Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-07-15

exposed the finishes and hypocrisy of
Republican pretensions to tariff and reve-
nue. reform, assembled in caucus a few
DAYS since and resolved to offer certain
amendments to the Kelley bill, which
pretends to relieve the people by remov
ing the internal revenue tax on matches,
bank checks and cosmetics, while the
taxes on articles of prime necessity to
the masses are left untouched. These
proposed amendments were to reduce
the duties on sugars 25 per cent, and
Bessemer steel S. ton.
The Democrats have determined to
oppose these apparent reductions, in
the tariff beause they afford really
no relief of any consequence, and
are merely in keeping with the
nrevious course of the Republican
party in this respect They are, II Is
true q confession by the Republicans
that reform is needed, and that the Demo
Gratis are in the right in demanding II;
stiII thew are simply decisions and shans
exactlv on a par with the Tariff Com
,oission and the Kelley bill. The duties
an sugars should be about the last to be
removed, because not only should the
sugar and rice interests of the country
be protected so long as protection re-
mains a part of our system of government,
inasmuch as the lands on which these
articles are produced are almost worth
less for other productions, but they
really pay greater revenue to the gov
eminent than do protected manufac-
lures. The duty on sugar, for instance,
pays 81 to the revenue, and 81 to the
bounty, while protected manufactured
articIes-the duties on which are I'M
touched-pay on the average, 81 TO
those benefited by protection to 81 to
the revenue. More than this, it is
claimed that the proposed % per
cent. reduction of duties on sugars
will be no relief at all to consumers, be-
cause John Sherman's pOlariscope test
is to be injected into the measure, and
this, it is claimed, will so change the
sugar tariff schedule that no appreciable
effect upon sugar duties will result SO
in the case of the proposed reduction Of
duties on Bessemer steel. 1t will have
no effect whatever upon the revenue.
The duty on that article now is $28 per
ton, and the reduction would still leave
it at $50 per ton, which must he pro-
hibitOry.
So much, then, for the proposed reduo-
tons in the duties of sugar and Besse-
mer steel. We have seen that they are
but decisions concocted solely to deceive
aud not to benefit the public. But even
if they were reductions proposed in good
faith it should be remembered. especially
by planters in general and Southern
planters in particular, that there is still to
be very large increase of duties on cot
ton ties, barrel hoops, iron roofing for
houses and a great variety of articles in
common use made from hoop, band ard
scroll iron. Cotton ties punched with
rivet and ready to be adjusted on the
bale are worth about eS per ton abroad,
and the present duty of 50 per cent. I'D
valorem is $14 per ton. This proposed
amendment will increase the duty to
$33 60 per ton. Ga barrel hoops the
duty will be increased from less than $14
per ton to $33 60 per ton; on roofing
shingles, from about $15 per ton to
S33 go per ton, and on galvanized roof
ing from $40 per to ton $50 per ton.
These are the reasons why the Demo.
Gratis are fighting the so-called tariff
reductions proposed by the Republican
Senatorial caucus. 1t is not, as alleged
by Radical papers, that the Democrats
are opposed to any relief whatever
which they can secure to the people, but
because they are determined to show
I'D. first, the weakness of the Republican
position on the tariff question, as con.
fessed by their being anxious at the
eleventh hour-and after having
neglected the matter throughout the
session-to propose amendments to the
Kelley bill apparently in the direction OF
tariff reform; and second, to expose the
hypocrisy and cunning CT the Republi'
can party, which pretends to legislate FOL
the people while really working in be
half of the protected "barOns. " To this
end the Democratic members of the
Senate not only oppose these Radical
amendments, but Mr.. Beck, of Ken
lucky, has succeeded in thoroughly ex
posing the hypocrisy of the Republicans,
by placing them on record, and forcing
them to vote against amendments offered
by him which had for their object genu-
inc and substantial tarif reform, and fol
which they would have voted had they
been in earnest in their professions. In
truth, the Democracy have the Republi-
cans by the hip in this matter of reliev
ing the burdens Of the people by the
reduction of taxation, and if they are
wise they will follow up their advantage,
aud make tariff reform the main issue
before the people daring the approach
ing campaign.