The Portland daily press., 1883-03-07

appear whether the changes are upward or
downward. Thus 1t will be seen that he
act departs in surprisingly small proportion
of specifications from the rates proposed by
the Commission, even to secure greater re-
duction, but that the large majority of de-
partures were toward lower rates. Most of
these were made by the free-trade Demo-
Gratis of the Senate, with the aid of lew
Republicans. And yet, after having done
their utmost to defeat the passage of the bill
by making it dangerous to industry, and
therefore unacceptable to Republicans, they
not only voted against it but TesorteG to in
decent tiliibustering to defeat it. II these
Democrats had been able to prevent, the
country would have had no reduction of
taxes from the XLVIIth Congress.
Higher rates than the Commission pro-
posed have been fixed in 10 cases under
chemicals, under earthen and glass ware,
under iron and steel and 5 among other
metals, 5 under liquors land these, mainly
champagnes, are also advanced from the
present awl, under cottons, and 5 under
sundres. Lower rates than the Commits
sion proposed have been fixed in p c3ses un-
der chemicals, 81 under iron and steel and
4 under other metals, 7 under sugar, un-
der provisions, under wool and waolens
and under sundries The preponderance
of reductions in the iron and steel section
marks tUb Sp6cldl HOSTILITY VI tuS democrats
to that great industry, and explains the Il :
willingness of some Republicans to vote
with their associates. The time has now
passed for those heated predictions of over
whelming disaster which were not unnatur-
ally made by some who feared that the bill
had gone too far toward reduction for the
public safety. The country does not need
to be alarmed. 1t ould be better that the
sturdy men If all industries should now set
themselves 'bravely to overcome as far as
they can any dangers to which Democratic
free-traders have exposed the country, and
meanwhile to rejoice that in spite of them
the work of Republican Tariff Commission
has been so far carried out by the Republi-
can majority in Congress. 1t is not unlike
ly that the pernicious character of some
Democratic departures from the plan of the
Commission will become SO apparent. before
another session oil Congress, that the Demo-
Gratis themselves will not dare to refuse
amendments. On the other hand, the good
effect OF the general provisions and
tenor of the measure may be so
great that, in not few cases changes which
less.
The theoretic reduction of revenue is one
thing, and that can be calculated. The ac-
tual decrease in revenue received is a very
different matter, for, first, the same taxes
would naturally yield an increased rev nue.
with every year Of prosperity; and second
the effect of almost every injudicous reduc-
ton of duties is to Increase importations at
the outset. and thus to increase revenue.
Hence men differ widely in Judging of he
reduction that will result from the act lust
passed Senator Morrill, stated that he ex-
pected a reduction of $4,000, 900; Mr.. Ke-
ley placed it at $65000,000 to $40 000, 900.
and Mr.. Carlisle at S65,000,000 But the
Democratic leader considered that the re-
dntiion in internal revenue would be from
S40, 1000, 900 to $45, ,000,000: while Mr.. Kelley,
who is at least as well able to compute that
part of the ploblem-by all odds the least
doubtful-puts il at $35 100000 to $40, ,O00.-
600. Assuming that about $37, SOC, 900 will
prove approximately correct, there will re-
main reduction of $27, ,500,0 600 to $32 500,-
600 from the change of the tariff. About
$1l 100000 of this is expected from the new
sugar duties, and t5,400000 from the abo-
iition of inland transpor alton, 81 per cent.
commissions and other charges. Computed
on the basis of last years importations the
decrease would appear to exceed $32, ,000,-
GOO or even $37 100000, but would average
even tben less than the Commission aimed
to secure. But if excessively low duties
have been adopted in any important case,
the result will be considerable increase of
importations, SO that the actual decrease of
revenue will prove still smaller
Without doubt this bill has defects, al
though 1t merits on the whole much praise.
1t is a most desirable revision as respects
simplication and the avoidance of ambigai-
ties, and it secures a lar reduction of reve-
nue.. The country, though the Democrats
never give it credit for intelligence, will not
overlook the fact that nearly all the defects
or doubtful features Of the bill are due to
the malignant par isanship of Democrats in
the Senate, or to their ancient plantation
prejudice against measures that promste
diversified industry, while for the passage of
any bill whatever, and for all the merits OF
the new act, credit is due to the Republican
party