The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-02-19
THE TARIFF BILL.


Several efforts have been made in the House OF
Representatives to obtain and print a copy OF the
revenue bill, which has been prepared for the Com
mlttee OF Ways and Means The chairman, Gen.
Mckay has opposed the notion and it has been
voted down. This seems the proper decision,
when we recollect the position OF the whole
question The bill, IL we may even Judge
from the analysis Of it which has been printed
in many Of the papers, is, in many respects
framed with great discretion and skill. The Score.
tary did well in calling in the assistance Of gentle
men who were experienced in the customs. The
result is BILL which, on account of its simplicity
alone, is far better than the act Of 1912. The aver
age of duties estimated to exceed 20 per cent
lower rate would scarcely yield revenue sufficient
to pay the expenses Of the government economical
ly administered. But the bill, il now stands be-
fore the committee, is mere projei. IL Is far from
having received the last touch Of the committee IT,
self I, is subject to modification in their hands. 1t
is destined perhaps, to receive several changes be-
| fore it Is reported TO the House We wish that
those notifications may lie calculated to improve
the bill. The committee must use great eireumspec-
ton and frmness To prevent any change for tho
worse, though we by no means expect such bill
is perfect as il came from the bureau of the Secre-
tary.
A correspondent, whose attention was called to the
subject, says oft
al see no good reason for exempting tea and cof-
fee from taxation. And the rates OF duty on some
articles too high. Manufactures Of gold and sill
yer will never yield duty Of 30 Fer cent They will
be smuggled.
''rhe refusal to allow drawbacks on refined sugar
spirits distilled from foreign moasses, and salt used
IN packing fish, will put end TO a great many
frauds.
ain the last pages Of Doc. 49, House Of Repre-
sentatiyes 2oth Congress, I'd session, you will find
a statement Of the imports into New York in one
year, and showing the rate per cent. ad yalorem,
paid articles bearing specific duties. IL differs
widely from the statement in the New York Ex-
press
The objection the New York Tribune makes TO
the discrimination IN favor Of wines and against
brandy and gin, will apply with equal force to the
present tariff Under that, wines bear various rates
Of duty from or up to nearly so per cent, while
brandys taxed los per Ct, spirits from grain LAB per
cent, and spirits from other materials 30l per cent
BY high rates Of duties, we have nearly put an
end to our trade with Holland"
The SECRETARY is opinion that the duties ought to
be laid upon the adpaOrem principle, abolishiOg mari
principle we think two other elements ought to en-
ter into the arrangement first, that where the same
amount Of revenue may be raised by lower duty
on larger importation, by higher duty upon
a reduced importation, the former should be pre-
fered, because it is more just TO consult the COM
fort Of larger portion Of the community, than the
profits Of smaller privileged class; and, secondly,
that the basis of taxation ought to be wide
may be, so that there may be a lower duty every
separate artcle-and also that the free list ought 10
he made as small as possible, consistently with the
great interests of the country. This bill labors to
attain this object; and yet we very much doubt
whether small duty ought not to be laid upon ten
and coffee.
The bill, however, as it stands, contains many
admirable provisions, and does much credit to its
authors. Still we must repeat, it is as yet but a
mere project, and susceptible Of notifications before
it leaves the Committee of Ways and Means. Be-
sides, they have not yet received the estimates
which the treasury, with the aid of the custom
house officers, is preparing for them. These were
not completed yesterday, and they may take a few
days longer. The committee also at work; and
they no doubt feel the heavy responsibility Of re-
porting the best bill they make out in the short
est time. The session of Congress is passing away,
and this great question, by far the most important,
perhaps, which the present session will be called
upon to decide, will, we have every reason to be-
leye, be presented, discussed, and decided soon
as possible. The country, at least, has a right to
demand prompt, as well as just, and wise action on
the whole system.
The Baltimore American" presents the follow
ing analysis of it:
al: is made out in schedules, and provides that
the articles in each schedule shall pay a specified
duty. The schedules marked from A TO G, in
elusive.
"Artices in schedule pay a duty Of rs per
centum--such as spirits, liquors, and cordias.
ARTICLES in schedule B pay 80 per centum-such
as all manufactures of iron, leather, fruit, except
lemons and oranges; molasses, ready-made cloth
ing, wines, glass ware, except plain tumbers; por-
celain, spices, manufactures of tobacco, Of paper,
and of wood; soaps, Wilton, Saxon, and Turkey
carpets; coal, and India rubber manufactures.
''Articles in schedule c pay IS per centum-such
as manufactures Of wool, Of which wool is a
ponent part all manufactures of silk, or of which
silk is component part; all manufactures Of mohair
or goat hair, or of which these form component
part buttons, moulds and manufactures of hemp or
fax. .s.
ARTICLES in schedule d pay 90 per centum-
such as manufactures wholly Of cotton, plain and
printed wooen manufactures; drugs, medicines, dye
wood, olive oil in casks, paper, books, bound or
unbound, paper hangings, cotton bagging, and com.
mon carpets.
"Artices in schedule E pay 10 per centum-sush
az manufactured articles generally, saltpetre,
watches and parts Of same, linseed precious stones
diamonds, and plaster of Paris, ground
ARTICLES in schedule F pay 5 per centum-many
of which are now duty free used in manufactures
and the arts, and gunny cloth.
"Articles in schedule g are duty free--such as
tea coffee SALT all articles Of the growth of the Uni
ted States brought back in the same state in which
they were exported personal effects of American
citizens dying abroad; tools Of trade; sheatbng cop
per and copper Of the mint; specimens of antiquity
and of mineralogy; fresh fish, and sheetng mate
rails
GAN bounes on fish or fishing vessels and on re-
fined sugars are abrogated, and also all drawbacks
! ON rum made from molasaes.n