The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1883-01-21
TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.
THE TARIFF BILL.
Republican Representatives
Agree TO Take tG MP at Once
and Pas it.

Il eAS eGs
WASHINGTON, ia caucus Of repub.
lican repres natives was h2ld in The
cham Der of the House this afternoon TO
decide upon g plan of action regarding
the tariff, One hundred and thirty repre-
sentaIiVes were present, and the proceed
ings were marked with unanimity of
spirit end action that is seldom known in
a party conference. Fer q week past the
assertion has been made and repeated
that republicans were divided as to the
wisdom of adopting the bill proposed By
the ways and means committee, and that
democratic free traders could avail them
selves OF republican dissensious to defeat
the passage of the protection bill, The
action of the caucus Of to-day, shows
that this story was without founda-
ton. Il Is no secret that q con-
siderable number Of democrats are
determined to oppose the bill. They
will prevent, if possible, any revision
that is not in accordance with their
views. 1t is expected by republicans
that there will be sufficient number Of
democrats opposed to the daIsy to join
the misority in passing the bill. After
the caucls was organized, Kelly, chair
man of ways and means committee, said
he wished TO direct the attention Of mem
bers to the tariff bill. AS to clsssifcs-
tiGns and schedule the bill follows the
commission bill Considering the brief
time allotted the commission for its
work, he regarded the bill as admirable.
There were several Inaccuracies in the
commission bill which probably resulted
from the haste with which it was prepar-
ed, Different schedules were allotted to
various committees, and in some cases
it was impossible for tina full commission
to meet Owing to the advance in sci
ence. art and manufactures since the
present tariff was created. it was neces-
ssry to make new Classification and re-
arrange the schedules.
Mckinley said republicans of the COM
mission favored the bill and voted to re-
port it to the House.
Haskell, of ksnsas, followed with q
long and effective speech in favor of the
bill. He said that with an exception the
Potter committee had reduced in the ag-
gregate the rates in every schedule. He
estimated that the bill, as reported. re-
duced the duties below the present rates
% millions, and these reductions were
made On articles of prime necessity.
Sugar had been reduced between II and
10 millions; wooden goods, silks and
metals about three millions each, and
other reductions Of more sweeping char
scter. He had made careful exsmin-
alton Of the present tariff and found 1000
changes had been made in its provisions
since its enactU ent, by treasury rulings,
decisions of courts, etc. The inter
vtntion OF the law mad been destroyed
in many particulars, apparently in the
interest Of free trade, and to the ruin
of many industries He called attention
to the advantage to which the meinten-
ance Of protective rates OF duty had been
to consumers of imported articles. citing
among many things, as illustration, The
plate glass trade. The price OF French
plate before the Indiana industries were
established aud protected, was 81. Sc per
square foot; since then the price has
been reduced to about 81. Haskell
called attention to the suggestion that
| the the tariff Commission bill should be
adopted by Congress as substitute for
the bill prepared by the ways and meaus
committee. This he declared wouldn't
do. It would plunge the House into a
difficulty, aud the commissions bill was
hurriedly prepared and needed revision.
The commission lacked time to thor
oughly revise its lsbors. Haskell ex-
planned why the committee had reduced
the duty on tin plate, wire rods, hoop
iron, ETC., below the figures recommended
! by the commission. The articles entered
into the manufacture of goods largely
consumed by the people. The reductions
10 the sugar schedule were doubtless on
the recommendation of the tariff commits
sion. As rule the reductions Of the
ways and means committee were more
than those recommended By the tariff
commission, but upon few articles the
rates had been increased. Mr.. Haskell
called attention to the charge that has
been made in western newspapers that
the rates had been increased upon steel.
| that enters into the manufacture of ploWs
and other agricultural implements
Thase statements, he said,
were entirely untrue. The rates
upon low grades of steel, had been
la'geiy reduced, bat the committee had
not made reductions upon the finer
grades of crucible steel, that enter into
the manufacture of fire goods. He said
that the reason for increasing the duties
on pottery was that foreign potters were
selling their wares at lower rates in tie
|
the world. They wished to freeze out
American potters and obtain control OF
the market. Raw woods, Haskell said ,
had been reduced about 10 per cent, and
wool associations had agreed to this re-
duction.
Belford (Colorado) said he wished
that fact to be announced on the floor of
the House, as he had understood that q
member Of the association had said
otherwise.
| Continuing, Haskell said the ways
and means committee bill does discrimi-
nate in favor Of American industries.
Some things in the bill opposed in the
committee, some amendments I offered
were rejected, but as a whole it is q vast
improvement on the present law. II
protects American interests, it is re.
ducing bill, and / believe it is of more
importance that it should be passed with.
out delay than any other measure that
has come before Congress for years past
or that will be proposed for years tC
come. Hs was loudly applauded.
Kelly said that he should recommend
that general debate be limited to on,
day and that the House should take vi
the bill section by section and consider
Speaker Keifer moved the following
resolution.
Resolved, That it is the sense of thi,
caucus, that the bill reported by the
House committee on ways and means
Shall be taken up at as early day d