Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-05-10
no lSl
WASHINGTON,


Victory of the Protectionists In the Pro-
posed Tariff Changes-The Swindle In the
Tax on Wood Pulp-Strong Pressure rof
Postmaster James for Keys Place
Probable Adjournment June LIST.
pRoTEcT1oNIsT VICTORY.
Special Telegram to the Globe.
WASHINGTON, May 9.-The ways and means
committee has finally decided to report, with
out recommendation, the tariff bill, but this
must not be accepted as victory of the
friends of tariff revision. It is to some extent
concession on the part of the protectionists,
but it is a concession which comedies little.
The bill reported simply proposes to contain
reductions, but none OF those who voted for it
in committee expect that it will in that form
become law. On the subject of wood pulp
the committee probably will be glad to have
the country believe that they propose to reduce
the tariff from % per cent. advalorem to 10 per
cent. The truth is, and the members of the
ways and means committee were thoroughly
advised on the subject, that it was the inten-
tion of Congress, to put wood pulp on the free
list, but by strained construction of the law
by the treasury department, it was decreed, or
enacted, that the tariff should be fixed
at 20 per cent. The ways and means commit
tee instead of rebuking such usurpation of
authority by the treasury department which
thus assumed to enact a law that Congress had
not passed, and instead of stating that under
the existing law wood pulpit free and should
be free, have recommended that the duty upon
it be fixed at 10 per cent. This apparent reduc-
tion is only positive increase of 10 per cent.
from the real spirit, intent and meaning of the
trainers of the law. yet the total revenue from
wood pulp for last year, at present rates, was
but Sl52, and for Some years it has been less.
The duty upon sized or glued paper, auch as
adapted only for printing paper, the COM
mittee recommends to be reduced 5 per cent.
from the existing rates, placing it at 20 per
cent. ad valorsm. The annual revenue from
this source. as at present is but 1922. Upon
book paper the reduction proposed is also per
cent, or from 20 per cent. the present rate to
10 per cent. ad valorem. The total avenue from
this source last year was 81 $50. The duty on
all manufactures of paper or of which paper is
the important part, is reduced 10 per cent.
The result of all the agitation, therefore, on
the question of tax on knowledge, is that the
ways and means committee proposes a reduc-
tion of 10 per cent. on wood pulp and of 5 per
cent. upon printing paper. The protsctionists,
of course, have practically
gained their point, and have
saved their system in committee by pre-
venting any considerable assaults upon any
particular portion of it. As to the proposition
to make salt free, and put Western farmers
upon the same footing as Eastern fishermen,
that article is entirely striken from the bill,
the committee not desiring to embarrass the
monopoly of New York. Michigan and Kanawha
valley and salt districts by any recommends
tion. The duty on salt remains at II cents per
100 pounds in bags, and cents per 100 pounds
in bulk. The committee propose to reduce
the tax on some agricultural, mining and me-
chanical implements 10 per cent. dd ydLo1Unl,
or from 35 and 25 per cent.
POSTMASTER JAMES.
A strong movement is making in favor of
Postmaster James, of New York,
for postmaster general. An Albany
special says the feeling among Repub-
licans there is very pronounced for the New
York postmaster. He will accept if appointed.
1t is believed that the appointment will not be
delayed until after the Chicago convention, as
has been stated. but will be made certainly
during the present month.
ADJOURNMENT.
There continues to be extraordinary conf
dence among the leading Democrats that final
adjournment of Congress is possible by June L.
The Speaker reuews his expression of conf
dence in the ability to Go this. The clerk of the
appropriation committee has received orders to
arrange the details of the unreported bills at
the earliest possible day.