The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1880-02-13

MI. Forts Bin 70 Repeal Taxes on soda-ASh
Va and Knovsods9 - M

49,
Va and Knows5as9 ~
~ wAmnoroN. Fob 10.
The bill of Representative Fort. the pur-
pose of which is to place certain chemicals
which enter into the manufacture Of paper,
glass and wooden fabrics ON the free
list, and to reduce the duty ON printing-pa
per, has not yet been formally considered by
the Ways and Means Committee, and, owing TO
previous engagements Of the committee, prob
ably will not be considered for some time to
come Col. Fort. in speaking OF the causes
which induced the bill, aud Of its prospects,
said in substance that his attention was first
called to the matter from the fact that the in
crease In the price Of paper was likely to re-
suit in greatly increasing the price OF school
books and in placing q burden upon intelli-
gence; and, believing that there should be as
few obstacles placed in the road to knowledge
as possible, he commenced considering the
case. While doing so, he saw statements IN
the newspapers that the paper
manufacturers were combining to in
crease the price, but he has not had
any conference with newspaper publishers.
He Immediately examined the tariff question at
the treasury, and discovered that while many
articles which enter into the manufacture Of
paper are on the free list, soda ash il
not He also found that great
many articles taxed for otner purposes
are Free if used in the manufacture OF
paper. He was led to believe, therefore, that
the paper manufacturers were using the exist
encs OF the tar On soda-ash for increasing the
price or paper He accordingly introduced a
bill, Of which the following il the text, provid-
ing for the reduction of the tariff on unsized
printing paper from 20 to per cent ad va
loren:
BILL to place certain articles imported and used
in the manufacture OF paper, of glass and OF
wooden fabrics on the free list and 10 reduce tie
import duty on printing paper used for books.
pamphlets, magazines ana newspapers:
BE enacted. ETC., That on and after the LIST day
Of Jaly, $780, all soda ash and impure carbonate of
soda imported to be used in the lnanufsctlre of
paper, or of glass, of cloths fabrics composed
wholly or in art of wool, shall be admitted free
of duty
zee. g. That all unsized printing paper used for
books, amphlets, magazines and newspapers
clusively, shall be subject to an import duty OF
per cent. nd yalorem.
II will be noticed that Mr. Fort does not in
cludeiu the bill the more costly classes OF pa
per-fancy paper of any kind, or what are
known as papers of luxury-but simply covers
the regular printing paper of which the chill
dren's school-books and the poor mans news
papers are made. number of articles,
such as alum, sal-soda, chloride of lime,
and others, upon which there is small
tarif, he did not inclrde in BIS bill, although
thgs6 articles are, some of them, taxed, and
many of them are used in the manufacture
of paper The heaviest burden on the paper
manufacturer is the duty on soda-ash, which
yields an annual revenue of about S500,000
Rags, grass, and iute butts, and other
material entering into the manufacture Of pa
per, although otherwise dutiable, are free
under the drawback system, if used to make
paper. Mr.. Fort has already been visited by
representatives. of the tariff interests, who OPP
pose the bill. Some paper-makers. while adj
hitting that the duty on the chemicals
is the eanle as 1t was a year ago, and that
the price of labor has not materially advanced,
say that they will oppose by every possible
means the reduction of the tariff for the reason
that they think it just thatthey should reap
harvest now with other surviving industries,
and for that reason they have increased the
price OF paper. Fort is of the opinion that, as
practical fact, the increase of price has been
arbitrarily done by the manufacturers, and is
not required by any necessity OF manufacture,
as the essential elements of cost are practically
the same. Foreign rags are not higher, and
are duty free, and it is very doubtful whether
the laborers receive higher wages.