New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-02-22
.Rs1PDJTyES OF THE WOOD TARIFF.


600 xe suooested. from its internal evidence,
the method by which it was probably pre-
pared. First, the duties specified by the ex-
listing tariff were generally reduced; second
after casting about vainly for means to sup
ply the loss of revenue thus entailed, the free
list was taken up, and on articles selected
from it duties were imposed to make up the
deficiency. We still adhere to this belief.
But the anomalies of the new tariff are so
odd, that there is room for suspicion that
the duties were distributed to the articles by
some process of shutting and matching after
the manner of conversation cards." by which
any answer may be matched to any question.
During its brief period of incubation, there
were frequent announcements respecting the
characteristics of the forthcoming Hedging;
especially to the effect that it was not ex-
pected to attack existing industries. But the
prOprietOrs of one of our largest national in
dustues. represented in convention last week,
denounce it most heartily as ruinous to their
interest-the manufacture of iron and steel.
OF numerous reductions of duty which the
new tariff will inflict under schedule f,
Metals perhaps the heaviest Is in the
change of rate on scrap iron, now paying $6
to So per ton, to be diminished 10
81. The consequence of such a change
would be practically the same as if the duty
on pig iron were similarly reduced; and our
foundries would put out their fires and send
their workmen to join the great army of the
unemployed. Probably this great blunder in
the bill is result of heedlessness. But the
iron and, steel makers find so many grievances
in the measure that they heartily oppose 1t as
q whole A similar opposition Is expressed by
the makers of drugs and chemicals, and with
equal reason. The wild Inconsistencies of the
proposed tariff are illustrated throughout
almost the whole list of duties on such ar
ticles. On argOs (bi-tartrate Of potash) the
duty is to be cents per pound, but cents
if the article is crude. This same thing, if
pure. is "cream of tartar" on which the pro-
posed duty is 8 cents per pound, while Ro-
chelle salts (he tartratc of soda and potash)
are free of duty, as well rs tartarlc acid.
Birthstone has n duty of SD, and sulphur OF
800 per ton, while the acids made from 1t are
free. These are specimens of the ignorance
of the tariff maker and bis indifference to the
interests concerned.
BY far the most remarkable result OF the
careless construction of this measure, Is the
frequency with which raw materials used In
manufacture are subjected to duty, while the
duty on the manufacture itself Is removed or
diminished. Thus opium has duty, while
morphia and its salts are free; lemon and
lime will pay 10 per cent, and citrlc acid
nothing. Raw hair is put ut the same rate as
hair cloth ; cork bark at the same as manu-
featured cork both the raw materials being at
nresent free There is to be q duty on rags,
which. il is to be hoped, will not increase
their production in this country-and on all
other raw material for paper; while on paper
itself the duties are largely reduced. pre-
c,sely similar discrimination is made in regard
to india-rubbcr and its manufactures. Dyes
that enter into the production of great va
riety of goods made here, must pay duties I'M
der this bill indigo, 10 per cent; cochneal and
the aniline colOrs, 80 per cent. 1t frequently
happens-sO frequently as to excite suspicion,
i'm some quarters, that it may have been inten-
tional-tbat the finer articles of manufacture
are admitted free OF duty; such rs costly
chemicals and laces. But it should in fair
ness be said that there are many blundcrs in
the other direction
The most astounding absurdities are, how
ever, in the duties proposed for textile goods.
1t seems incredible, but is an actual fact, that
goods of mixed materials, in which neither
hemp, fax, silk, cotton nor wool is the mate
rial of chief yalue-mixtures of any two or
more of such materials-can come in duty free
under Mr. Woods tariff Then, by another
oversight, it is provided that on all manufac-
lures of cotton the duty shall be % per cent.
With such blunders as these before us, it
,vIt To finu
ones. such as the duty on silk plush 20 per
cent land on hatters' plush 10 per cent?, while
velvet is at 50 Ures Dictionary defining
plush rs ga kind of cloth having sort of
"velyet nap on one side" and later dictionaries
following that authority. Nor is it needfu to
discuss the various novel provisions at the end
of the bill, such as that for adding to duties
where foreign countries discriminate against
us in their tariffs; provisions that hold the
word of promise to the ear and break it TO the
hone as, in the instance cited, the European
shipper can easily pass his goods through some
country that does not discriminate, and invoice
them thence. 1t is rumOred that the Com
mittee on Ways and Means are rapidly advanc-
ing in the work of correcting this crooked
tariff, and will be ready to report it to the
House in few days. The work of correction,
like that of original formation, is carried Oh
in secrecy and without consulting the interests
involved. But as the principles upon which
the measure is really constructed are absurd,
no repairs can help it materially. The House
will exhibit good sense by tearing to pieces
the thing of shreds and patches, and throw
ing the fragments away.
COLLEGE BARB4RITIES.
We print, this morning further particulars Of the
Princeton College scandal. The authorities of that