The Detroit times., 1913-04-07
TARIFF BILL REDUCES
\NA HIGH LIVING COST


etc, either abolishes the duty or re
duces them TO an absolute minimum
Necessities Before luxuries.
I'VE have kept In mind the distinc
tion between the necessities and the
Injuries OF life declares the com
mittee In its statement. reducing the
tariff burdens OF the necessities "a
the lowest possible points common
surate with revenue requirements. and
making the Injuries OF life bear their
proper proportion OF the tariff respon
abilities"
Chief interest In the bill, of course
conferred In Schedule X. Raw wool
free In the bill. Ia followed by re-
duction in yarns, from 1884 per cent
10 20 per cent; blankets, from 1853
to 20 per cent; flannels. from 96.29 TO
% and IS per cent: dress goods, from
1910 to % per cent: clothing, from
1856 to 80 per cent: weddings, etc,
from 1910 to 80 per cent. and carpets
from rates ranging from 60 per cent
to rates ranging from 20 to 35 per
cent.
The committee. In order 10 simplify
the bill. practically abolished the
specific and compound rates OF the
Payne-Aldrich law and substituted the
nd valorem rate plan, doing away with
the present classification which de-
ponds upon various conditions. such
as count OF threads. weight. value, etc.
And to make up the deficit that will
result In the national revenues. the
committee included in the bill the
long promised income tax measure
which levies taxes OF one per cent an.
nually on all incomes In excess OF
$4,000 and a surtax Of one per cent
extra upon the excess Of incomes over
$4,000, and not exceeding $50, 900; two
per cent extra upon the excess OF in
comes over $4,000 and not over $780,.
900; and three per cent upon the ex-
cess Of incomes over 100000. This
provision. the committee estimates.
will increase the revenues not less
than $l25,000,O00 annually, and the
amount may reach $175.00O,0O0.
The chemical schedule shows heavy
reductions Boracic acid Is cut from
1870 to 21.43 per cent; glue from 65.06
TO 1929 per cent red lead from 60.35
to rs per cent: medicinal preparations
are cut from % to 10 per cent.
Cut Brick Rates.
Rates on all brick have been cut
from 1928 per cent to 1928 per cent;
tile from 47S4 per cent to 1886 per
cent; asphalt from 37.05 to 1852 per
cent: ordinary earthenware from 2467
per cent to Is per cent; window glass
from 46.3S to 2S.3f, while plate glass
which the committee classed as a
luxury. Is rated at duty Of 40 per
cent
In the metal schedule the COMMITTEES
made drastic slashes. cutting pig iron
and slabs from 1919 per cent to 8 per
cent: beams from 1920 to IL per cent
and forgings from 80 to Is per cent.
Steel rails go on the free list absO-
lutely.
In the lumber schedule. sawed
boards, other than cabinet wood. are
listed free: sawed cabinet woods are
reduced from 1918 to 10 per cent:
barrels from 30 to 14.77 per cent, and
house furniture from 35 to Is per cent.
In explanation Of the action on
sugar the committee says:
THE action shows an application
OF the commercial conditions involved,
and the committees desire TO respond
10 the public demand for free sugar
The plan as provided in the bill is to
reduce the present sugar rates by 25
per cent, with the further provision
that three years from the enactment
OF the bill sugar goes on the free list"
The socalled Dutch standard Is
eliminated from the sugar schedule.
The present duty of .95 of one cent
per pound on sugar. testing by the
polarizope not above 70 degrees. is re-
duced to II OF one cent per pound.
For each additional degree by the
polarizcope test the rate is reduced
from 35 to &c one-thausandths of one
cent per pound additional; 40 degrees
molasses Is reduced from 20 to Is per
cent. The same percentage OF de-
crease Is shown on all kinds of mo-
lasses.
No change Is made in the tobacco
and spirits tax. but there is sweep
ing revision OF the rates ON agricul-
tural products. The duty on horses
is reduced from % to 10 per cent;
sheep, from 16.41 to 10 per cent cat
tie, from 25.07 to 10 per cent: barley,
from 1906 TO 23.07 per cent; maca-
roni. from 34.25 to 23Sl per cent; hay,
from 1921 TO 1851 per cent; fruits,
from 27.21 to 1888 per cent: lemons.
from 6S.S5 to 2403 per cent; live
poultry. from 1910 to 667 per cent,
and vinegar from 1903 TO 1879 per
cent Other changes are in proper
ton and the general effect has been
10 reduce the heavy taxes on import
cd foodstnffs.
Many Articles Reduced.
IT is impossible to estimate exactly
what the cut on cotton really amounts
to because Of the classifications, but
cotton thread drops from 1854 to
1929 per cent: spool thread from
22.95 to Is per cent; cotton cloth, from
42.74 to 1868 per cent water proof
cloth, from 50.56 to % per cent;
readymade cotton clothing, from 50
to 80 per cent; collars and cuffs. from
64.03 to 20 per cent: handkerchief,
from 1927 to 80 per cent: stockings,
from 1888 to so per cent; gloves, from
salt to 35 per cent: underwear, from
6O.27 to % per cent: cotton damask
from 40 to rs per cent. Linen rates
are also slashed. raw fax and hemp
being reduced from $22.40 per ton TO
S11.20; jute yarns from $3.50 to Is
per cent: oil cloths for fioors from
A4.2 9to s. per cent, and hankerchiefs
from 80 to 35 per cents
In silk and silk goods the commit
tee transfers the duty from the spe-
cific to the ad valorem basis by de-
ciaring that silks are luxurious, the
rate cut has been small, averaging
4