Show BIG CuT iN DUTIES ON BOOTS AND S DEMOCRATIC PROGRAM Ways lays and Means Committee Told Its Policy Will Jill Result in Wage Reductions Jan 20 n I. An u unsuccessful un Un- W WASHINGTON v successful fight to 10 have o the and means House committee on ways I ill tariff of 10 and It 15 re Hn the tho present and per cent ad valorem on boots shoes occupied much of todaY today's ses s es- es sion slon Chairman Underwood of tho the committee flatly lath told the enta- enta tives of or the wholesale and retail shoo Industries of ot the country that the tariff tar tar- iff was now flOW prohibitive that there was no revenue and anil that retention of or the present rates was impossible Ques- Ques I of or the committee Indicated a sentiment favorable fa to a big drop Mop in those ra rates Numerous spokesmen appeared forthe for lor the various branches of or Jhc shoe business busi bust ness national associations of ot the manufacturers man man- wholesalers wholesaler and retailers and of the thc labor unions all favoring the present plesent duties Mr Underwood sai said that the Democrats Demo favorites favorites favorites favor favor- did not propose to play pIa ites as between industries in the tho work o of carrying nS' nS ou out t t the he party part p pledge for tor revision downward that while he Jie hoped there never nevel would be a Democratic Democratic Democratic Demo Demo- cratic tariff so below the reasonably competitive e basis as to close down any factory actor In the countr country ho and aud others otner o of the committee wanted to write such rates rules as would stimulate a a. reasonable competition He suggested ted that the tho final arbiter the American n people at atthe atthe the last election had rendered a aver verdict ver ver- diet dict tariff for Cor or revenue instead of ot for tOI protection and that you cannot cannot cannot can can- not expect pCt us to write a protective tarl tariff even of or onI only 2 per cent This foreshadowing of the Democratic Democratic Demo Demo- cratic policy polio o of tho the coming extra es- es slon Sion of ot Congress came came about In the i examination of J. J Franklin McI of ot Boston Botton head of or a lar large e shoe manufacturing manufacturing man man- comp company Mr lr McElwain protested that a drop of ot 2 per cent t ad valorem would mean the abolition I of oC the manufacturers manufacturers' profits and that t putting shoes on the thc free treo list gradually all ally would result in wage vage reductions 1 Are Arc rc you YOL willing as a witness under I oath Im Insisted Mr Underwood to i state tate that if Jf we put shoes shoe on the thc free tree J list list It Is ls s going to wipe out American I competition with foreign shoes Mr 1 aln hesitated he and finally j said No adding however that workmen work I men would be forced to accept less wages t j |