I.T- -
ItfAY 28, 190r
The Commoner.
The Tariff in the Senate
In spito of all tlio protests Mr. Aldrich seems
Mjo havo It his own way In the senate. Ho has
jregularly put through his amendments by safo
jnajorities. Washington dispatches say that a
combination has been formed between democrats
find republicans to adopt the income tax. A
jdispatch to the New York World says:
"Those who believe in an Income tax as vt
revenue producer declare that victory awaits
n final test of strength. They declare that
thirty-one democrats will unanimously vote for
the Bcheme. Senator Davis will not return for
this session, and thirty-one represents the mi
nority. Eleven republicans are pledged to vote
for an Income tax. These are Senators Borah,
Brown, Bristow, Bourne, Burkett, Crawford,
Cummins, Dixon, Dolliver, Gamble and LaFol
lette. Eight other republicans lean toward an
Income tax and will be subjects for missionary
.work. They are Senators Clapp, Curtis, Gug
genheim, Johnson, Jones of Washington, Ma
Comber, Nelson and Piles. The combination
ivas arranged at a conference held by Senators
JCummins, Borah and Bailey, who will frame
the amendments as a stubstitute for all other
propositions of a similar character. The Bailey
amendment will be taken as the basis for build
ing up the income tax feature. The chief points
In it are:
" 'For raising about $35,000,000 annual rev
enue from the income tax; for the imposition of
the uniform tax of two per cent on the excess
above $5,000 in all incomes; for the imposition
of this tax on individuals and corporations alike,
the burden to fall upon net incomes only, and
only on the excess above $5,000 per annum;
for the collection of the tax from corporations
direct, with provision for remitting to stock
holders, in their individual capacity, such share
of their income tax as comes from corporations
that have already paid the tax.'
"In doing this Senator Cummins abandons his"
graduated tax plan, and further agrees to the
Imposition of a tax on corporations, which ho
has opposed. The democrats insist that the rate
should be three per cent, and a change to that
effect may be made when the amendment is
drawn. Senator Aldrich and his associates have
prepared to meet the attack of the income
taxers. They have carefully counted noses,
and do not concede the progressive re
publicans more than twelve votes. This with
thirty-one democrats would be three short of a
sufficient number to win. Senator Aldrich has
mapped out his program. He will defer action
on the income tax amendment until the last
possible moment. He will then move that it
be referred to the judiciary committee, with in
structions to investigate all the legal questions
Involved and report whether such a tax would
be constitutional in view of the supreme court's
decision in the Pollock case. The test vote will
then come on his motion to refer to the judiciary
committee. Stalwart leaders are absolutely cer
tain they will have enough votes to make this
reference, thus disposing of the question for the
present session. The coalition of republicans
and democrats has not improved the chances of
Income tax legislation as a part of the pending
tariff bill. The entire democratic strength has
always been conceded for such a proposition.
The progressives fluctuate. They count at vary
ing times all the way from twelve to 21 votes,
but fifteen must be actually produced when the
test comes."
As a sample of the ease with which Mr. Aid
rich has his way the following from a dispatch
carried by the Associated Press, May 19, is in
structive: "An amendment by Mr. Newlands to reduce
the duty on sewing machines from 30 to 20
per cent ad valorem .was rejected by a vote of
29 to 43, Senators Beveridge, Bristow, Brown,
Clapp, Cummins, Dolliver and LaFollette join
ing the democrats in voting for reduction. Mr.
Dolliver offered an amendment to make the duty .
of 45 per cent ad valorem apply to articles or
wares not specially provided for whose 'chief
value was metal Instead of those composed 'In
part' of metal and declared that the committee
provision placed under his schedule many art
icles containing but a trifling quantity of metal.
Mr. Ardrich said the provision was one that
had been in all tariff laws since 1883, and lie
defended it as being necessary to prevent eva
sions of the law. The amendment was rejected
by a vote of 30 to 4,0. The paragraphs relating
to typewriters, sewing machines, etc, was adopt-
ed as were all sections of tho metal schedule.
