Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1867-01-04

(Futlisted Erciusirey in the Enquire
THE NEW TARIFF BlLL-IM ps7rvc
n $500 Un' VI ihh ne EN- eoMMIS-
WASHINGTON, January 3-The tariff ,.,;o,
is TO be presented by the Finance ComInS "n%n
Senate, will probable be adopted ~. mo
for the House bill, passed last session. Thu
committee IN almost unanimous in favor OF e. -
bin; The accompanying report of Commi'Sssemr
Wells will make deep impression. 3
A mistaken idea ia afoat regarding the bll.A. |
10 not free trade bill, but on the contrary the
is protective, but discriminating in regard TO PHI
toction, with view TO the production Of reven,t
and fostering tho industrial interests II has beef
prepared after patient Investigation md exami
nation of all the facts in reference to the industrial
interests Of the country, not only for the purpose
OF furnishing revenue, but for the encouragement
OF production and manufactures, with due regard
to the masses Of consumers.
The report Of Commissioners OF the Revenue
which accompanies this bill commences with Il re-
view Of tho informal revenue systonl, the customt
system, and he wHrta and Interests of tho country
III preliminary I" tho examination OF tariff. II
adopts as II basis tho recognition of q general de-
mand for an increase Of the Tariff and an inquiry
a. 10 the cause Of that demand. This demand il
not simply for revenue, because the existing tari
is moro productive than any wa have had. 1t must
DO based Oh tho encouragement of the industry Of
the country.
The report proceeds 10 "A gcuaral survey of tho
industrial interests. particularly during tho Inst
year, and generally for tho fnur las, yaars paint,
ing out The leading elements If prosperity. TIL"
disturbing elements Of the war and their concorn-
tauts deliberately discussed. The result pnintcd
out is extraordinary increase i'll the prices OF Ia
Dor and commodities. The amount Of the advance
Of labor and commodities is shown By interesting.
Iat lpf vn1 MI uf fhn fnun trp nj
conserving almost every industrial pursuit. The
effect Of this advance upon Industrial occupations
trade, commerce and navigation are set forth in do
tail The facts in thia roapect are startling, such as
the country hitherto has beer unrrepared for, and
will necessarily invite great discussion IN domestic
and commercial circles.
Following the statement Of these results, tho re.
port presents al analysis OF tho causes by which
they were produced, and takes the ground that the
truo remedy for tho difficulty under which the coun
try labors is TO DO sought in the removal of the
Causes themselves, rather than in extensive in
crease OF tho tariff and volume Of Tho currency.
The Commissioner recognises the fact that during
the present deranged state of affairs consequent
upon tho war, temporary measures Of relief are
nodded, and ho recommends the partial Increase %!
tho present tar!il TO an extent rot Gpproxmatins
that proposed in the House bill now under consider
alton. The report contains An elaborate c1amina-
ton OF each of the leading industries Of the coun-
Try COTTON. WOOL. IRON, coal rat, lunltcr, &c, Win
tables showing tho effect of high prices ON these in
tercsts. In many cases specific duties havo been
accurately calculated and substituted for al ualorcns
duties.
The bill accompanying tho report fills seventy
one pages quart". 1t presents tho present tariff
rates proposed by House bill with those Of tho
Commissioner, in parallel columns. AS m evidence
of tho Particularly with which the bill was drawn,
in tho single item of drugs there a-o over 5000
articles named. The rates Of duties throughout
the whole hill have been fixed in reference 10 exist,
Ing prices, sources of supply, amount Of consuInp
ton and interest of home manufactures.