Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-02-27
TIE TAKIFr PRosrECr.

The House bill for increasing the peoples
burden of taxation, under the pretepss of
reforming the tariff, ie, as it ought to be, in
hopeless condition, and attention is now
turned toward the tariff bill adopted by the
Senate, which does Contain some modifying
features. AT the outset there is raised an
objection to the Senate bill as being tax
1nea.ure originating in the Senate, when
ruch measures should, according 10 rule and
precedent, originate in the House alone.
Should this objection be striDgeally urged
by the opponents of this bill, it may be fatal
to it and the work OF reforming the tariff 90
over to the next Congress. The bill as passed
by the Senate reduces the duty on iron rails
from SIS 10 SIS 68 a ton, forty-6ve per cent;
reduces the duty on tin plate and come
kinds of iron and steel manufacture about
twenty per cent; bar iron one-fourlh cent a
pound; Russian sheet lion one cent pound.
The adv ance upon iron cotton-ties is very
properly rejected, also that on some other
kinds of iron in general use. 1t reduces The
duty on sugar below No. 10 about twenty
per cent, and higher grades still more
Some kinds of cottons and wooleps, and the
duty on woods and silks are reduced, and
jute bales are put on the free list, together
with a nunber of chemicals snd sundries. Ii
reduces the duty on books from twenty. Eve
10 fifteen per cent, snd allows those in for.
eign languages to enter free, as they should
do Salt is reduced twenty per cent, with
drawback on sait used in curing meats and
fish. On iron ore snd pig iron very
little change is made, and the very
Objectionable duty Of two and one. half cent.
pound is put upon copper. The duty on
steel blooms is put higher. Some of the
heaviest duties on woolens are retained, and
cloths sppear to be taxed higher than ready
made clothing. Raw hemp retains the S25
"a ton, and cotton goods duties are changed
IN an Objectionable manner that will seri-
nusly embarrass some branches OF that
manufacture. All chance for a revision of |
The tariff during the few days that remain |
10 Congress appear 10 lie in the adoption of |
This measure. As measure Of reform this |
bill is by no means an embodiment OF the |
desires OF the people, but as it is this or |
nothing, there is possibility that il may be |
adopted. But" to uSe the words of the |
New York Times, "whether il is adopted or |
not, it is certain that no such revision of the |
tariff as the country demands will be ac- |
complished, and the subject will not |
be allowed 10 rest until a real |
reform has been effected" Ia view of this |
fact, it would be in vain 10 favor the Senate |
bill for the sake Of settling the tariff ques-
ton, for an unsatisfactory measure will keep |
the country longer in agitation upon the sub |
jet than would reference of the whole sub |
ject 10 the next Congress, when it could be
eonsidered deliberately ard by the members |
recently elected, who will be likely to ex-
press, in any measure they may pass the will |
Of the people more accurately than the mem.
bers OF the present Congress, as they were |
chosen at time when public attention was |
less turned TO the subject Of the tariff than it
hiss been since.