Just beforo the senate adjourned Mr. Aldrich
announced that tho sections passed over in tho
chemical schedule would bo taken up tomorrow.
"Senator Paynter of Kentucky endeavored to
obtain a reduction of duty on bottle caps from
55 to 45 per cent ad varolem, but tho paragraph
was adopted as reported by the finance com
mittee. Lace-making machines will bo taxed
at the rate of 45 per cent ad valorem when im
ported into this country although they have
been admitted free of duty in tho past, as the
senate adopted tho provision to that effect
recommended by tho committee. Mr. Paynter
supported an amendment facing linotype type
setting machines on tho free list instead of con
tinuing a duty on them of 30 per cent ad
valorem. Changing his amendment later so as
to provide a duty of 10 per cent, Mr. Paynter
asked for a vote, and the amendment was de
feated, 35 to 43. Messrs. Borah, Bristow,
Brown, Burkett, Clapp, Dolliver, LaFolletto and
Nelson (republicans) voted with the democrats.
Mr. Paynter sought to reduce the duty on lino
type and other typo sotting machines from 30
per cent ad valorem as provided In tho tariff
bill to 10 per cent ad valorem, but his amend
ment was rejected i "
The Associated Press of May 20, says:
"The senate today distributed its attention
among the three items in the tariff bill provid
ing a duty on an extract of chestnut bark used
in tanning known as quebracho, on cottonseed
oil, and on white lead. On each of these art
icles tho senate was led by tho committee on
finance, although the committee was induced
to change its original suggestions on both white
lead and cottonseed oil. The lead duty fixed
by the committee was originally 2 cents per
pound, but Mr. Curtis, who is a member of tho
committee, today suggested a reduction of one
eighth cent a pound, bringing the figures down
to 2 cents, and Chairman Aldrich accepted
the reduction. Even this Increase over the
house provision excited sharp criticism, espe
cially from Mr. Curtis' colleague, Mr. Bristow,
who contended that tho duty would prove to be
a direct tax on the consumer. When the vote
was taken the committee obtained its usual tri
umph, the figures standing 41 to 32 In favor
of tho Curtis amendment. As usual Senators
Beveridge, Bristow, Brown, Burkett, Clapp,
Cummins, Dolliver, Gamble, LaFollette and Nel
son voted with the democrats. Senator Borah
voted with tho republicans.
"Probably the most interesting contest of tho
day was that over the question as to whether
there should be any duty on cotton seed oil.
Senators Tillman, Bacon and Money made an
intense fight against the senate provision fixing
a tariff of three cents a gallon on the ground
that it would injure the sale of .cottonseed and
after the controversy had gone on for some
time Mr. Aldrich withdrew the provision.
"Mr. LaFollette sought to" reduce the duty on
quebracho to one-quarter cf one cent a pound,
but his amendment to that effect was rejected,
29 to 38. Mr. Daniel led the fight for a higher
rate, exciting much interest because of his ad
vocacy of low duties in the past. The commit
tee had reduced tho house rate and the Virginia
senator, In whose state are several quebracho
factories, sought to have that figure restored.
Ho did not succeed, and the duty was fixed at
half a cent per pound instead of seven-elghthB
of a cent as he proposed."
The tariff debate stirred the Ire of many sen
ators. Hale of Maine charged Beveridge of
Indiana with seeking newspaper notoriety.
Beveridge hotly denied it. Mr. Culberson of
Texas said:
"While there may be found a democrat who
is a protectionist or another who is a free trader,
yet the democratic party believes- in neither
protection nor free trade. It stands for a rev
enue tariff; that -is, for a tariff that will admit
imports yielding revenue primarily as opposed
to protective duties whether levied on finished
products or on raw materials."
The protective tariff, he said, had undoubted
ly contributed to the formation of trusts and
had created a favored class which it had as
sisted in building up colossal fortunes.
On all propositions Mr. Aldrich of Rhode
Island continued to have'his way, showing that
Aldrich is complete master of the senate and
Aldrich ism the essential quality of tho repub
lican party.
