New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-12-05
throughout has been 20 preserve and guard the
helpful influences OF tho system, while modify

throughout has been 20 preserve and guard the
helpful influences OF tho system, while modify
| ing its operation.
| Fourteen schedules are proposed Tor dutlaole
articles and the classification in itself will
ma 80 an improvement of great Importance In
the practical working of the tariff. In eight OF
| these schedules there are important changes ;
| in the Others the old duties are mainly retained.
I'm Schedule A, embracing chemicals, there IS
an average reduction of % to 30 per cent, hut
the most important changes are the removal OF
1 duty on crude materials, the reduction OF per
| cent on products advanced one stage In manu-
| facture, and the simplfcaton of provisions in
Orler to avoid the numberless protests AMI suits
which arise from defective classification.
Schedule B embraces earthen and glass ware.
| Abolition Of duties on cost of inland transpOr-
| tation, freight charges and commissions IL Is
held, will practically lower the rate on decorated
| china, porcelain and Parian ware so much that
an increase of ; per cent in duty is recon-
mended as necessary Duties on painted and
colored glass are also raised, as the manufacture
here is young and the products are substantially
Injuries, but most articles of this class retain
the pre- sent duty.
tant, and The changes proposed are vital. The
ola law, it is boldly and truly stated has been
outgrown; pew articles and processes have
made its provisions useless or harmful III many
Gas =, and the work of classification peculiarly
ifl,u +. The aim has been to stop the tronble
between the Government and importers by
rutting iron and steel on the same footing 50 far
| as lossble, 10y simplifying divisions. and by
abolis ing compound duties The reduction
proposed on ore and pig-ron is not large the
duty on BeSsempT rails. now S2S, it is proposed
10 make eigh' -tenths OF a cent per pound, or
ST. %. The Commission reasons, IN The
TRIBUNE has reasoned, that it would have
been better for the manufacturers II the duty
had been reduced earlier, fnr that would have
prevented the rapid doubling of tbs capacity of
| works, and the violent fluctuations in price be-
tween $40 and $50 per ton. On bar-iron tho
proposed reduction is from 10 to 20 per cent. on
wire flom 20 to 80 per cent, and on msceIa-
neous articles from ID to % per ccut The
blunder in duty on tin plates, which originated
in the msplaCement Of "a comma IN the Act, ~
corrected. Articles "n0t otherwise provided
for " ARE put at higher rates than the average
of 81 ccilied articles, because lower range
through efforts of importers TO bling articles
unler that provision. An especially credltable
thing in this part of the report is its recognition
of the steady aud sure approximation in price
between iron and steel.
Schedule f., sugar has IN important new elias
sfcaiOn based on the use Of the polar isCOpe,
and a general reduction Of about 10 per cent.
4 sui stiiutIon of specific for ad Nalorem duties
on toblcco is the main change in Schedule +.
Schedule |, cotton goods is the result of most
useful and intelligent labor intended To avoid
confusion and Ii igation arising from compound
duties and ambiguity Of terms. Except on
some finer goods, the reduction il from - tO30
per cent. Under Schedule X II general rcAnc-
ton of 20 per cent Is proposed on wool, ana Is
to 40 per cent on WOoIicn goods, the higher re-
duction being on goods of cheaper grade and
more common use. the retention OF com
pound duties in this class occasions tho only
important dissent Coy four Commissioners
from ID report Otherwise substantially unan-
lmous. Under Schedule l. specific arc subst-
tuted for al valorcm duties on silk goods, with
a general reduction OF about % per cent, and
most interesting fact, rs to the splendid prog
rcSs of this industry are given III lie report.
Under Schedule VI 1t is proposed 10 admit news
papers and periodicals free. Wood pulp Is also
placed ON the fee lis
Inevitably there will be much criticism CT
The details of report which proposes such I'M
poitant changes. Buttnc report also contains
provision for administrative reforms OF the ut
most value, AMI fOr the establishment of u Gus
toms Court, to sat IN this city, where tWo-tlirds
If the imports arrive. to embrace one expert
officer Of al least ten years experience. AMI to
decide within ninety days, without plcadlngS,
questions of appeal from The decisions of Col
Iectors 1t is believed that great relief Will
thus lie given from the annoyance and loss to
winch merchants are now subj cted through
confusing and often arbitrary rulings of officials
of the Department.
IL is pleasure to be able to commend this
valuable report most heartily. Some points we
should have been clad 10 see changed; others
may perhaps appear upon further examination.
But no measure cOud have been proposed
which could have suited every body. If all
members of Congress who seek the prosperity
of the country wlll give to this report their
careful attention, they will find in it IA basis
upon which immediate action ought to be taken,
Reform of the tariff III that line il possible ut
this session, and would be of iDcalculable bene-
iit 10 the country. Change on any other line
will not be possible for years 10 come.
THE PRESIDENT And CIVIL SERTICB
RhFORJ.
No portion of the Presidents Message will