New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-05-13
THE HEWITT TARIFF BILL
ITS PROVISIONS EXCITE SURPRISE.
A MEAsCRE NOT MUCH LESS OBJECTIONABLE THAN
THE DEAD MORRISON BILL-HoRIZoNIAL hS-
DuCTION NOT ABANDONED.

WASHINGTON, May 12.-When the Morrison
MIL was bebeaded the business and industrial interests OF
the country drew Q breath o. relief IL was suPlo'eu
that period OF rest from agitation had been
and that business industry would De ao"eo W TO
cover from the depression and paralysis 10 great
tent caused by the threats OF free trade majority IN tne
House But It seems this was mistake ana that Until
Congress adjourns the injurious agitation must
The bill brought by Abram g. Hewitt to-day ana TO
tered TO the Ways and Means Committee, Will De tounu
10 contain Of obnoxious features OF the MORRISON
BILL and to respects even more obectonaoie
than that measure For many weeks It has been known
TO his colleagues OF the Ways and Means Committee
that Mr.. Hewitt, one OF suDcomnhuoe
appointed for that purpose, was engaged
In the preparation Of bill which, as he repeatedly as
serted and they all believed and understood was de-
signed SIMPLY to obscurtes and improve
the administration of the customs service Only lssI
week he Informed Republican member OF the commit
tee the scope and purpose of his Oil ana
that he expected have ready forhe consideration OF
the committee this week.
Suddenly there we're rumors that Mr. Hewitt had de-
termned to include the bill changes in the rates
Of duty widest guesser did not imagine tnat no
would try to revive the horizontal scheme OF reducuen
upon which the House had formally placed the seal OF
its condemnation, did anybody suppose tnse ne
would attempt to apply an sd Vaorem sc"ie "
specific or compound rates Of duty. Inc FORMER
he had publicly expressed his dsapproval OF
1t seems that when he called Chairman Morrison and
others OF his colleagues conference 20 late a. satr
day night Mr. Hewitt had not yet fully decided what was
best done for his plan then was TO reduce the rates
IN schedule E-sugar-30 per cent whereas the bill ne
offered to-day provides for reduction OF only 10 per
cent In that schedule. while 1t cuts the rates ~
per cent In schedule F-tobacco. To say
that the Republican members of the committee were
surprised by the action of Mr.. Hewitt and his Democratic
colleagues is top put it mildly. For the members OF
majority Of the committee 70 hold caucus for the pur
pose OF agreeing tariff bill before has been brought
before the committee at all and with view 10 FORCING IL
through the committee without amendment or falr op
poruny for discussion and amendment is somethngun-
heard Of in history of theWays and Means COMMITTEE
For members OF the majority OF that committee TO 20
still further and declare some OF them are under
stood to have done to-day that the bill snail De forced
through the House Ike manner Is Sill more OUT
rageous.
THE SCOPE OF THE BILL CHANGED
The bin az first printed for Mr.. Hewitt5 use was en-
titled bill modify existing laws relating TO duties
on imports and their collection" and II related
mainly TO those subjects. AS offered to-day 1t is
entitled bill 10 modify existing laws relating to duties
on import and internal and TO enlarge the
free list" The first part designed to simplify the adj
minstration of the laws while the last part will
add new complications. The section which
prohibits the importation OF certain arJi-
cles is amended by proviso that
if such articles found packages Of ARTICLES not pro-
hibted and it shall be shown to the salts
faction OF the customs officers that the pro-
hibited articles putinto such packages
by accident or innocent design, the remainder
the goods may be admitted to entry. The "smlitude
Section shortened and amended 30 as to provide that
on all articles composed Of TWO materials
the duty hall be assessed the highest rate the
component material Of chief vaue which shall be the
component equal exceeding the total value Of all the
Others The old provisions relating material quality
texture and and to any nOn-enumerated article
which equally resembles two more enumerated ar-
cles, are not included in the Hewitt bill.
CHEMICALS, GLASS AND EARTHENWARE.
In the schedule Of chemicals the clauses
imposing a duty OF 81 per gallon dis
titled spirits containing 90 per cent OF anhydrOus
alcohol So per gallon alcohol containing "a per
cent OF anLydrous alcohol admitted. In Schedule B.
earthenware and glassware-several changes are pro-
posed Green and eoOred glass bottles etc. are TO pay
cent per pound unless their contents are dutable ac
cordng value in which case the value OF bottles etc.
shall be added to the value OF the contents
IN order 10 ascertain the dutaDe value OF the latter
A Ike change is made az to flint aud lime glasa
bottles ETC. UnpOlished cylinder, crown and common
window glass exceeding 111O Of inch in thickness,
shall pay go per In addition 10 the present rates
The unit OF quantity glass before described is changed
from pound TO square foot but the rate is not changed
aud a provso added that glass as above imported IN
boxes containing 100 square feet as nearly as sizes viii
permit and commercially known As loo loot, ~htl be
computed as 100 foot only unless the actual quantity
shall exceed ia square feet On p boxes tAc allowance
Is 7 square ieeL
THE METAL SCHEDULE.
In Sch Gule C-metas- the rates on Mes file blanks
rssDs etc. the unit quantity is changed rom dozen 10
Douud and the proposed rates 10 cents per pound
plus 80 per ad vaorem 70 cents per pound plus 30
per cent valorem, instead Of 30 cents to 20 per cent
as under the present law. This and some other like
daai u
tai cut proposed further in the bill. class Of
iron and wire enumerated" not smaller than NO.
wire gauge"-and rate Of u cents per pound Is in
posed provso added that the rate Of duty on iron
shall be less than the rate on articles OF steel
or IRON not specifically enumerated or provided Ior:
as 10 provide that all manufactures wares or articles not
enumerated and composed wholly or IN part OF Hon
stall pay As per vaorem, Tut that tins shall not
affect the here ore imposed on manufacture OF cop
per OF OF which copper shall be the chief component
TOBACCO, VEGETABLES, COTTON, ETC.
The tobacco schedule amended to provide that
90 much Of any package Of leaf tobacco as may be so
broken a. not to suitable for wrappers shall pay 30
cents instead OF Is cents Fl per pound Vegetables
not specially enumerated, sucn az beans, peas ETC., III
their natural state whether green or dled or III sat OF ia
brine be admitted at 10 per cent al yaorem No
amendments are pIOposedt0 tle present leAl
cotton and goods and the changes in schedule are
slight. In schedule KwOOl and wO0llcns-some changes
are proposed Whch' aioiSu WI! NAeSt csoAI I"'c3
One Is tbe addition Of the following prOTsO: That all
mellnOs ca3uleies, dtalllcs duu ms manu-
f4ctured Of WOOeu WeOsn and cotton Materials when
In the gray uncOOred shall be subject % reduction
of per cent ad val0Icm from the respective rates OF
duty which such goods are subject when stained, col
! Ored printed" The clause imposing duty or -
cents per pound plus 40 per cent ad val rem on cosS
dOimas, Jackets tanas listers. etc.. Del to be omitted
and those articles gate 10 tne general ella sicatUn
or clothing ready-made and wearing apparel II every
description not specially enumerated, upon Wnich the
Ia scBdue sundrle-sevcft changes OF the text and
two or three OF classification are made One Of the
! amendments proposes 10 allow % drawback oil cake
made from imported inseed or hlXsced. -ucl draw
hack ia not now allowed er2l changes proposed in
tor = which repealed the duties on packages, cretcs
/ CHARGES. etc The dutable value" OF imported mer-
ehaudi-eshall be ats wholesale market value, In the