The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-12-26
THE TARIFF QUESTION.
"A discourse ON ths Subject by Judge
BclfOFd,

|
"A discourse on the Subject by Judge
BClfOrd,
WASHINGTON, December 25.-Tho opin'
ion prevails among members OF Congress
that the bill for the creation Of Tariff
Commission now pending in the Senate
will not be iavonbly received by the
House,
In reference to this general subject Judge
BClford, Of Colorado, who has given the
revenue question some consideration; said
Last year General Hancock, doubtless
after comforting with leading Democrats
said that il We intend to remain honest
and pay our debts, we must raise the revo.
nue. in some way or other. IIe said fur.
ther that all parties were agreed that the
best way to raise revenue Is largely by tho
tariff. think that the first bill introduced
into the first Congress Of tho United
Suites was by Madison and provided that
certain duties should be imposed on sugar
tea, coffee, molasses and rum, to the end
that the country might have revenue with
which to pay tho National debt. In the
discussion which this bill occasioned was
the formulation OF our whole tariff doctrine
OF Madison, and placed coffee and tea Oh
the free list on the ground that not being
produced In this country, they can't come
In competition with our products. Sugar
aud liquors OF all kinds are still subject Ia
import duties,
"a few years ago, through the cry OF n
free breakfast table, the duty was removed
from ten and coffee. Experience hassiown
that the removal OF these duties did moi
produce the results that were expected,
which was the Chcapening OF these neCessi.
tiesto the CONSUMERS. When we removed
the impost duties, tho countries producing
the ten and coffee levied IN export duty
equivalent TO the reduction OF the duties
made by the United States. know that II
is unpopular to advocate duties on
tea and coffee, but when we consider that
about w per cent, al ualOrem Is collected
on imported sugars 1t would seem that II
would be wise policy 10 reduce the duties
OH sugar even II we had To reimposo the
duties on ten and coffee. We import an.
nually, according 10 tho last official return
about 450000,0O0 pounds Of coffee, the
value Of which is $GO,00O,0O0; about 75,,
100000 pounds OF tea, valued at $4,000
600. Here we have valuations Of about
eighty millions, on which there
are no import duties. Our annual
inportations Of sugar are about 100000.
coo pounds; valued In round figures ut $780,.
1000, which II will be noticed Is equal tC
the aggregate value OF the annual impOrta
ton OF tea and coffee. Now, every intel
ligent housekeeper knows tint she uses at
least five pounds OF sugar for one OF tea Of
coffee, and II We are TO have q free break.
fast table why should not the duties
be removed entirely from sugar OF
distributed 30 that some Of the burden
borne by the sugur should be placed Oh leu
and coffee? We now collect about forty
millions OF revenue on eighty millions Of
sugar imported, and II seems to me tllat
sugars and molasscs stand independent
OH the tariff list, having no relation with
any other articles; that the duties OIL these
articles should be revised and reduced
particularly as this can be done without
Affecting any 0tnef interest.
~ an prpteCtionist and believe thai
the prosperity Of the country Is largely due
TO tic tariff, but l cannot overlook the
fact that our receipts from taxes and duties
are increasing while our National debt Il
decreasing. There will be no occasion Il
keep up these taxes when the debt Is paid
and hence some revision is necessary. The
question, shall Congress primarily do this
work or shall We have coinmissiOu2 We
have men In Congress who are competent
to do this work, Men oil large practical ex.
perience who are not given over 10 any
special hobby.
"a Commission would doubtless he com
posed Of college professors and scientific
experts, and men identified with par.
tiCular branches Of industry. These inen
while knowing All about their respective
business, are thoroughly indoCtrnated
with pct theories, would not be likely to
work as satisfactory results Us men who
are looking TO the general welfare. For In.
stance, take old 'pig.iron' Kelley, as he is
called, who las realized the ambition ol
his life by becoming Chairman Of the
Ways and Means Committee after twenty
years Of consecutive service In Congress
| would rather trust him 10 make iaif
and intelligent tariff bill than any commits.
sion that might be formed. Ills khOwl.
edge Is not special, but general, and
have reason 70 know that Il is
his most ardent desire, 10 round of hiI
honorable career In the public service by
placing on lie statute books tariff aCt
which will stand ns a monument tO per.
petuate his reputation and be known rs
The Kelley Act, Believing rs do, that
the present tariff should be revised nhd
corrected, fear the proposition for n aCom.
mission Is simply design 10 prevent any
revision whatever
"If Congress can not, with all the light
that we have on this subject, and with The
exhaustive reports that have been recently
obtained through the tenth census, enaC
tariff law that will bo wise and Just, II Il
hardly TO be expected that any advantage
will follow a commission"
EXTRAORDINARY CASE.