New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-01-21
TIE LITTLE TARIFF BILL.
VIEWS OF MERCHANTS ON THE PROPOSED
CHANGES.


errFCr or THE PROVISIONS OF THE BILL on NEW
YORK TRADE-THE MERCHANTS GENERALLY
sATIsrIrD-spECIIL TRADES AFFECTED ADJ
YERsELY.
The revision of the tariff, as set forth IN
the act known as the Little Tariff BILL" published ID
Yesterdays TRIBUNE, which is awaiting the acuoh
of the House OF Representatives appears to give satS
faction TO the merchants in general In so far as IL
fishes specific in the place Of ad vaorem uu'ie' "nu
thus reduces the labor and trouble In pasSins koou
trou,h the Custom house. There are, however sOhe
n.cia ,ten,s mentioned In the Tariff bill which anect
certain trades adversely and the objections thereto
will be found Ia the following opinions as given 10 TO
porter Of THE TRIBUNE;
T. La Montague of Boaver-st., Whoiesa'o!t""'
dealer said he approved Of the changes as appeu 70
wines and believed that they would be the means Oh
introducing the better class OF wines into THIS coun!
at prices which would accommodate themselves 10 every
mans purse Heretofore there had been three dnerent
rates OF duties according TO the quality OF the Wlne
the lowest grades paying the lowest uuty LUIS n"u W
the effect OF causing unprnciped pmporters " Nv P
ats the value Of the wine imported by them III or"o W
pay less duty, and gave an Impulse 10 tne
of poor Wines which by remanufacture, oiten WIN
deeterlous substances was sold as good wine 10 the
pinrv OF the fair dealer The rate Of duty being now
SIN life according to the proposed act no inducemeht
would he offered to import poor Wines especially as te
better class would pay no higher duty Inc uo'ern-
nent will doubtless be the gamer by the changc' as ho
average rate paid wines heretofore was only 80 Genus
per gallon while the specific rate set down al W cents
Daniel c. Robbins OF the firm Of McKesson RoOoins'
Wholesale drug merchants said that he approved OF the
cIause relative 20 the tax druggists preparations
Heretofore the Treasury Department. had construed the
law so as to make the specification OF dose on the aoe
OF violent medicine liable to taxation, while the same
medicine no matter bow poisonous could be solu "'-
out taxation If without such specification. Inc ne"
fha Col q
macy had been aiming at this improvement some
time The proposed change did not however, remove
the tax from patent medicines, but only from such med
icnes prepared in accordance with some s'an
dard formula The increase OF the duty on nroben-
zole or oil OF mrbane, which is deodorizer, was, he
thought and he believed that Instead the duty
should been reduced The increase OF 80 per cent
in the duty on chromate and bichromate OF pOtassa
would be very unjust as it would be giving monopoly
to only one manufacturer this country. The chrome
largely into the composition OF dyes ana
paints that it should In his opinion, be admitted free OF
duty and restriction placed upon It, The ADMISSION
| OF quicksilver free OF duty great Improvement
JR Hitchcock, wholesale dealer III groceries land
spirits In Beaverst said that he thought the tarh Dill
| on the whole was an improvement The restrictions
placed on distilled liquors he believed would be bene-
tit to the wholesale dealer, and insure the supply OF
better class OF spirits. With regard 10 groceries, the
specific dnty was Improvement over the ad valorem,
to the rates
One Of the firm of Phelps Dodge Co.. importers Of
metals said that the change in the OF duty upon
tin is somewhat serious, and would bring in about
s50OOCO extra the Government. Nearly all kinds Of
tin would be slightly affected II the duty was on the
gross weight; and the duty on common tin would be
greatly increasedsay from 37 cents TO so cents per
box. About 100000 boxes were annually brought TO
this country lie did believe that single box less
would be imported; but any person purchasing even
tin pan would have 70 pay more for It, The tax would
eventually fan the consumer Wlllets Co., metal
merchants, Pears said that the proposed change in
regard TO yellow sheathing metal would make very
little difference the trade and not much IN the
Of the Government. NayOr Co., iron merchants,
said the reduction of the duty mOlsic iron, partially
prepared iron coming from Canada would have a
tendency TO increase the demand for that metal and
might come in competition with other kinds Of iron aud
steel Heretofore only small quantity had been IN
ported into this country and very o found its way
10 New-YOrk
Mr. Baird of Powers & weiehtman manufacturing
chemists said that the arh only affected them 90 far
as quicksilver was concerned and the removal OF the
duty from this article was great Improvement as the
metal entered largely IN medical compounds. Hereto
California had held the monopoly OF this trade,
and the tariff change must have the tendency TO reduce
me PIce as wen a. open oiher markers 10 ths country
Quicksilver was also used IN the manufacture OF
milton, and the removal Of the duty would be great
advantage to such manufacturers.
The jute dealers had not examined the tariff sur
ncieuy 10 speak decisivey upon the advantages, If
any to be derived from the admission Of machinery for
the manufacture Of ute and FAX free Of duty hut from
"a
hcIa The return OF empty bags would DO a question
requiring consideration at the tune when the sup
ply exceeded the demand
The dealers in raw and manufactured silks stated that
from cursory glance at the propositions III the tariff 1t
Was impossible 20 give any deiiuite opinion to the
erect II any, II would nave on SILK importers close
and careful comparison would have TO be made with the
former tariffs In order TO ascertain the or
Disadvantages OF the change and this would take more
time than they could spare from their business At first
:be interest OF American manufacturers OF silk.
Mr.. CedeierI of the firm Of L0rillard Il Coz tobacco
fact hplI f4aft
nsrnfactrn If foba@co aid ttot he bad nor tbonnt
much about the matter yet hut he believed that Sec
tiOD a. which refers TO the expectation OF tobacco
cOYcry aimed at the New York manufacturers, it
would allow Virginia producers to establish a great
warehouse for plug tobacco in this city, which is the
porDg center of the country and thus flood the New
YORK market to suCn extent greatly affect the
local prices Of manufactured tobacco The consequence
woud he m his Opion that uufacturers in this cjty
would ind their business seriously weakened by this
SAID had long been striving 10 have their bonded ware
houses III this cy which were shed two years ago
reestablshed and by the provisions oil TINS act be
Merchants deal articles which added by
the new act TO the free list such as quicksilver, ship
pankng etc. well pleased by the prospect OF beng
relieved from what they look upon onerous charges
Imports. A prominent lOOkng-glass manufacturer
said mat the price of looking glasses and similar
arclcs might Immediately, If at all, affected by
the removal OF the duty on quicksilver or course he
said, manufacturers OF lOokngglasses would be
benefited, because they, would probably be
able 10 purchase quicksilver at cheaper rate
subject 10 duty as TO make their profits very
small Direct consumers OF quicksilver will no doubt
have the advantage OF Il considerable decrease in the
price Of that arce The removal Of the duty SHIP
planking IL regarded favorable TO American ship
building, although 1t viii hardly be received with favor
by dealers in American lumber.
No definite opinion could be obtained from the mer-
chants as to the effect hkely from the powers
given collectors or he oaths Of Office which
were rcquircd from subordinate officers. One merchant
tbOugLt some restriction should be placed On Custom
house officers ana great change en- 1cteu put was
doubtful as u me that should be adopted 10
secure go dc .irdbe a result.
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TWO PLACES OF AMUSEMENT ENJoGNED.