Litchfield enquirer., 1833-03-21
THE TARIFF.

frOtocoIs among the great powers.
THE TARIFF.
The Tariff bill which we published last
week, having passed both Houses of Con
gress and received the signature of the Pres
ident, has now become the law of the land.
AS it is destined ultimately, if it continues in
force during the period contemplated in the
bill itself, to effect great reduction Of the
protection at present enjoyed by the manu-
facturers, it may be gratifying to trace its Ope-
ration on some Of the most important pro-
ducts OF American industry.
The bill provides "that until the S0th day
of June 1S4s the duties imposed by existing
laws. as modified by this act, shall remain. and
continue to be collected" To ascertain the
rate Of duties, land consequently of protec-
tion) which will be in force down to June
l842, it is necessary to consider in the first
place what are the e duties imposed by exis-
ting laws" These may be ascertained by re-
ference to the act of July, 1889. We have
before US, in a report of the Committee of
Ways and Means of the House of Represen-
tatives, at the session Just closed, a tabular
statement of the duties imposed on imports
by the act of 1882. For the purpose of
applying the principles Of the new bill. the
duties imposed by that act may be considered
under three heads.
1. When the duties exceed 90 per cent
This class embraces Wool costing more than
8 cents per lib. duty, supposed equal to 81 per
cent. Woollens costing over S. cents the
square yard, duty SO per cent. Hosiery,
Gloves, Mits, Bindings, Blankets, costing over
IS cents each, and al; Carpetings except Brus-
sells. Venetian and Ingram, duty 25 per cent.
Cottons white or brown, 25 per cent. on a
minimum of 80 cents the square yard, ave-
rage duty equal to 40 1-2 per cent. Cot
tons, dyed, colored, &c. 25 per cent on
minimum Of SIS cents per square yard, ave-
rage duty 40 l-2 per cent. Do. all costing
over the above minimum prices 95 per cent.
Sewing Silk, Paper Hangings, 40 per cent
Manufactures of Wood, Leather, Marble,
Saddiery, Bride Bits, Hats, Cutting and
Drawing Knives, Steelyards, Wood Screws,
80 per cent. Manufactures Of tin, japanery,
gilt, plated, brass, copper, pewter, Side and
Fire Arms, States, Pencils, Brushes, rs per
cent. A great number of articles are charge
able 10y the act of 1887 with specific duties,
exceeding 20 per cent on the cost amongst
these, are Muskets and Rifles, Glass, Sail
Duck. Cotton Bagging, Oil Cloths. Iron Wire,
Tacks, Brads. Nails. Spikes, &c. sc. Iron,
Spirits. Sugar, Molasses, Wines. Oils, Hemp,
Beef, Pork, Cheese, Lard, Alum, Copperas,
Salt, Coal, Paper, Books, Shoes, Boots, SC.
&c. On all the foregoing, and all Others
chargeable with n duty amounting to over 90
per cent. on the cost, the reduction comment
ces on the FIRST day of January 1884, and will
be completed, in June 1842.
On all articl les where by existing laws the
outy IS SO much per cent. on the cost, the APP.
plication Of the new bill will be easy. Wool
lens, ny existing laws are to pay so per cent
cloth costing three dollars yard would at
that rate pay 81 so per yard; but on the LIST
OF January next, 10 per cent. of the excess
above 20 per cent. is to be removed. This
leaves AZ per cent. and cloth costing three
dollars, will pay 81 II. After 1885 cloth
OF like cost pays 81 80. After 1887 it pays
81 9S-and after 1889, II duty per yard
Alter l84l, 81 cents are removed, and in June
lS42, 81 cents more, leaving the duty, thence
forward, go cents the yard, which is 90 per
cent 10 the case supposed, of a cloth costing
three dollars.
Next, how will Mr.. Clay's hill affect the du
ties on articles having minimum cost estab-
ilshed! Take the case of Cottons costing
10 cents the square yard. The minimum is
thirty cents, and the rate of duty 25 per cent.
The amount of duty by existing laws, would
therefore be l.2 cents yard, equal to IS
~ SS"s' ou SOtNouS COSllUS ten cents the
square yard. Here the excess is SIS per cent.
One tenth of this or l-2 per cent. must be
removed, after 18SS-and similar reduction
must take place after l8S5-l8S7 and 1889.
The remaining excess, viz. So per cent. is to
be removed one half at the end Of 184l. the
other half in June l842, and thenceforward
the duty is to be 90 per cent. on the cost,
equal I" cents yard on Cottons costing
10 cents.
Again, in the case Of specific duties, as Of
raper' which is charged by the pound, and
| as as .ne report states, equal To an average duty
" loo per cent. The excess, above 30 per
cens. W. SO per cent. 10 to be reduced by 10
per cent every two years, like the rest. until
lhs close OF ls4l, when one half Of the re-
manning excess is removed, aud the residue
In June l842, and thenceforward. the duty to
be go per cent. ad valorem.
6. Mr.. Clay's bill contains a list Of free ar
ticles, but imposes no duty whatever, upon ar.
ticles made free by existing laws. Tea and
Coffee win therefore be admitted free, by
virtue Of the act Of 1882, though not named in
the new bill.