The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1913-10-10


tariff war reached its final stage in Con-
gress, when Chairman Underwood OF
the Ways and Means Committee laid
before the House the report OF the con-
ferees and announced that the differ
ences between the Senate and House
bills had been compromised
Ii is the second low tariff measure
that has been passed in more than 65
years.
The average sd valorem rate OF the
present bill is very much lower than
that of the Wilson-Gorman act. The
average rate OF the latter was 39.45 per
cent, while the estimated rate OF the
present bill ranges from q TO 20 per
cent. The average for the present
Payne-Aldrich law is IL per cent.
Senator Simmons sad, after a report
from the Treasury experts, that for the
first full fiscal year the measure would
yield surplus OF Sls,00o000.
Among the 675 amendments made IN
the Senate, many related merely TO ver-
biage The House yielded on 427 and
the Senate abandoned Isl. Compro-
niises were effected on 81.
The general trend OF the Senate
amendments was in the direction OF re-
duced duties. Expressed in percentage
the Senate bill when reported reduced
duties 27.64 below the existing law and
422 per cent. below the House bill as II
had come 10 the Senate.
The result of the conference report
has been a slight increase OF the ad
valorem rate OF duty carried by the bill,
but the net result is below the average
ad valorem rate of the House bill. Thus
for the first time in the history Of tariff
legislation the Senate has gone on rec
ord in favor of lower duties in tariff
bill than those adopted by the House.
The most important features OF the
new bill are those which led 10 the
greatest struggle in both the Senate and
House Democratic caucuses. They re-
lated to the free listing of wool and
Of sugar. Except for the strong in
sistence of President Wilson it is likely
that the Senate would have restored
revenue duty on both wool and sugar.
Raw wool will go on the free list De-
cember / and sugar will be free after
May /, 1916.
The existing duties on sugar under
the Payne-Aldrich law will continue un-
Ill March /, 1914, then the lower rates
carried by the new law will become ef-
fective and continue until May /, 1916,
after which date sugar will 90 on the
free list automatically. All other rates
in the bill will go into effect as soon as
il is signed.
In restoring to the free list alizarin,
lead or creosote OIL anthracine and an
thracine oil, the Senate followed the
existing law, which gives TO the manu-
facturers of certain textiles the benefits
OF free dyes used in the industry. The
House had made them dutable for
revenue purposes The Senate made
them free on the theory that the textile
products had been made to pay less duty
and that the manufacturers should have
the raw material free.
The cyanides were transferred 10 the
free list because they are used largely
in mining and are raw material for
other American industries. Both the
Senate and House agreed that tanning
materials, such as extracts, should go
upon the free list because the products
Of the tanneries, sole leather and other
feathers of the coarser kind that enter
into the manufacture of boots and
shoes, harness and saddles we're all free
listed.
The Democrats put cements and other
building material, including lumber and
shingles upon the free list. Pig iron and
ferromanganese, billets and ingots for
railway wheels, together with antimony
ore, were put on the free list
Automobiles will pay abou; 30 per
cent. which was a reduction of one
third from the House rate. Cattle,
sheep and all domestic animals suitable
for food, and wheat, -four and eggs were
put on the free list This was 10 con-
.b %
the cost of living.
The FIVE per cent rebate in tariff
made in the House bill on goods
brought in American ships was retained
in the conference with the added pro-
visions that it would not "be so con-
strued as TO abrogate or in any man
ner impair or affect the provisions Of
any treaty" the United States now has.
The administrative features as em-
bodied in the House bill emerged from
conference but little changed.
The conference adopted a substitute
for the Senate amendment 10 check
fraudulent invoices. This provides that
the arrival within the territorial limits
Of the United States of any merchan-
disc consigned for sale and remaining
the property Of the shipper, and the &C
ceptance OF fraudulent invoice by the
consignee or agent OF the consignor shall
be deemed an attempt 10 enter such
merchandise whether or not actual en-
try is made or offered.
The Senate amendment requiring
statements OF cost on merchandise con-
Htracted for as well as on that actually
purchased. was stricken out.
The conference agreed 10 the Senate