The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-08-19
TARIFF BILL
WOULD RAISE
LIVING COSTS
Greatly Increased Duties on
Necessities Expected to
Increase Prices.

BIZ ScriDps-HoirorJ Newspaper alliance
WASHINGTON, Aug. 19.-The
tariff bill came from the senate
finance committee majority today
much as that body received it
carrying the highest general level of
taxes in history with hundreds of
upward changes which will increase
the cost Of living in the American
home.
Downward revision of house rates
affecting half a dozen important
commodities was balanced by scores
Of changes Upward in other sched-
ules. and in general those rates
which we're lowered are still far
above the present duties.
Economists who figured the house
bill would increase the cost of living
from 5000 100000 to s70O,000,000 say
the senate bill as it now stands
would nearly equal that figure.
Finance committee Republicans
still have to consider the administra-
tive features of the house bill, char
acterized by opponents as giving the
President and the tariff commission
almost czaristic powers, but their
work on rates is finished. Demo-
cratic members we're given copies of
the completed schedules today.
Bill May Raise Storm
The whole bill is expected to be
reported to the senate about Sept. i,
there undoubtedly to be rewritten
in many important particulars, and
with some observers predicting it
will raise such a storm it Will not
pass in the special session.
City consumers are especially hard
hit by the bill The finance COM
t11ittee met the charges made by
agricultural interests that the bill
Disseminated against them by a
general increase of agricultural du-
ties, already raised from so to sew
eraI hundred per cent by the house.
Among the more important de-
creases of the house rates made by
the senate committee were those on
sugar, virgin wool, watches and
clocks, diamonds and pearls, and
autos. Duties were removed en-
tireIy on shingles, logs and maple
and birch lumber, manganese ore
and several minor products. Pleas
for a tariff on crude oil and on Jute
were disregarded, and that on black
strap molasseS was left as it is.
Wool Duty TripIed
Against these decreases. the SEN
ate committee retained the house
duties on bricks and cement, taxed
for the first time, retained a. 10
per cent tax on hides and compen-
satory 20 per cent duties on shoes,
and increased the house taxes on
feathers. The duty was tripled on
cheap woods, used to make low
priced clothing-a change expected
to be reflected in increased prices
The houses big increases on glass
were generally left untouched, as
were the rayon, cotton and sundries
schedules. chemicals and tobacco
Many upward revisions appear in
the metals schedule. Rayon rates
were generally unchanged.
The senate committee increased
agricultural rates with a sweeping
hand, particularly on milk and
cream, maple sugar. dates, lemons,
cherries and other fruits. The pro-
hibitive taxes on potatoes and wheat
were left unchanged, as were the
house rates on fax and hemp, cat
tie, and other items.
The sugar, brick, cement, hides
and shoes and waste wool schedules
are expected to bring bitter senate
debate. The senate committees SUI
gar increase amounts to about one
half cent a pound, as against two
thirds of cent in the house bill.
The auto tax was cut from 25 to
10 per cent for autos and trucks
selling for less than $1,000, but the
uslesSness of the tariff on autos was
admitted even by the industry.