New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-12-05


ing from 20 to 20 per cent. The report is
signed by all Of the Commissioners now
living, with reservation on the part OF some
of the members. In the new scheme proposed
the relations of wise system TO the material lie
and prosperity of the Nation are not over
looked and the general structure OF the pres
emit system has been retained, with one e&cep-
lion. The elimination of compound duties is
recommended, except in the schedule OF wool
lens full abstract of the report is gwen
herewith.
THE REPORT ABSTRACTED AND CoMMEN l.
ED UPON.
WASHINGTON. Dec. 4.-The report OF the laiiu
Commission was submitted to Congress To-
dav. 1t is.a long document and compress geneIHl
review OF the Commission ana ITS WORK. ioiio"."
by the reasons IN detail for The changes mace III 'nI
several schedules and for the suggested revision OF
the customs laws The proposed sch' duieS are sun
nit. in iull also the revsions of the several sec
sions of ,be customs laws and bill for the ap-
noinl ment of Customs Court, together win IN aP
nendix containg an array of statistics rta.lhR W
tbo manufactures Of the United States anu some
ao+a mon which is based review OF IaDor anu
,roces IN this country and Great Britain. Inc re-
,ort Is sien d hy all The Commissioners excepting
80 o,ursc the late Commi sioner Mcmahon, but not
.ritLout reservation OH the part OF some OF lhe
,rombers. For exam pie, Commissioner Underwood
ohiects 10 the recommendations for Cus'otnS
Court bill Commissioners Amber for'eT anu IN
Servood object TO The ret ntion OF compound dutes
IN the woollen schedUie-lhe only case III Whicn
a.. ,orplex system has been retained. Two of
The Commissioners also object to the present
metbo6 Of collecting duties on foreign Valuations
a. 10 OH charges
commissions. So
IT. Commission states that while II has given
copsideratiou TO tie interests affected by revision
IN determining The rates TO be recommended 1t has
ben Governed in its actions solely hyi's own views
~ ,u.fics expedency and q regard f the Interests
az ,ons,mer, and the public sentiment Of the coun-
FRY. II was beieved from the beginning OF lis
work that q substantial reduction of the tarlh
dn,ies v as d, handed. not by mere indisciminate
rorular clanor, Int by the lest COZ serva-
five opInon of the country, lrcudme
that which in former times has been
most strenuous for the preservation OF The National
Industrial defenees.
The Commission concisely points ont the fact that
eNccs i've duties generally, or exceptionally hlHh
dutes in particular cases, discreet our whole Ma
tonal ecor Omic system, and furni II plausible argu
nents for its complete subversloD Ihey serve To H.
crease the uncertainty on the part OF mduSulaI en-
terprise and take from commerce, as well as pro-
ducton, the sense OF stability required for extended
md, akirgs. The report says 1t would seem that
the rates of duties under the existing tarlu, liked
FOR the most part, during the W.T. underthe evident
necessity al that time Of stimulating to its utmost
extent all domestic productions. might be adapted,
II rcucb reductin to the present condition OF
pcae. rtquInug 10 such extra rdiDary stimulus.
And in the mechanical and manufacturing indus
ties especiallv those which have been long estab-
Isled, it would seem that the improvements in ma
cbinery and processes made within the last twenty
years. and the high sale OF pToducuVenrss when
has become a characteristic of their establishments,
would permit our manufacturers to compete with
their foreign rivals unCer substantial reduction
Of existing duties.
SUBSTANTIAL REDUCTION OF TIE TARIFF.
The distinguishing feature of the report may be
said TO be a substantial reduction. The average of
the reducf ion in rates including that from the en-
larpemeut Of the duties on charges and commissions
At which the Commission has aimed, is approx
matelv twenty per cent, and IN he opinion Of the
c, mmission this reduction will reach twenty-five
per cent. In this work mfexble rule of hori-
.ontal reduction has not been adopted. In some
cases it has been slight in Others not attempted.
But in many cases reductions have been made from
forty to ifyper cent. The report saws that as the
amount Of the reduction cannot be stated with pre-
clson it follows that no statement can be safely
made as TO he effect of the proposed reduction upon
the TOT al volume Of the from import duties.
The amount of reduction in the total volume OF the
revenue could be ated absolutely only by show
Ing the income that would be lost by
the enlargement of the free list Al
though the free. list IS considerably en-
larged in the scheme proposed. IT hal already been
enlarged by previous legislation to such extent
as TO embrace nearly onc-thrd in value of the in-
ported merchandise for 1881; and htle room is left
for reform in this direction. 1t is proba lie that the
reduction of the total volume of the revenue would
not be proporiorate to the reduction Of the du les.
for tho reason that the reduction may, temp rarly
at least, increase importatons and greater reve-
nue. for time may result from the lower duties. II
has been the effort of the Commission to make the
reduction apply to commodities OF necessary gene raj
consumption, and TO diminish or withhold the re-
ductIon upon commodities of high cost, requiring
mere labor, and which, being consumed principally
By the more wealthy classes, could bear higher
duties; at the same time supplying revenue and en-
couragng the higher arts without being oppressive
in the operation.
PRODUCTIVE INDUSTRIES OF THE. COUNTRY.
Referring to the importance Of our manufacturing
industry the Commission states that while aiming
to diminish the burdens upon the people which III
evitabiy attend any system of collecting the Ma
tional revenue; the Commission has not lost sight OF
the relations of a wise tariff system TO the attain
nent Of the highest possible material life of the
Nation; its security III times of war, both IN its
means OF defence and industrial independence It's
pos rion among other Nations; its acquisition OF all
the arts which fortify, enrich and adorn its at
Effectiveness for the skilled labor of other lands
t1,o nd ma a SupDort af a.
people To show how mo nentous TO these interests
are the questions involved in a tariff revision the
Commission presents statements Of the productive
industries of the country for four decades. classified
in accordance with the fourteen schedules in the
tnrf ~ snhnne snh nittcd hv The Commission. II the