Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-05-11
SENATOR MORRILL, on TARIFF REVISION.

TeCent UP 10 Tue SOuln, WIS luteiNieWeu W
the Washington correspondent Of the New
York Tribune, with regard to Senator Sher-
mans structures upon The Senate Conference
Committee and the tariff bill. These strict
ures were published during Senator Morrilrs
Absence and consequently were rot seen by
lin until some time after they appeared.
The Vermont Senator, through the columns
of the Tribune, replies at length to Senator
Shcrman's objections and his reply Is of
such comprehensive and thorough nature as
to constitute refutation of all the charges
and structures brought against tariff revision
and the action of the Senate conference conf
mittec.
Senator Morrill, first points out, in
his reply to Senator Sherman, the great
obstacles which were placed in the way OF
revision. The shoit session Of Congress-
lie says hardly affords more than time for
the regular appropriation bils-wholly insult
iicicnt for the consideration by each House
in succession of measure 30 comprehensive
as general revision of the tariff-and, there
fore, at the late session it had to be taken up
simultaneously in both Houses, otherwise
there could have been no hope of its final
passage" The work was faithfully adhered
10, in spite Of organized opposition, for many
weary weeks. At length, when the bill
reached committee of conference, the at
tempt was made by Democratic Senators 10
throw IN insurmountablc obstacle in the way
of further action by claiming that the House
had hy the terms of its resolution interposed
a constitutional barrier TO any free confer
cnce. Thereupon the Democratic confercts
on the part of the Senate very unwiscly de-
clincd service, and their :actious example was
followed by all the Democratic Senators.
Tue presiding officer of the Senate struggled
in vain TO find any one who would accept.
At length the bill was reported from the con-
ference committee, but one Republican men,
Der of the Senate conferees and one of the
House. both from Ohio, withheld their sigma
lures from the report because some Of the
proposed rates were not higher, and one
Democratic member Of the House because
some rates were too high. The bill passed
the Senate by one majority only. Few
says Senator Morrill,, will dispute that the
shape which il assumed 10 the committee of
conference was better than whist was report
ed from the Senate committee on finance or
than what was sent by the Senate to the
House. No such measure can go through
the ordeal of legislative bodies without i'm
PROJECTIONS, but it is nearly certain that moth
ing more perfect will soon be produced by q
House of 1926 members, and twenty years
may elapse before the country will have any
thing more satisfactory"
Turning now in detail to the structures of
Senator Sherman upon the bill as 1t stands,
Senator Morrill, first considers biz complaint
that the reduction Of the duty on woods is
greater than that upon woollens. Il think,
says Senator Morrill,, ".his is an error, and
that the general reduction on woollens is a
larger percentage, and ten-fold greater in
the aggregate. The specific duty of ten and
twelve cents per pound is the only trustwor-
thy protection the wool.growtr ever had. or
can have. and that is still to remain the
same while the highest rate of twelve cents
per pound will hereafter apply 10 woods val
ued at over thirty cents instead of over thir-
Iy-two cents per pound The former add-
tional ad valorem rate Of eleven pnd ten per |
cent was abandoned on the recommendation
Of the Tariff Commission. The Senator is |
evidently mistaken in his calculation, and
forgcls that the duties upon all inland
charges and commissions on woollen goods,
D very material item, have been removed, |
while wool suffers no such reduction, as such |
charges on wool have never been dutiabe.'
Senator Morrill, goes on to point out the
TACT that duties upon No. cls,hiug woods
nave been almost prohibitory i'll the past, and
hat the change made will be hardly pcrcep-
iblc in its practical effect. If less price
'hould follow, it will arise from larger i'm
OF wool in the form of manufactures
)r from increasing home competition among
wool growers. The great error Of those
who favor protective tariff is
hat they sometimes ask too much, and if
ha, is granted, they have to meet not only
90 much home competition but also we'll
opposition, because the rates are
Excessive. The sumo rate of increase In the
Of American wool that VIC have
lad in the past will before another decade
much more than supply the domestic de-
nand, and the excess must then find mark.
It abroad. The present compound duties OIL
clothing woods are equal 10 a rate of over IS
DER cent ad valorem. and the law which
,oes into effect on July will still leave the
ate at over "A per cent.
"All Republicans, says Senator Morrill,,
now willingly concedc (what for more than
20 years / have commended for very liberal
protection to WOOL but the 2 cents more
proposed in the Senate, being unreasonable,
vas voted down by 40 nays to 20 yeas. No
conference committee could have been justi-
led in wholly dsregarding vote so decisive
IS that"
The leader of the Democratic party in the
senate, Senator Baysrd. proposed to put an
ID valorem on all woods of % per cent only,
md in the House an equally radical PROPOSE
ION has been foreshadowed. One of the
candidates for Sp' ai,r of the coming Demo-
ratio House would even place wool on the
rec list ST." says Senator Morrill, she
lid not think that free wao gonld have
trength with majority OF Democratic mehi.
'ers, he would have hardly made this bid SO
prominent and SO early Senator Morrill,
links that where lands are hlgh-priced,
heep husbandry affords very Emall profits
nut, he says. 'the greatly improved breeds
f meIino sheep, however, hold out some