Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-03-12
The Committee of Ways anil Means.

This important, committee reported on the stb instant,
the long looked for bill, "to modify and amend" the
act of az. We have the bill before us, but we have
no. time TO furnish even accurate sketch Of It's
provisions in this mornings paper. The Globe and
the Nladsonian speak favorably of its success
The Spectator says II IS unQuestionably "a great I'M
provement the duties levied by The present Tariff
that SIN the frs, place, has gone far abolish those
two grand expedients Of fraud and oppression, by
which il is tempted to deceive the people, as 10 the
amount Of taxes levied them-ihe mnimums
and specific duties-and it eniorces almost all
articles the honest and intelligent method of le.
vyng the taxes by the al ratorem system. The
people thus made 10 understand at what rate
they taxed the imports-and this rate will not
vary with the fluctuations OF price, or the difference
in the value and qualities Of The article Ia the
second place. the reductions very great mr..
tcles. The general maximum OF taxation is thmty per
cent with prospective reduction IN g per cent al
ratoren, with the home valuation added thereto. So
lar good, both in the relief from onerous taxation
the bill proposes, and in the principles on which the
taxes are LEVIED. But the bill is nc, uniform in its
principles These its revenue features but it has
also protective features The manufacturer free list
in The act OF 1912 is left untouched to the amount Of
many millions. The specific duties Oh sugar, iron and
coal, cannot he said to be for revenue only. Tea and
cofiee-luxures. and by no means harmless luxures-
which every Tariff for revenue, matter of course
would contain, are left untayed-&c &c
After urging other objections i, adds that Gin prin.
ciple, therefore, the proposed Tariff bill is not bill
laying duties 10 provide for only. 1t does dis
criminate with view 10 protection. II does forbear
tax, and reduces from regard 10 the protective
interest" > "lf this bill, therefore, is pro-
posed final measure, surrenders The cause OF free
trade. But, If It IS proposed temporary measure,
having IN view return TO prime Piles of yis
laton, however impol'tic, it may be deltnsble The
report otlhe committee made to-day, vii! show their
design
We shall not crcise these structures, nor the bill
itself We wait for the Report of the Committee and
for the TaJes which they submitted TO the House of
Representatives on Friday. We make great allowance
for the Committeeman for the difficulties in which
they were placed-though the South will never be en-
tirely satisfied, until 1t gets back to the Compromise
point Of 1888, eco per cent home valuations and cash
paymenlsD yet we cannot expec. to return to it
We were willing, in AZ, if the public Treasury de-
manded it, to submit 10 twenty five per centum, with
gradual reductions, in three four years, TO the
compromise point. (The greater The annual receipts
in The Treasury, the the process That is, the
puactum s.anS in financial system, GO per cent
the minimum OF duties-dlscrimihating undcr that,
never above ~. 10 which must resolve 10 return as
soon possible. We stand upon the bargain and the
bond But in the time, and with this distinct un-
dersandng, will accept of an immediate and inn
portent reduction Of the duties. Whether THIS bill
grants us much ought TO accept, must depend
upon several crcumstances-and especially the true
character of It's provisions-whch we have not yet
anayzed-asssted by all the lights which the report
and tables OF the committee will contribute to supply.