New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-03-05
NEW YORK DAILY TRIBUNE MONDAY MARCH O. 1883.

the Commission. In over so cases more, sub
stantlally the same rate is retained TOT articleS
now named which the Commission had in
cluded under general clauses. Thus there re-
main in ali about 10 departures from the
rates proposed by the Commission, and many
of these are small. Lower duties are liked III
% cases. higher duties in 46 cases, and In
about 26 cases it does not appear whether the
changes are upward or downward. mus IL
will be seen that the act departs in surpris-
ingly small proportion of specifications from
the rates proposed by the Commission, either
to secure less reduction than it proposed or
even 10 secure greater reduction, but that the
large majority of departures were towaIu
lower rates. Most of these were made by the
free-trade Democrats of the Senate, WIN '"o
aid of few Republicans. And yet aiter nav
ing done their utmost to defeat the passage oi
the bill by making it dangerous TO INDUSTRY
and therefore, unacceptable to Republicans
they not only voted against 1t Out reSU.'eu "
indecent fiibusterng to defeat n' ~ 'ii'0'
Democrats had been able to prevent, the eoun-
try would have had no reduction OIL 'aAcS ioi'
the XLVlIth Congress.
Higher rates than the Commission proposeu
have been fixed in 10 cases under chemicaiS' .
under earthen and glass ware, under Iron anu
steel and s among other metals, unoer
donors (and these mainly champagnes, are also
advanced from the present law, under cot
toms and under sundries. Lower rates than
tho Commission proposed have been hxeo In
81 cases under chemicals, 81 under iron and
stool and under other metals, under sugar,
under provisions 9 under wool and wOollens,
and g under sundries The preponder-
ance of reductions in the iron and steel section
morLs the special hostility of the Democrats
10 that great industry, and explains the un-
willingness of some Republicans to vote with
their associates. The time has now passed. LOT
those heated predictions of overwhelming DIS
aster which were not unnaturaliy nlaue u!
some who feared that the bill had gone too
far toward reduction for the public safety
The country does not need to be alarmed. III
would be better that the sturdy men OF all IN
dustries should now set themselves b1yely 10
overcome as far as they can any dangers 10
which Democratic frce-traders have exposed
the country. and meanwhile to rejoice that IN
spite of them the work of a Republican Iarih
Commission has been so far carried out by the
Republican majority in Congress II Is not
unlikely that the pernicious character oil some
democratic departures from the plan
of tho Commission will become 20
apparent. before another session OF Con-
ercss. that the Democrats Themselves
will not dare to refuse amendments. Tn the
other hand, the good effect OF the general pro-
visions and tenor of the measure may Toe 80
great that, IN not few cases, changes which
men now view with dread may prove harmless.
The theoretic reduction of revenue is one
thing, and that can be calculated. The actual
decrease in revenue received is very different
matter, for first the same taxes would naturally
Weld an increased revenue with every year OF
prosperity and second, the elect OF almost
every iniudiciOus reduction of duties Is 10 IN
crease importations at the outset, and thus to
increase revenue. Hence men differ widely In
iudglng of the reduction that will result from
the act lust passed. Senator Morrill, stated
that be expected a reduction of $4,000, 900;
MIR. Kelley placed it at 500, 100000 to &c.,
600. 600. and Mr.. Carlisle at $50, 600. 900.
But the Democratic leader considered that the
reduction in internal revenue wvuld be from
$40. 600, 900 to SIS. 900, 900; while Mr.. Kelley,
who is at least a. well able TO compute that
mart of the problem-by all odds the least
doubtful-puts 1t at $50, 100000 10 0.OOO.-
600. Assuming that ABOUT $37 100000 will
prove approximately correct, there will remain
a reduction of s27,500,000 to $32, 100000
from the change of the tariff About $l1,-
OOO. 900 of this is expected from the new sugar
duties and So, 400, 900 from the abolition of
inland transportation, Dig per cent commissions
and other charges Computed on the basis OF
last years imDOrtations the decrease would
appear to exceed $50, 00O, 900 or even $37. 900,
600, but would average even then less than
tho Commission aimed TO secure But If
excessively low duties have been adopted in
any important case, the result will be con-
siderable increase of importations, so that the
actual decrease OF revenue will prove still
smaller.
Without doubt this bill has defects, though
It merits on the whole much praise. IL is
most desirable revision as respects smpliica-
ton and the avoidance of antiquities, and it
secures large reduction of revenue. The
country, though tho Democrats never give 1t
credit for Intelligence, Will not overlook the
fact that nearly all the defects or dOub full
features of the bill are due to the Malignant
craftsmanship of Democrats in the Senate or to
their ancient plantation prejudice against
measures that promote 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.
-
ALEXANDER HAMILTON STEPHENS