The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1915-10-28
MUST RAISE REVENUE
TARIFF LAW A FAILURE
PRESIDENT FAVoRs DUTY ON
SUGAR AND WooL-RED-
FIELD NOT IN ACCORD.

lnQRfWOOu ldfiII law as a revenue
producer, and little by little the adj
ministration, in the quest for more
revenue, is favoring changes in that
law which will make it more of pro-
tective law than was originally in
tended How far the president ultl-
mately will go in recommending tar
if changes no one knows and he him
self probably will not determine until
shortly before congress convenes, for
not until then will the administration
shape up its revenue policy.
When the Underwood law was be-
fore congress President Wilson laid
that sugar go on the free list, and
that all duty be removed from wool
And it was solely because of this de-
mand that sugar and wool were placed
on the free list Even Representative
Underwood, chairman of the ways and
means committee. advised against this
step, contending that sugar and wool
should bear their share of the cost Of
government. But Mr.. Underwood
along with others, surrendered.
Believes He Erred.
The president now seems to have
reached the conclusion that he erred
when he demanded the free listing Of
sugar and wool, for he has formally
declared in favor of repeal of the free
sugar clause, and to recent White
House callers has indicated his belief
that it may be advisable to place a
duty on wool. Apparently the wool
duty has not been finally determined
upon, but the president is fully cogni
zant of the need for more revenue and
is carefully surveying the field to find
means of raising it without commit
ting any grievous political blunder
Duty on Lumber.
Should the administration conclude
to recommend duty on wool, sena-
tors from big lumber producing states
will have an exceptionally favorable
opening for demanding duty on lum-
ber Wool prices in the United States
are abnormally high, Notwithstanding
wool is on the free list, the European
demand for our wool accounting for
current prices. On the other hand the
price of lumber is abnormally low;
closed down; others are running on
half time and on the Pacific coast es-
pecially lumber is being sold at less
than the cost of production
If the president is willing to place a
duty on wool solely for the purpose Of
raising revenue and at time when
wool does not demand protection, he
will have difficulty in opposing duty
on lumber, when lumber can produce
much revenue and when a duty on
lumber can materially aid in restoring
normal conditions in the lumber bust
ness. But before the president advo-
Gates lumber duty senators from
the lumber manufacturing states will
have to make a demand for such a
duty; will have to present their case,
and insist upon action.
Pressure on Administration.
Tremendous pressure was brought
to bear on the administration to ac-
complish the repeal of the free sugar
clause of the Underwood act; there
was less demand for duty on wool
although that duty was urged by q
few democrats who have Influential
woolmen in their constituencies. Thus
far there has been little direct press
ure on the president to assent to
duty on lumber, although the trade
commission has made an exhaustive
study of the lumber industry, and
doubtless would not oppose lumber
duty if the administration should sug-
gest such thing. Indeed, 1t is quite
possible that a majority of the COM
mission would recommend duty on
lumber if given the opportunity tc
make a recommendation.
The trade commission is subordin-
ate to the secretary of commerce Sec
rotary Redfeld is opposed to any
change in the Underwood tariff oil
was opposed to it up to the time the
president advocated retention OF
duty on sugar About that, however
the secretary of commerce was mol
consulted and he naturally must ac'
cept the expressed view of the presi-
dent. Because of the investigation
made by the trade commission, Sec
retary Redfeld may be consulted i
the president considers the advisable
ity of placing a duty on lumber pu
the president has already announced
that the trade commission is, for al
practical purposes, tariff COMMISSION
and having taken that stand the pres
ident must consider the commission
report and recommendations, regard
less of the views of Secretary Red'
field NAV hold in conflict with TN
views of the commission.
II was only few days after secre
tary Redfeld declared his oppositioi
to any modification in the tariff ina
the president declared in favor OF TN
repeaI of the free sugar clause AM
took under consideration the piach'
Of a duty on wool. This marked OH
ference has given rise to the report Q
friction between the president and IN