AMERICAN TARIFF.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1719, 9 April 1913, Page 7

AMERICAN TARIFF.

; BIG REDUCTIONS. BILL NOW BEFORE CONGRESS BUSINESS INTERESTS PROTEST. By TelcKranh—Press AEs'oolation-CoryrJghl Washington, April 7. Developments in connection ivith the tariff indicate that a bitter controversy is pending. Representatives of business interests are crowding to Washington to lay their caso beforo the' Senate.. They claim th?t a 20 per cent, reduction in ' wages 'throughout- the country is • inevit--'nble if tho suggested programme is carried out. ■ • Div Wilson has decided to submit a singlo Hill containing tho whole revision scheme, and this despite strong .opposi- , tion on the pari of Democratic Senators, .wlib lire favouring schedulo by schedule 1 revision. 1 Tho Tariff Bill has ken introduced , in Congress. Haw wool, meiit's, flour, baots.'and shoes, coal, and timber are to bo free; on combed wool and tops a duly of 15 per cent.; oil sugar 25 per cent ~ and free after three yenrs; on Wuit 15 per - cent,; on live stock 10 per cent, Tho reductions will- generally relievo the cost of living. Jho raw flax and hemp duties will be reduced by 50 per cent, ' ' '>UIi;;#>SENT. DUTIES. Under the present tariff boots and ' shoes bear a duty of 15 per cent. ad J alorein. Anthracite epal is free, and lilf, um m" ou , s co . al , is cliarged 45 ceifts' a w 1 1111 1 l ' '? chr >rKod i cent per cubic toot, lumber, boards, planks, not nlancd, »0 cents per 1000 feet; lumber, finished on four sides, 2 dollars 75 cents per 1000 lcct; staves, 10 jicr cent, ad valorem ( shingles, 50 cents per 10011 feet; wood, manufactures of, 35 per cent, ad valorem! J.lie present duties.oil wool vary from cents ;per lb., and average ,n littlo more than 44 per cent, ad valorem. On partly-manufactured wool and on products manufactured in whole or in part from wool tho present duty averages more than 80 per cent, ad valorem. On cheap atyl inedilim : grade .woollen,• cloths' the existing rates Are frequently as high as 150 per cent, hd valorem, and on souio cheap goods they are 200 per cent. The findings of tho United States Tariff Board in 1011 showed that the cost of production of all kinds of wool in tho United States was higher than the . cost in tho chief competing '-country.. The cost of turning wool into yarn in the States was alKmt double that in the leading compel. . ing country, imd the cost of turning yarn into cloth 'somewhat moro than double. ' The, American manufacturer, it was pointeil but, had no advantage in'tlie fbnii of superior machinery; '.or.' more efficient labour to offset tho higher wages paid. President Taft, in v eomineuting.on th« report of tho Tariff Board on the wool schedule, said:' "Although these duties do not increafr, prices of domestic goods by nnytliing like their full, amount, it, is none the less true ; that such protective duties eliminate the. possibility 0 f foreign competition, even'in tin\of scarcity; .that' ,lhey form a temptation': 9 monopoly and conspiracies ,to' control ' * Jcesi that they vaMvmucli iii excess of'tie difference in the cost of production' hero and abroad, ftiid that they .should.be reduced: to A . point, which accords with this principle." The'present sugaT duties range from 1 ~' ceilt to 4 cents,per lb.,' Tho;fi-uit duties' . vary: apples and peaches pay 25 cents a bushel; preserved fruits, 1. cent per lb.; oranges and grape-fruit, 1 cent per lb. 1 pineapples in bulk, 8 dollars per 1000; etc". Cattle,', valued at over 14 dollars, per. head, pay. 27J per cent, ad valorem. Horses- and mules, valued at' 150 dollars or: less, pay 30 dollars per head; over 150 dollars, 25. per cent, ad valorem. Flax yarns, line, are charged 35 per cent, ad valorem at present; and flax, straw, 5 dollars a ton.