Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1883-03-07
The Tariff Bill.


for any sum less than Ave dollars
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The Tariff Bill.
Contrary to the fears, and contrary TO the
hopes and unaagging efforts OF allied free
traders and high protectionists, fairly &C.
ceptable tariff bill has been enacted and
will 20 into effect July 1st In view Of the
obstacles which have beset the considera
ton of tariff revision, of the political oppo-
sition which was chiefly anxious to defeat a
republican measure and carry revision over
to a congress in which the democracy would
have large majority in the lower house,
and in view Of the sectional and selfish
spirit which seems to have biased the judg-
ment and controlled the action Of senators
and representatives who appeared to be
chiefly solicitous that certain pet interests
Of their constituents should be protected at
at the expense Of all the rest of the nation
in view of these things and the narrow mar
gin upon which the republican majority in
either branch STOOD it is marvel that any
measure could be passed, and great credit is
due to the sincere advocates Of tariff reform
for having accomplished 80 much, rather
than extreme censure for having fallen
short of full and ample reduction Of du.
ties on imports. The bill is not perfect
measure, but, except in a few particulars,
is doubtless as good as could ever be ex-
pected from the senate as now constituted
and vastly better than there is any reason
TO expect from the next house of represen-
tatives. At the head OF those who have
counseed and abored and voted for judi
cious and impartial reduction of taxation
stands Senator Morrill, of Vermont, chairman
Of the senate finance committee. He has
led those republicans who have shown will
ingness and an anxiety to remove consd-
cradle portion of the internal revenue taxes
and to revise the rates of tariff framed
under the pressure of the financial exigen.
oies of great war. His wise and states
manlike course is in happy contrast with
that Of Senator Sherman or Representative
Kelley, sticklers for extreme high rates on a
few articles in which their constituents are
more directly interested, and willing 10 see
tariff revision fail rather than remove one
stone from the high wall with which protec-
ton had environed their local industries.
Senator Morrill,, it is reported, roughly es.
Inmates that the conference bill will effect
reduction in taxation, upon the basis of last
years importations, of about s75 100000, Of
which more than $40 100000 will be lifted
from the internal commerce of the country.
OF the import duties, about Sl000000O is
on sugar and the remainder is divided at
from five to twenty per cent, through all
the schedules. In the confusion incident
to the close of the session, it is difficult to
get at details correctly. In the schedules
in which the people are chiefly Interested
metals, wool, cotton and wooden fabrics and
sugar-the leading changes appear to be
threetentbs cents per pound on pig iron in |
place of 81 per ton, and similar duty on
wrought scrap iron in place of IS per ton.
On these articles alone the duty the last |
fiscal year exceeded 100000 On steel |
rails the duty is sl7 in place of $2S |
Cotton ties, over which the house wasted |
80 much time, are thirty-fve per cent ad
valorem, the same as in the old tariff. Bar !
iron of the smaller sizes-less than one inch |
by three-eighths of an inch and less than
three-fourths of an inch square or rounds
one cent per pound against one and one-half |
cents. Tin plates are raised from one and |
one-tenth to one and four-tenths cents per
pound. Hoop or band iron, not thinner
than No. 10 wire gauge, is reduced from one
and one-fourth to one cent per pound an
similar reduction in thinner grades. Sheet
iron not thinner than No. 90 wire gauge is
reduced from one and one-fourth to one cent
and similar reduction for thinner grades.
Throughout the long list of articles made of
iron or steel revision and Redistribution
is made. On the whole, reduction is eff
fected, but in the system of revision some
articles have been raised to secure for them
their proper relative position in the revised
schedule. On clothing and combing woods,
the duty on which was ten cents per pound
ad valorem for grades not exceeding
thirty-two cents per pound, the new rate is
ten cents per pound, when the value does
not exceed thirty cents per pound. A pro.
portionate reduction is made for higher
grades and for washed or secured woods.
Clothing woods are those in which Vermont
farmers are more directly interested. Nearly
thirteen and one-half million pounds were
imported during the last statistical year.
The old rate was about ffty.fve per cent
ad vslorem and the new rate is about ten
per cent less. The increase of American
woods has been 80 great that foreign cloth.
ing woods have been largely excluded, and it
is not believed the wool interests of the
state or country are likely to suffer much
by this reduction. Carpet woods, not ex-
ceeding in value twelve cents per pound, are
reduced from three cents to two and one-half
cents and higher priced grades from six
cents to five cents. The duty on wooden
cloths, fannels, blankets, knit goods, wo-
mems and children's dress goods, are reduced
in amounts from five to twenty-five per cent,
and cotton fabrics have undergone similar
reduction. While it is conceded that the
reduction of the duty on sugar may result
in lessening the revenue about 100000,
its practical bearing upon the price of sugar,
especially granulated, to the consumer
remains to be seen. The free list has
been materially enlarged by this measure.
Under the old tariff the value of the
articles imported free Of duty was about
thirty per cent of the entire importations,
and under the new act it is estimated
that about one-third of the imports
in value-will come in Free The measure
will be a substantial relief to the people,
and 1t is not believed that it will be fatal to
the industries of the country" infant or
in any advanced stage of development.
AS BEARING upon an important aspect OF
the forestry question, we quote the follow
ing from the recently published report Of
the chief signal officer; Observations by
E. Fautrat, fo' four Year,, as to the rainfall
ovar foraata and ouar traaIaaa |