Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-11-20
PLANS OF PROTECTIONJSTS
What is Expected 20 Occur at she
Coming Session.

n W donluSlOu lspdlCn states that the
supporters of the doctrine of protection
and the representatives of protected in.
dustries will strive with all their might at
the coming session of Congress to reduce
the revenue arising from internal taxes
They will be assisted by the popular
feeling in regard to a reduction of taxa
ton and by the hostility toward internal
taxes IN some parts of the country. If
they can cut off at one blow a great part
OF the internal revenue, they NAV
thereby prevent q reduction of duties
which would decrease the profits
OF protected mOnOpolies. There must be
revenue from some source with which
to pay the expenses of the government.
Ii heavy reduction is made in the field
or internal revenue, then it will not be
possible to make a heavy reduction of
customs duties. The greater the reduc-
ton OF revenue from internal taxes. the
smaller the reduction of duties on i'm
ports in the revision of the tariff which
will be made. Judge Kelley, Chairman
Of the Ways and Means Committee. has
been in this city for two or three davs.
and it has been announced that he is
here for the purpose of inducing the
ury to recommend to Congress a large
reduction of internal taxation.
The coming session will be very short
one. There will be barely sixty working
days in it, and it cannot be expected that
much progress will be made in any di-
rection until after the holiday recess.
There will be barely enough time in the
session for the preparation, considera-
ton and passage of the annual appro-
priation bills. The calendars are heavy
with all sorts of bills, in all stages Of
progress. Every Congressman who has
pet bill will urge its passage. 1t is not
expected that there will be time for re.
vision of the tariff, although the report
of the Tariff Commission and the testi.
mony taken by the commission will he.
placed in the hands of members. Bat
something may be done with the pending
bill for reduction of internal taxes. and
the friends of the great protected indus
tries Will make that bill or some bill re
!atlng to the same subject, the centre of
legislative interest outside of appropria-
tiOn bills
Early in the last session the Wavs and
Means Committee undertook to renort q
bill which contemplated reduction of
internal taxes to the amount of $40 600.
600 year. The Republican caucus mt
its foot upon this bill and announced
that public sentiment would not allow
taxes to be lifted from whisky and TO-
bacco. Then a smaller bill was repOrted
and passed by the House. This bill re
peals the stamp tax on bank checks.
drafts, orders and vouchers, the tax on
the capital and deposits of banks and
bankers, and the tax on matches. Der-
fumery and medical preparations. 1t
reduces the license fees to be paid bv
dealers and manufacturers of tObaccO.
and cuts down the tax on cigars. It was
sent to the Senate and reported without
substantial change on July 6. The
Republicans in the Senate decided
that some tariff legislation was de.
manded by the country, although the
commission bill had been passed, and
therefore several important amendments
to the revenue bill were introduced bv
Senator Morrill,, who had charge of the
original bill These amendments pr0-
posed to repeal the emergency duty on
sugar, to authorize the use of the pClari-
scope, to reduce the duty on steel rails
to $50, and to Ieadiust the duties on
wares made of hoop, band and scroll
iron. Almost innumerable amendments
relating to the tariff and to internal
revenue were offered and supported bv
the Democrats, and long and tiresOme
debate ensued. When the session ended
the bill had not been passed in the Sen.
ate. The attempt upon the part of the
Republicans to satisfy the popular de.
mand by beginning a revision of the
tariff had opened the door for amend. |
ments and debate, which prevented anv
final action from being taken.
1t is proposed now by the advocates
of protection so to extend the scope of |
the bill as to include the abolition Of the |
entlre tax upon tobacco. 1t is urged. |
and with much reason, that a general re. !
vision of the tariff cannot be made in
the coming short session but it will he |
comparatively easy to cut off the tobacco |
tax. That is matter which does NOT |
require much study. There are persons
VINO say, however, that no action what |
ever Will be taken at the coming session |
relating either to the internal taxes or
the tarl1f, because of the opposition |
which tba eager prOtectiOnists will |
arouse Democrats, looking forward 10
q Democratic majority of nearly 20 in
the next House, prefer that the tariff shall
be revised by the Forty eighth Congress-
They are not willing, it is said. that the
work OF revision shall be handicapped
Dy a previous reduction of from $60 il00
200 to $40, 900, 600 of internal taxes
1t is predicted that if the Senate should
pass the revenue bill, with amendments
1t the coming session, its final pasgaqe
would be delayed or defeated In fSe
House after its temperance there. Party
ines are not strictly drawn upon the
sSues involved, and for this reason nm.
.oreseen complications may arise. It is
)elleved. however, that a vigorous at-
empt will be made by proteetfonists to
abolish the tobacco tax and cut off a
great slice OF the internal revenue at the
coming session. Those who will onnoee
his movement in behalf of a rednotinn ~
customs duties for the purpose of throw.
ng the work in the Democratic House and
or other reasons will be assisted by the
hortness of the session, in which if
Elll be difficult to find time for imnor~
ant discussions outside of the necessary
outline work.