Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-01-18
Cotton Duties.

EditOP N6lc York Times. senator Nor
rill, in introducing the new tariff bill,
stated that he estimated the reduction
made on cotton would amount to $3,6S1,-
600, basing his calculations on the impor-
tatiOns of 1882. 1t would be interesting to
know on what items he figures this grand
total of reductions. The writer has not
seen the tabulated statement of imports
and duties for 1882, but on applying the
proposed rates to the impOrtatiOns of 1881
he is satisfied that there is an increase of
over 100000.
Comparing first the duties on piece cot
ton, we find that large variety of open
woven goods containing under 100 threads
to the square inch, weighing under five
ounces per square yard, and embracing
such goods as tarlatanS, swiss, and fig
ured mulls, dress-linings, hatter's lining,
etc., would pay duties ranging from 30
per cent. to $50 per cent; the average
rate would probably be 80 per cent, and
as these goods are dutiable under the pre-
sent tariff at 30 per cent. as manufactures
of cotton not otherwise provided for, the
increase under the proposed special duty
of 80 cents per square yard for bleached,
and AZ cents per square yard for cOlOred,
cottons, would be 50 per cent.
COttOns over 100 threads to the square
inch and under > ounces per square yard
(muslins J, costing from 3 to u cents, now
pay specific duty of 81 cents per square
yard, or an average Of65 per cent. Under
the proposed duty of cents per square
yard the average would be AZ per cent, or
a reduction of Is per cent; the same class
of goods costing from IL to % cents, now
pay a specific duty of 81 cents per square
yard, or an average of 30 per cent. The
proposed duty on this line of prices is 60
per cent. ad valorem, or an increase of 81
per cent. All heavy piece cottOns, such
as damasks, furniture coverings, ETC.,
now paying a duty of 30 per cent. will
be advanced to 60 per cent. The
aim of the trainers of the schedule is evil
IDENTIFY to place a tax of 60 per cent. on the
higher grades Of cOttons now paying from
% per cent. to 50 per cent, while at the
same time making apparently large re-
auctions on lOw-priced printed cottOns
and ginghams. For instance, the value
of prints in this market is 81 cents per
yard, or say S.66 cents per square yard, the
proposed duty is cents per square yard.
equal to IS per cent; the present duty is
81 cents per square yard and 20 per cent.
ad valorem, or say 81 per cent; here is a
reduction of 26 per cent, but as no low
priced prints would be imported were the
duty placed at % per cent. the
reduction is only in name. There
are so many kinds of cotton manu-
a gossamer tissue to heavy sail cloth, that
it is impossible to devise an equitable and
simple tariff based on specific rates. I'm
der the proposed schedule we find that a
yard of printed cotton costing 10 cents
paws SO per cent, and like article cost
ing 15H cents pays go per cent; yard OF
bleached cotton under 100 threads, cost
ing 2.75 cents, will pay a duty of 315
cents, or 12S per cent; yard of bleached
cents, will pay cents per square yard, or
81 per cent. These are among the in
CAPABILITIES of the proposed measure.
What object is there in specific rates
other than the cOncealment of eXOrbitant
duties? 1t cannot be fear of undervalua-
ton by importers, for the duty on laces,
trimmings, embrOideries, silks, etc, the
values of which are much harder to deter
mine, is continued at ad valOrem rates.
There are two clauses in this schedule
providing for duties on hosiery, as fol-
lows:
"On stockings, hose, half-hOse, shirts
and drawers and all goods made on knit
ting machines or frames, composed
wholly of cotton, and not herein other
wise provided for, 80 per cent. ad valOrem.
con stockings, hose, half-hOse, shirts
and drawers fashioned, narrowed or
shaped wholly or in part by knitting ma
clllneS or frames, OF knlU by mana ana
composed wholly of cotton, A per cent. ad
ValOrem."
The first relates to goods, the material
for which is cut and sewed after leaving
the knitting-machine the second has re-
ference to what is known as regular made
or fashioned hosiery, and when we con-
slider that all imported hose, halfhOse
and shirts and drawers belong to the lat
ter class it becomes evident that our
hosiery manufacturers, who pay their
operatives the enormous sum of 70 cents
per day, have convinced the Ways and
Means Committee and the Senate Com
mitteee ON Finance that they can no longer
afford such liberality unless the duty on
hosiery is changed from 80 per cent. to A.
per cent.
Cotton importatiOns classified as not
otherwise provided for are set down at
$7,5O0,000. 1t is safe to say that the larger
part of this sum represents piece cOttOns
which, under the proposed tariff, would
pay 90 per cent. The other important
items in the schedule, embrOideries, laces
and velvets, are changed from 80 per cent.
to 40 per cent. The facts appear to be very
much at variance with the Senator's fig
ures. w. NJ. i.
Nelc York, Friday, Jan. u, 1888.