The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-11-17
The Coming TarIR Convention In New
York.

In view Of the coming Tariff Convention
in New York, which promises to be one Of
the most important assemblages Of the kind
that ever met in this country, newspaper
discussion has set in asregards it, proposed
objects. One object is said to be to shape
the way for a,rcduction Of our internal
revenue taxes, such as the tax on tobacco
and liquors Of all kind, with q view to per
venting any reduction whatever in our i'm
port or tariff duties. 1t is said that there
are those who favor the collection OF pretty
much all the money needed by the govern
ment from the tariff alone, and the remis-
sion Of all or nearly all taxes now classod
under the head Of internal revenue re-
ceipts,
The ISTRLLIdEScER does not belong to
the class Of papers that favor such policy
as this, 1t advocates a discriminating
tarif-a tariff, in other words, that will
produce revenue to the government and
afford what Is known as incidental protec'
ton to American manufactures, We con-
ceive that etrueand proper function
Of a tariff, and therefore We favor such q
revision Of the present tariff as will better
equalize the duties 1t imposes. For in
stance, as we have heretofore explained, We
favor such q reduction in the tariff
on Bessemer steel-that being patented
article-as will compel the Bessemer
works in this country to moderate their
views on the subject Of iron ore monopoly
"a monopoly that initiates against the
general interests Of the iron manufactures
Of this country by forcing up the price oil
iron ores out Of proportion to tho price oil
pig iron. Iron ore is protected, and Bos'
semer steel is protected both by patent
and S2s per ton duty, while pig iron, nc
matter what it costs to make it in this coun'
Try, Is all the time threatened by impor'
tations from Europe.
II everybody in this country was free tc
engage in tho manufacture Of BeScmel
steel the case would be different
but they are not, The patent stands in The
way. The manufacture is in the hands Of
little coterie, and this little coterie mono
police the Bessemer ores Of Lake Superior
Of which there is only q limited
supply, to such an extent as to
Hx a very high price on them, thus com
Polling the furnace men Of the Ohio Val
ley, and all other points dependent on said
ores, to pay price out Of proportion to
what they can realize on the iron made
from these ores
A reduction Of the tariff on Bessemer
steel would compel reduction in the
price Of ores, and the margin Of profit to
the furnaces would be enhanced. In
other words, ores and iron would be better
equalized. What is wanted in this case is
a discriminating tariff. What is wanted
in every case Is discriminating tariff,
As to raising all our Government rev.
enue from tariff duties, that Is u perfectly
Utopian scheme. Tobacco and iermented
and uniermented liquors constitute an
essential part Of government revenues
in Europe and America. From these
three sources we get about one
hundred and ten millions Of dollars
every year, while from customs We get
about S2OOO0OOOO. The exact figures for
tobacco and liquors for the fiscal year, end.
ing Innn 8nth. 1881. wnrn na inllnws.