New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-04-28
THE TARIFF AGITATION.
THE DEBATE TO BE RESUMED TOMORROW.
MEssRs. HIsCOcK AND HURD TO sPEAK-NR. NOR
RIsoN KNOWS NOTHING--IYPoRMATION FROM
MIR.

RIsoN KNOWS NOTHING--INPoRMATIo FROM
MIR. NIMMO.
IBY TELEGRAPH THE TRrBUSE.i
WASHINGTON. April 27.--It is expected that the
tariff debate will be resumed on Tuesday when
Mr. Hiscock will speak against the bill and Mr.
IIurd for it, Mr. IIiscocK's speech will he likely
TO attract wide attention. Like the address of
William Walter Phelps before the New-Jersey state
Agricultural Society, this speech will deal with
the tariff in its relations to the agricultural interests
Of the country and the facts which have been coli
lected at considerable expense OF time and tronble
will be presented in such form that
the farmers of the United States will be able
to test them by their own experience. Mr. Hurds
speech has been prepared with much care and
the free-traders expect great results 10 How from
its circulation q sort of mi II nary tract When
the debate will end seems uncertain. There has
been talk that it will close on Tuesday week. Col
onel Morrison was asked tonight whether such is
his expectation. He replied: 81 do not know;
and he gave the answer 10 an inquiry as TO
whether Mr.. Carlisle will speak and TO other ques-
tions lie also declined TO express any opinion on
any political subject When asked what he thought
about several matters he replied " do not think
OPERATIONS OF THE ACT OF 1883.
Chairman Morrison might find some food for
Thought in a pamphlet issued yesterday from tho
Bureau of Statistics on the operations OF the tarih
act of 1888 during the Iirst six months OF its opei-
alton. Mr. NimmO says: "Ibe comparative work.
ings of two tariffs, differing in many important par
ticuaTs and operating under different and some-
what complex commercial conditions, cannot be
stated in word Nor is it possible to present at
this time as thorough analysis of the subject &c
appears to be desirable The results OF two or
three years under the operations of the law now IN
force will. however. throw abundant light upon
~, ,ui1l ha cal "A
time therefore, is to present as full a statement as
can be prepared from data now available
SPECIFIC AND AID yALoREM DUTIES.
He discusses matter which has engaged much OF
Chairman Morrson's attention during the last thTee
months He discovered that the equiyOlent AL va
lOrem rates of duty on many articles winch pay q
specific duty actually higher under the new
tariff than under tho old one and he has repeatedly
pointed with triumph to this fact conclusive
proof that the revision of 1888 was a cheat ana
"a juggle" and that it did not perceptlbiy reduce
the rates of duty About 56 per cent OF the Gus
toms revenue is derived from specific duties; hence
il is readily apparent that general iali III prices
would increase the equivalent ad NaloIem rates
! As Mr.. NlmIno says a fall OF 80 per cent IN the
value of an imported article, upon which the duty
is specific would evidently have the effect Ot dOub-
ling the average ad valorem rate Of duty upon that
article, without any change whatever IN me am9unt
of duty collected theTeirOm. FOR eNampl" the uuty
on 900 pounds of article upon whlcn the duty
is 10 cents prr pound would be 500, whether the
auantity cost $500 or $3.50; but IN the former case
the ad valoreln rate would be 20 per cent and Ia
the latter case 40 per cent. - -
Mr. Nmmo continues A decrease of II 70 per
cent in the average import price of sugar during
the six months Ided December 81. ls~3 as COM
pared with the average import price during The cor.
responding six months of the preceding year caused
an increase of - uer cent m the average ad "a
lOrem rate on that commodity, aside from any
change u the rate of duty which i Speclhc ana tne
tall IN the price OF steel rails from $50 30 per ton 70
caused tie average ad valOTem rate thereon 10 tlsa
! from 81 per cent during the year ended june 80,
| ISL - - per cent during the year ended Juno
! 30 1883" He also shows that during last year
there was somewhat general shTinkagc OF NaIuo
ia all commercial countries.
TIE EFFECTS OF SECTION SEVEN.
Two other causes contributed 10 increase the ap'
parent average AL valorem rate under the new tariff
Section Seven reduced the customs valuation of
imported goods ly the cost of packages, cases, com.
missions charges, etc, and this change alone was
eoulyaleut 10 about per cent OF the value of al
imported merchandise. Second, the new law trans.
ferred 10 tie free list merchandise valued at aOOut
SLODO. 900 during the year ended june 80, lS-3t
tht average rate OF duty upon which was abont -
per cent or much less than the average ad Nal0rem
rate Du all dutlable merchandise entered for con-
sumption Th', transfer Of goods from the dutia-
Die list to the free list OF course, tended to swell the
av,'age adj valorein rate on dutiabe goods imported
durnr the siN months ended December 81, 1883.
These ale ali elementary facts. 10 be sure and yet
there seems TO be n necessity that several Denb
ocratic members of the Ways and Means Commits
lee besides Chairman Morrison, should honor
them with some study.