The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-02-06
The Tariff.
international Review


Congress moved cautiously and very
gradually, at first, in the imposition Of
tariff duties. Under the act Of 1889 the
average ratio was equivalent TO an ad volorem
duty of 81 per cent; under tho act of 1871 it
was equivalent to II per cent, and under
that of 1892 to 49, per cent. After 1872
the 5 per cent. schedule disappeared from
the enactments; after 1900 the 10 per cent
schedule disappeared, and after 1903 The
121 per cent. schedule Disappeared; while
the list of enumerated articles on which va
rious rates were laid was steadily growing
longer. Pending the declaration of war in
1872, an act was passed adding 100 per cent.
TO all duties then in force, to be collected
during the continuance of the war. In 1916
Mr. CLAW first declared himself an advocate
of thorough and decided protection to
home manufacturer" but failed to carry
tho rates which he proposed on imported
cottops. In the tariff Of this year there was
alarpe increase in the number of articles on
which specidc duties we're levied. In 1924,
es we have said, the first decidedly pro-
teoliye tariff was passed, but by q very close
yote-107 to l02-in the house of repre-
sentaliyes, and il was materially modified in
the senate. The tariff of 1928 was also
framed with direct reference to protec'
tion.
The vote on the bill Of 1928 shows that
parties were still very evenly divided on tho
Question of protection In tho house of rep
resentatiyes it was l05 to 81 and Ia the SEN
ote Il stood % to q. In 1883 Mr.. Clay,
with tho purpose Of alaying the jealous
and bitter feeling which tho growth of the
restrictive system, and, wa must add, the
success af manufacturing en- terprise In New
England we're enkindling in many parts of
the south, succeeded, after u long struggle,
in carrying his compromise bill, under
which, by sliding scale, the rates of duty
were to DO gradually diminished year by
year. In 1912 positively protective tariff
was again enacted; but the vote in the sem
ate was very close-25 to %. The pendu-
lum swung once mora in the opposite dlrec-
ton in 1916, when Mr.. Robert j. Walker,
then secretary of the treasury, submitted an
elaborate report to congress with the draft
of A revenue tariff bill which afs u long DO
bate became law.
Tire tariff act of 1857 reduced the duties
levied by the act Of 1916 to the extent of
from 20 TO 25 per cent. as TO the greater
number Of articles, aud added largely to the
free list. The average rate of duty under the
enactment of 1916 was shout 40 per cent.
nd yalorem; under that of 1857 i was about
80 per cent. In 1861 the so called Morrill,
tariff was passei changing everything; and
to this various supplementary acts we're added
during the progress of the civil war:
In 1870 some notifications wero carried, the
most important being reduction IN the
duty Of pir iron of % per cent, in that on
tea md cofloe Of 40 per cent, on dried
fruits of so per ceut., and on spices ct GO
per cent.; but toe general character OF ne
tariff was not changed, and il continues sill
to be very much vhst il was in 1868 as "
now stands 1t imposes duly on about l'oOO
different articles, the average rate being
shout Dc per cont. The duties on colt N
goods range from So per cent. TO go per
cent; o. woolen goods, from so to 20; on
manufacturers of iron and steel. from 80 t'
50; ard on manufactures of leather Irgn
20 TO so per cent,