The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-03-20
THE TARIFF.

The Morrison Bill, as Revised by the
Ways and Means Committee, Reported
to the House-The Majority and Minor
ity Reports Accompanying the Docu-
ment.
WASHINGTON, March 1.-The majority
and minority reports of the Ways and Means
Committee on the Morrison Tariff bill were
submitted to the House yesterday. The di-
vision was upon strict party lines. Morri-
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 law, estimated at S450 coo
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 December 3, 1885, merchandise
was imported into the United States valued at
S2Ss 69S. l09, on which duties were paid amount
ing 10 5l4.l36, being 4O.9l per cent. on the
value thereof. In the corresponding six
months of lSS2 under the old law the value
of dutiable imports amounted to S3e0,S56,21S,
and the duty paid was Sill ,266,5OI, or 2.65 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-
posed bill is twenty per cent, or One-hfth the
present rate. With the Morrill, tariff Hrnita-
tions in the bill, and the liquor and silk sched-
ules omitted, the actual reduction will not eX
ceed 1874 per cent The average reduction
made in the Tariff Commission bill and that
10 be made by the proposed bill. together do
not reach the reduction at which the commls-
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
per cent. results from the falling of of nearly
S25,c00,0O 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 S3l, 100000, on the basis
of last years imports. To the extent of that
S3l 100000 the bill will relieve the people
of unnecessary taxes. To that extent
taxes will be reduced directly as q
measure of justice to consumers, and in
directly in largely increased proportions.
From the statement made by the Bureau of
Statistics 1t appears that the duties or tar1n
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, but reduction OF wages IN
most industries, as well as in those whose
competing products received more, as in
those that obtained less protection under the
act of March last
Referring to the condition of the iron and
fteel trade, as one of the leading mas ufact-
ures, the report attributes the depression and
the enforced idlenesS of the wOrkingmen to
the enormities of the protective system, and
declares that, as such calamities always fall
upon the laborers, the committee had de-
cided to report a 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 tnat the
time which has elapsed since the new
tariff went into effect has been too short
TO give it sufficient test, and asks that it be
given a fair trial before the subject is brought
up again. Another objection urged is that the
reduction proposed by the bill under consid-
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 wOol-growers OF the
country demand the restoration of the wool
duty of 1876. The undersigned have sought
to respond favorably 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 a 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-tles
and tin plates bear greatly dlSproportonate
duties to kindred articles, and should be made
consistent and harmonious.
We are opposed to the BILL because, first:
II 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 counterya1llnS
benefits.
,. 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.
s. That the proposed reduction will inevit-
ably increase foreign importations, and as
consequence will increase our revenues, 10
which increase every interest or the country
e opposed.
4. 1t is wholly unnecessary and unjust!fable.
The enormous increase in the wealth of the
country during the last fifteen years, under
protective tariff. now forces capital to seek
employment i'll the development of all min
eral, AGRICULTURAL and other resources, and
change or modification of the system WI
create such doubt of successful enterprises
as TO check this useful tendency
8. Ii has none of the merits of carefully
matured Tariff bill. and is not the result of
studious consideration of the interests of our
people. Ii proposes to reduce alike the duty
upon every article OF foreign import, without
any examination as to its effect upon partlcu-
lar industries and wholly ignoring its neces-
sary effect in advancing prices abroad by the
destruction of competition at home. While
grossly unequal under the limitations of the
bill, and it will be found dirhcult If not i'm
practicable of execution.
g. That feature of the bill which applies ad
yalorem duties to most of the schedules af-
fected by it is especially objectionable, be-
cause it will greatly increase the existing evil
of undervaluation. 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
atfaa M rrO Qnf duties
the statement OF the workmen themselves,
who unite jn 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 4 reduction OF duties nghtenS
by so much the burdens of taxation. The
whole history of our National experience
shows a constantly decreasing price as the
effect of increased home competition.
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 un-
certainty throughout the country the evil ef-
fects of which no one can foresee. Twenty
per cent reduction, or any reduction how
ever slight, following so close upon the reduc-
tions made last winter. can not be defended
as to a Single schedule, and as TO many
IL can be shown to be wholly disastrous.
We believe if. after a sufficient trial of the eff
feet of the last revision, it shall appear that
the industrial interests of the country can be
maintained with it. and that the condition of
the treasury will Justify a further revision,
such action will be more wisely undertaken
by the friends of the protective system, and
with less disturbance to public 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
l,ers Of the Wavs ard rpars Committee.
THE FAST NAIL TRAIN.