar schedule. Debate at the night
session centred on Schedule G-agricult-
ural products. No changes in the SEIZED
uI, had been made at the hour OF tur i,..
adjournment.
oh. this is a beautiful bill" exclaimed
Serene Z. PAYNE to- night. calling atten-
lion TO the incongruity Of free flour and
dutiable wheat. Even the Democrats
laughed.
An anomalous situation was presented
when the sugar schedule was considered.
Mr.. Brousssrd. Louisiana Democrat,
was forced to obtain time from the Re
publican side to discuss the bill. He could
be allotted only FIVE minutes to debate
the chief industry Of his state. and when
he asked for additional time from Mr..
Underwood. the majority leader told his
fellow Democrat he must obtain recogni-
lion for time from the minority side.
When Mr.. Sloan. of Nebraska, intro
duced an amendment 10 increase the rate
on cattle from 10 to Is per cent, after a
- per cent amendment by Mr.. Fordney,
OF Michigan. had been rejected, MI.
Kinkead. New Jersey Democrat de
clared he believed the Ways and Means
Committee had kept the platform pledge
when IL had reduced livestock rates to 10
per cent but he felt that the committee
should have placed livestock on the free
list along with meats.
Il believe and hope" said Mr.. kinkead.
that when IL comes back TO US from the
Senate the duty will be cut off. and that
every Democrat on this floor will sup
port it
The test vote on sugar came on an
amendment offered by Mr. Mann TO strike
out the provision placing sugar on the
free list in three years. 1t was lost-ss
10 1856 Mr.. Hardwick. of Georgia. de-
tended the rates for the majority. de-