The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1884-03-14
THE TARIFF.


Ways and Means Committee Reported
to the HOuse-The Majority aud Minor.
ity Reports Accompanying the Docu-
ment.
WASHINGTON, March lathe majority
and minority reports of the Ways and Means
Committee on the Morrison Tariff bill were
submitted to the House yesterday. The d.
vision was upon strict party lines. Moui- |
son says he does not know when he will
call the bill up for action. The majority
report says:
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on
Finance, in explanation of the bill before the
Senate last year, which, after various amend
ments, became a law, estimated at S45, 000,000
the reduction in revenue which would follow
the changes in the tariff. These calculations
have not been verified So the question still
presses, what legislation is neces-
sary to relieve the people of unnecessary
taxes? Your committee find that in the six
months ending December3, 1885, merchandise
was imported into the United States valued at
$23S, e9S, l09, on which duties were pail amount
ing to $g6,5l4, 1876, being 1921 percent on the
value thereof. In the corresponding six
months of 1882, under the old law, the value
OF dutlaple imports amounted to $3.50, S56, 2i3,
and the duty paid was Sill, 266 SOY, or 1866 per
cent. on the value. 1t thus appears that the
average cost of importing was only liza per \
cent. less under the new than under the old
INV. 1uc HOHllthl maze Dy the pro-
posed bill is twenty per cent, or one-tifth the
present rate. With the Morrill, tariff limita-
tons in the bill, and the liquor and silk sched-
Jules omitted, the actual reduction will not OK
coed 1914 per cent. The average reduction
made in the Tariff Commission bill and that
to be made by the proposed bill, together do 4
not reach the reduction at which the commits
sion aimed.
The decrease in revenue as shown by the
receipts under the new law other than that re-
sulting from the nominal reduction of LA
nnEI re foil
So, 100000 of the imports in the first half year
under the new law, as compared with the first
half of the previous year under the old law.
The reduction of. revenue under the bill re-
ported is estimated at $3l, 0000 0g, on the basis
of last years imports To the extent of that
$3l,0O0,OOO the bill will relieve the people
OF unnecessary taxes. To that extent
taxes will be reduced directly as
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,
while this is true, there has been no increase
IN wages IN any, out reduction OF wages in
most industries, as well as i'll those whose
competing products received more, as in
those that obtained less protection under the
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 WOfIingmen to
declares that, as such calamitieS always fall
upon the laborers, the committee had de-
clded to report bill for the partial relief of
the people from unnecessary taxes.
The minority report, which was prepared by
Mr.. Mckinley, after reciting 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 a sufficient test and asks that it be
given fair trial before the subject is brought
I'D 3QQIn, Another Direction urged is that the
reduction proposed by the bill under cOnsd-
GRAFTON has not been asked for by single in-
terest in the whole country. Continuing, the
report says:
While all unite in opposition to any reduc-
ton some interests assert the necessity of an
increase of duties for the actual maintenance
of an industry. The woolgroWerS of the
country demand the restoration of the wool
duty of 1876. The undersigned have sought
to respond favoraby to this demand of more
than million OF our fellow citizens
representing the agriculture of the
country, but we have been overruled. The
opponents to our views, not con-
tent with the refusal to accede to the requests
of this large class of producers, deliberately
propose to reduce duties still lover. Against
this we enter most earnest protest. There
are some inequalities, however, found in the
present law which it would be only just to
correct Among these, wire rods, cotton-tieS
and tin plates bear greatly dispropOrtOnate
duties to kindred articles, and should be made
consistent and harmonious.
We are opposed to the bill, 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 countervailing
benefits II.
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 tends to reduce our
labor to the foreign standard, either in price
or condition.
5. That the proposed reduction will newt
ably increase foreign importatiOnS, and as a
consequence will increase our revenues to
which increase every interest of the country
is opposed. 81.
4. 1t is wholly unnecessary and unjustifabe.
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 a
change or modification of the system VIII
create such doubt OF successful enterprises
as to check this useful tendency. t#
5. 1t has none Of the merits of carefully
matured Tariff BILL and is not the result of
Stud1Ous consideration of the interests of our
people. 1t proposes to reduce alike the duty
upon every article of foreign import without
any examination as to its effect upon particu-
lar industries, and wholly ignoring its neces-
sary effect in advancing prices abroad by the
destruction of competition at home. While
nominally it is uniform reduction, in fact it is
RfOSSly unequal unuGf the limitations OF IJnG
bill, and it will be found difficult if not i'm
practicable of execution.
6. That feature of the bill which applies ad
valOrem duties to most of the schedules af-
fected by it is especially Objectionable, be-
cause it will greatly increase the existing evil
of differentiation, and consequent frauds
upon the revenue, as well as so complicate
the rule of assessment duties as greatly to
embarraSs the administration of the law.
Against the statement of the majority as to
the effect of protective duties upon wages is
the statement Of the wOrkmen themselves,
who unite in declaring that protective duties
are essential to fair and remunerative wages,
and that every reduction inevitably results in
lowering the standard of American wages. We
dissent radically from the statement of the
majority that reduction of duties lightens
by so much the burdens of taxation. The
whole history of our National experience
shows constantly decreasing price as the
effect of increased home competition.
What the country wants most is relief
from Congressional agitation All the indus
tries of the country are extremely sensitive
and Just at this time when business is more
or less depressed in every branch, threat or
fear of change introduces an element OF I'M
certainty throughout the country the evil eff
fects of which no one can foreSee. Twenty
per cent. reduction, or any reduction how
ever slight following so close upon the reduc-
tons made last winter, can not be defended
as to a single schedule, and as to many
it can be shown to be wholly disastrous.
We believe if, after a sufficient trial of the eff
feet of the last revision, 1t shall appear that
the industrial interests of the country can be
maintained with it. and that the condition of
the treasury will justify further revision,
such action viii be more wisely undertaken
by the friends of the protective system, and
with less disturbance to pubic prosperity.
than if done now by the avowed advocates of
the destruction of the American system of
protection.
The minority report is signed by Represent
atives Kelley, Kasson, Mckinley, Russell and
HiscOck. comprising all the Republican mem
bers of the Ways and Means Committee.
SS 49,
A recent letter from Florida says
that no doubt can be entertained as to
the rapidity and permanence of new
settlements in Florida. They are spring
ing up as if by magic all over the
length and breadth of the land, and
prices are obtained for town lots that
would appear almost fabulous in many
of the older cities of the East. 1t is
claimed, and perhaps not very errone-
ously, that the population of the State
has nearly doubled since the census of
1850 CHICAGO Herald.