Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-03-28
THE TARIFF.

WAYS and Means Committee. Reno,.uus
to the House-The Majority and Mipos
,ty Reports Accompanying the De-
ment.
WASHINGTON, March 1.-THE maio,;,.
and minority reports of the Ways. and Means
Committee on the Morrison Tariff bill we,s
submitted to the House yesterday. The di'
vision was upon strict party lines MORT.
son says he does not know when he will
call the bill up for action. The maioritr,
report says:
The Chairman of tire Senate Committe. =.
Finance, in explanation of the bill before t ba
Senate last year, which, after various anenHe'
ments, became n law, estimated at $45y oMMsn
The reduction in revenue which would foIoovws
the changes in the tariff. These calculations
presses, what legislation is neees..
sary to relieve the people Of unnecessary
taxes? Your committee find that in the six
WAS imported into the United States valued ~ /
seSS, SOS. l0a. on which duties were pail amount. |
ing to ss6,5l4,136, being 4O.9l per cent. on the |
months Of 1852, under the old law. the value.
Of dutiablc imports amounted TO $3.50, sGauSS
and the duty paid was $lll.S66,5O7, Or Es.G5 per
cent. on the value. 1t thus appears that The,
average cost of importing was only LA per
cent. less under the new than under the old
law. The nominal reduction made by the pro.
D0SCO Dill Is twenty pcT CCul., i oIlc-uIIn tha
present rate. With the Morrill, tariff limi,as.
lions in the bill. and the liquor and silk schcl.
ules omitted, the actual reduction will not ex-
coed l5.74 per cent. The average reduction
made in the TARIFF Commission bill and that
10 be madc by the proposed bill. together. do,
not reach the reduction at which the commis4
sion aimed.
The decrease in revenue as shown by the
receipts under the new law other than that re-
eu.ting from the nominal reduction of LA
per cent. results from the falling OIL of nearly
So5 iNJ (N of the lmnOrtS IN the first half vtnr
under the new law, as compared with the first,
half OF the previous year under the old law.
ported is estimated at xSl, 900, oOO, on the basis
Of last years imports. 10 the extent of that
s31,0o0,0 eo the bill will relieve the people.
taxes will be reduced directly as a.
measure OF justice to consumers, and in
directly in largely increased proportions.
From the statement made by the Bureau Of
Statistics it appears that the duties or tariff
taxes were decreased on some and increased
on other articles under the new law, but,
in wages in any, but a reduction Of wages in
most Industries, as well rs in those whose
competing products received more, as in
act of March last
referring to the condition of the iron and
steel trade, as one Of the leading manufact-
ures. the report attributes the depression and
the enforced idleness of the workingmen to.
the enormities OF the protective system, and
declares that; US such cala,nities Always fall
clde1 to report a bill for the partial relief OF
the people from unnecessary taxes.
The minority report, which was prepared by
Mr.. Mckinley. after recitiny the action OF the
last Congress in revising the tariff in places
where reductions were needed, urges that the
time which has elapsed since the new
tariff went into effect has been too short
to give it q sufficient test, and asks that it DO
given a fair trial before the subject is brought
reduction proposed by the bill under consid-
GRAFTON has not been asked for by u single ill.,
tercst in the whole country. Continuing, the
report says:
While all unite in opposition to any reduc-
ton some interests asset the necessity OF an
increase of duties for the actual maintenance
country demand the restoration, Of the wool
duty of lS7G. The undersigned hive sought
to respond favorably to this demand of more,
country. but we have been overruled. The
opponents to our views, not con-
of this large class of producers. deliberately
propose to reduce duties still lover. Against
this we enter q most earnest protest There
are some inequalities, however, found in the
present iaw which it would be only just to,
correct. Among theae, wire rods, cotton-lies
and Tin Plates bear greatly d%isproport .ouate
duties to kindred articles, and should be made
consistent and harmonious.
We are opposed TO the bin, because, first.
1t will disturb business, unsettle values.
retard incipient enterprises, cripple those now
established. impair the confidence among
business men SO essential to our development
and prosperity, and bring no countervaillng
benefits.
2: 1t will Of necessity force down the price
OF labor in the United States, will stimulate
imports, increase competition from abroad,
which can only be successfully met by re-
ducing the cost OF home product. We can
not too strongly emphasize our opposition to-
any legislation which even teuds to reduce our
labor to the foreign standard, either in price
or condition.
:. That the proposed reduction will inevit-
ably increase foreign importations, and as q,
consequence will increase our revenues, to.
which increase every interest Of the country
is opposed.
4. 1t is wholly: unnecessary and unjust!fable.
The enormous increase In the wealth OF the
country during the last fifteen years, under a.
protective tariff: now forces capital to seek
employment in the development of all min
eral, agricultural and other resources, and q.
change Or modl1catiOn of the system VII
create such doubt OF successful enterprises
as to check this useful tendency.
o. ~; has none of the merits of a carefully
matnred Iarln bill, and Is not the result of u.
studious consideration of the Interests OF our"
people. 1t proposes to reduce alike the duty
upon every article of foreign import, without,
any examination US to its effect upon particu-
lar industries, and wholly ignoring its ncces-
sary effect in advancing prices abroad by the
aestruet1on OF competition ut home: While
nolnlnally 1T is uniform reduction, in fact it is
grossly unequal under the limitations of the
bill, and it will be found difficult if not i'm
practicable of execution.
8. That feature of the bill which applies nd.
valorem duties to most of the schedules at
fected by it is especially Objectionable, be-
cause It Will greatly increase the existing evil
OF underValuatlon, and consequent frauds.
upon the revenue, rs we'll as SO comphcatep
the rule or assessment duties as greatly to.
embarrass the administration Of the law.
Against the statement Of the majority as to-
the eject OF protective duties upon wages, is.
the statement OF the workInen themselves,
who unite in declaring that protective duties
are essential to fair and rcmuncratiye wages.
ana that every reduction inevitably results in
lowering the standard Of American wages. We,
dissent radically from the statement Of the
majority that l. reduction OF duties lightcn4
py SO much the burdens Of taxation, The.
whole history OF our National experience
SHOWS a constantly decreasing price as the
erect OF increased home competition.
nnat the country wants most is relief
IRON congressional agitation. Ali the indus
tr'cs or the country are extremely sensitive,
ana Just at this time, when business is more.
or less depressed in every branch, threat or
Tear OF change introduces an element of I'M
certainty throughout the. country the evil cf-
1ects or which no one can ~foresce. Twenty
per cent; reduction, or any reduction how
ever sllsht. following so close upon the reduc~
IONS made last winter. can not be defended
as to a single schedule, ana as to many
!! ~ can ne shown to be wholly disastrous.
We believe if. after n sufficient trial of the ef-
isct OF the last revision, it shall apyenr that.
Tue industrial interests of the country can be-
maintained with it, and that the condition Of
inc treasury will justify Il further revision,
such action will be more wisely undertaken,
ny inc friends of the protective svstem and