Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-03-20
Letter from Washington.
lrRoM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENCE
WASHINGTON, d. c., March 16, 1872.
TARIFF DFRATE

WASHINGTON, d. C.. March 16, 1872.
TARIFF DEBATE.
The senate entered on this question Yesterday,
and to-day Mr. Kerr of Indiana and Judge KEEL
ley had "set to- If | may be pardoned the
expression, beg leave to say that free trade ar
guments, as expounded by Mr.. Kerr, got a
"black eye" from his Pennsylvania opponent,
whose unprepared ffty-mnute speech in reply
to the elaborate one carefully arranged and de-
livered by the free trade member of the ways
and means committee, will be regarded as a
most effective campaign document, and among
the most telling of Mr.. Kelley's efforts. Mr..
Kerr is one of the ablest-if not the abest-man
on his side of this question. He has fine logi-
cal mind, well trained by legal studies, and
knows well how to put a thing Being dis
chile of Bastal, "rhe Sophist," as Mr.. Kelley
pungently expressed it, he placed his entire ar
gument on the single postulate that revenue is
the only justification for taxation. He then
argues that being 50, it must be levied only with
strict regard for collection in the easiest posi-
bic manner, and at the smallest cost, and from
articles most largely consumed, so that the bur-
den will fall on the largest number of persans,
and yet be so small as to be unappreeiable by
any one individual. Judge Kelley's reply
stripped from these arguments their plausbilitv
and showed the fallacy of the fundamental prop
osition. But referred to this only incidentally,
designing to call attention to what will probably
be the chief features Of the tariff debate in either
house.
SECRETARY BOUTwELL's RECOMMENDATIONS.
In his annual report, the secretary of the treas
ury made recommendations covering the follow
ing points, after estimating that at present rates
the excess of income over expenditures {nclu-
sive of applying S50,OOO,OOO to the reduction of
the debt and the sinking fundD, would be about
S43 900. Gen. Sherman's estimates make it
about S5O,OOOOOO The secretary proposed to
reduce about $50 900 900, twenty millions by
abolishing customs duties and sixteen by aboli-
ton of internal taxes.
In this reduction he proposed to be governed
by the following policy;
1. Abolition of all taxes but those on stamps,
spirits, malt livqors and tobacco.
2. Reduction Of duties on coal, salt, raw-hides
and skins.
3. Place on the free list raw materials not
produced here.
4. A reasonable reduction on articles largely
consumed, whose cost would thereby be appre-
Gladly diminished
tits on the last of these that the two houses
will differ, and the several divisions and wings
of both parties will agree. What will be the
chief points shall cndeayor to show.
THE SHERMAN TARIFF.
] think such a report as Mr.. Sherman
made, yesterday, is CT but little direct
value, unless it plcases the house to take
up the measure as one of their own, by
first tabling and then having it re-introduced
as was done in the case Of tariff passed I'M
der Henry Cay's leadership. The house will
never consent 10 the proposition that the senate
may originate measures Of revenue. know of
course the senatorial fiction by which Il is
claimed, that these bills are only presented as
amendments to some measure already passed
by the house. But it is too transparent &C.
ton to deceive any one. But putting that aside,
it win be well 10 examine how Mr.. sherman's
committee propose 10 carry out the policy which
Mr.. Boutwell, advises. According to the state.
ments made in explaining the bill, the follow.
ing are the reductions proposed:
On coal ..............,..,,.. 5000 $50 m
..,,,,........, 55S $50 0S
raw ana skins. 81 $50 90
free LIST g. l9I 10 81
BY section one, ten per cent, on tea
and coffee. ...............,,.. Z 64g 5Sq 10
On textile fabrics, lumber furniture,
metallic products produced by
Ourselves IL ,723 734 10
Total Reduction of Custom Duties 500 597 $50 %
Of Internal Taxes. 00OOOO.O0
s88,5o7 1858 ,2e
1t will be at once noticed that Mr.. Sherman's
view differs from that Of Mr. Boutwell,, and for
that matter, from the house also, in that he
makes only partial reduction Of the duties on
tea and coffee and gets more than half of his
total in reduction on custom duties, from arti,
eles we do manufacture. Textile and wooden
goods come in for the largest share, Mr.. Sher.
man arguing that the relief the manu-
facturers have experienced by the abolition oil
internal taxes, is equivalent to the amount oil
protection he desires to remove from their goods.
He also argued at length on the necessity Of
this reduction He argued that this would ben.
eft the largest number Of consumers.
FEELING OF THE HOUSE.
am inclined to believe that the popular
body will take the popular vicw--tlat the poor
mans tax is the first to be removed. Iii quite
curious to notice the growth Of opinion on these
questions among western men. In the forty.
first congress they were nearly all more or less
pronounced revenue relormers. Now there arc
but few, though The majority NAV be fairly
classified under the tenn incidental protection.
lists" In fact there are many proofs to be had
that their views of protection are changing ia
something other than the incidental policy.
find, for instance, that Gen. Coburn Of Indiana
who was strongly inclined 10 Teyenue reform
sees in the development Of the iron ore and Goa
mining industries VI that state reasons why the,
should be fostered.
In making up the committee Of WAYS an,
means, the speaker managed 10 at least give th
western side Of The argument fair show. Som
think more. Be that as II may, Il is now know
that the revised tariff almost perfected lay th
committee, will propose larger reduction
duties than Mr.. Sherman, aud in directions tina
would seem to be contradictory. As for in5tanc
the house viii insist upon aDolisbng the duic
on tea and coffee, about $40, 900 in ALL =
accomplish this the high protectiorisis, 10,
'arh, "incidentals' and some revenue reform
I I.s.