BAILEY AND JOIINSON
Senator Bailey of Toxa3, and Governor Jbhn
Bon of Minnesota, havo clashed. A Washington
dispatch under dato of May 20 to tho Denver
News says:
"Senator Bailoy was excessively savago in hfa
reforenco to tho governor of Minnesota, and
among other things declared him unfit to hold
any ofllco.
"Senator Clay's attack on the sugar trust was
tho most sweeping condemnation of that corpor
ation ever uttered in tho senate Aftor stating
that it had violated tho criminal and civil laws
of tho country repeatedly and had robbed tho
Amorican people without mercy, ho declared
that tho, sugar magnates 'ought to bo at tho bar
of tho criminal courts on trial for tho most
serious criminal offenses, and instead of enjoy
ing their ill-gotten wealth they desorvo to bo
Berving long terms In federal prisons.'
"Senator Smoot also took part In tho carnival
of denunciation and pronounced 'absolutely un
true' 'Clay's statement that Joseph F. Smith,
head of tho Mcrmon church, every year fixed
tho price of beets In tho interest of tho Utah
sugar factories.
"The senate droppod into a party discussion "
late today and democrats and republicans taunt- '
od each other with tho dissensions each party
has suffered during tho consideration of tho
tariff. Tho debate was precipitated by Bailoy,
who charged tho republicans with entering into
a conspiracy by exaggerating democratic dissen
sions in order to hide their own difficulties. lie
said ho had by careful observation recently be
come convinced 'that a deliberate and systematic
plan had boon inaugurated to obscure tho differ
ences on tho republican sldo by exaggerating
and even misrepresenting the differences on this ,
side.' Bailey referred to an interview with Gov
ernor Johnson of Minnesota, criticising tho mi
nority, in Its attltudo toward tho bill.
" 'If this represents tho views of Mr. John
son,' Bailey said, 'then ho might bo better at
homo studying tho tariff question than seeking
democratic favor In other states. If this inter
view was authorized or sanctioned by Governor"
Johnson he was utterly reckless of tho truth
and is disqualified for any station. Ills explan
ation is that the railroads of the south havo
Interested themselves In this legislation and
havo overcome the consciences of some sonators.
He ought if ho knows that, In the cause of truth,
to name the men to whom ho refers.'
"Senator Clay of Georgia mado a wnrm ap
peal for a smaller differential on refined sugar In
tho interest of 'consumers. Clay argued that
the consumer was discriminated against In favor
of tho American Sugar Refining company, and
that the sugar grower got no benefit from tho
different ial botween the duties on raw and re
fined sugar. Ho criticised most severely tho -manner
in which the sugar schedule of tho
Payne bill was framed. Clay declared that the
duty on refined sugar almost prohibited tho im
portation of foreign sugar into this country. Ho
said that the beet grower and tho cane grower
of sugar both are compelled to sell to the sugar
trust at the price which it fixes."
An Associated Press dispatch from St. Paul,
Minn., follows: Governor Johnson, when asked
regarding the statement mado yesterday by Sen
ator Bailey of Texas, criticising tho governor
for making alleged untruthful statements in re-
gard to tho minority In tho senate and its atti
tude toward the tariff bill, said:
"So far as Mr. Bailey is concerned I do not
care to make any denial of the charges he
makes, but I do care to have other senators in
life south know I did not make 'the statements
that tho railways of the south Influenced any
of the southern senators. Nor did I make any
statements reflecting on any senator from tho
south or any other section. I did say tho repub
lican party would be held responsible for tho
result of the extra session and could not screen
itself with the co-operation of a few democrats
acting with tho conservative republican element
of the senate."
'Tariff revision downward is coming with what
billiardists call the "reverse English."
If there are those who are expecting down
ward revision at the hands of the present con- .
gress they would do well to be sending In their
"C. Q. D." messages.
A car load of live lobsters has been shipped
from tho Atlantic to the Pacific coast. The
shipment did not include any of the species v
that hold to the opinion that the protective';
tariff which makes raw wool higher is the same
tariff that makes manufactured woolens cheaper
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