New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-03-12
THE MORRISON TARIFF BILL
IT'S FINALLY REPORTED TO THE HOUSE.

III Is FINALLY REPORT ED TO THE HOUSE.
MAJORITY AND MINORITY REPORTS SUBMITTED
IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION NOT TO BE SOUGHT.
IBY TELEGRAPH To THE TRBUNE.l
WASHINGTON, March 11.-Charman Morrison
has finally brought in his report on the bill to re-
ducc war tariff taxes to-day. He was obliged to
wait half hour before presenting it, lie seemed O
trfe anxious, and handled the document with
carcssing gentleness. appearing to realize its inn
portance to him as the possible foundation of a
Presidential boom. He finally passed it up To the
Clerk and Major Mckinley Immediately pIesented
in writing the views Of the minority. Colonel Nor
rson said aftcrward that he will not ask the House
10 consider the bill until two or three weeks have
passed. and several of the general approximation
bills have been sent to the Senate, La the mean
time, he said. "A caucus OF Democratic representa-
tyes Will be held 10 agree on policy in regard to
the measure.
1t will be observed that the report makes no
claim that the revenues will be reduced i'm the
bill becomes a law; and also that no allusOn is
made or answer attempted to the arguments and
statements submitted to the committee by
manufacturers, farmers, wool growers ore and
coal producers. lumbeTmcn or wOrkingmen, in
opposition to the bill. Chairman Morrison says he
Is saving up all his arguments and proofs IN favor
OF the bill. for the great speech with which he in
tends 10 open the discussion in Committee Of the
Whole.
The " views "of the Republican member, show
pretty concluSvcly that the minority Of the com
mIttcc carries heavier and better guns than the
majority.
The majority report is as follows:
The Committee on Way, and Means to which was re-
errcd so much Of the Presidents message and accom-
Iauylng documents relates to the revenue respectfully
reports that I'm sand message and accompanying docI-
ments the President has deemed his duty 10 give to the
Congress information as follows: To make start IN
the proposed reduction Of revenue from imports the
Tuir Commission had been created In good faith IL
undertook the work. In is report to Congress IL said:
Early in its dchcraton the Commission became con
WINGED that substantial reduction of talR duc, is de-
manded, not by mere iniscrimiuate popular camOr.
lint fhs Ia ftaf,t.
such a reduction of the existing tariff the Commission
regards not only due recognition of public sentiment
To the general industrial pros! Gritty, and which. though it
may be temporarily inconyencn will be ultimately ben
Entertaining these views, the Commission has sought to
present scheme of tariff duties in which substantial
duCtion should De the distinguishing feature The
cragc reduction nres including that from the enlarge
ment OF 'hc iree list and the abolition OF the duties on
charges and commissions, at which the Commits
zion, zion has 1o arrived Is not les on the aygr2se
Of the Commission that the reduction will reach % per
cent The chairman OF the senate Committee Finance
in explanation OF the bill before the Senate year
which, after various amendments, became law, est
mated at i500OO00 the reduction of the which
would follow the changes in the tariff proposed thereby
These calculations have not been verified. the Ques-
ton still presses what legislation necessary to relieve
the people OF unnecessary taxesl"
Your committee finds that in the first six months end
ing December 81. 1888 under of March g. 1893 Uhe
new law dutaCle merchandise was imported into the
were paid amounting to S9G5l4,l36. being 400 per
mouths of the year 1852 under the old law, the
Nllue or dItl3be imports amounted to $3.50, 500
273, and the duty paid Sll1,266 J07,
or 1853 per cent on the value It thu.
al 06 was only Ter cent less %nde the new " than
under the old law This exhibit of reduction in rates
made by act of March 3. 1888. amounting to La per
cent OF the dily Is subject to an unmporant modhca-
ton resulting from changes IN value and other conditions,
some OF which Increase and others reduce comparative
IN f8i"'f~ rates Inc nominal reduction made by the
proposed bin i 20 per cent or oneifth Of the present
the liquor and silk schedules omitted, they the
actual reduction on the basis OF last years imports will
ID q ID Ia ID
dutiahlo goods Together the AVERAGE reduction made 10y
u1 l!l'" 'lI ' oI iII1 D. 9'2l oii Ilo
ton at which the Commission aimed
REVENUE WHICH CAN BIZ DISPENSED wfTH.
Wood. sawed lumber, coal aud salt are of such uni
ver-a among and necessary all the people that
of the present abundant Treasury receipts is
not deemed advisable longer to obtain revenue from
tax these articles. The decrease in revenue, shown
10y the receipts under the new law other than tnlt
resulting ilom the nominal reduction of LII
per cent, results from the hiunsoK 10
the value Of nearly S3j,0OOOOO. OF imports
the half year under the q. compared with
the rt BALI az he previous year under the Old law. The
estimated at e3l 100000. the basis OF last years i'm
ports. 10 inc extent ol that @5luVOuOO Inc hll VIII
taxes will boz reduced directly as measure OF Justice to
consumers, and indirectly in largely increased proper
From statement made by the Bureau of Statistics,
copy OF which is appended 10 this report in appears that
creased other articles of imported goods under act of
been no increase OF the rates Of wages IN any, but
duction Of wages I'M most industries, well IN those
obtained less projection under the March last
The condition OF manufacturing industries is not saus
factory. In common with other industries they only
covered late m 1879 from Tever'cs partial paralysis of
five years duration. In less than three years after this
recovery, such new evidences Of industrial adj
hest p9yi and hest nald industries iron and steel fbe
calamity of four months stoppage and idenes fen upon
the workers dependent upon IT, not upon the capital in
vested IN II.
THE IRON AND STEEL TRADE.
In the annual report Of the American Iron and steel
Association for the year 1882 made May 1883 James
NJ swank secretary Of the association. says AT the
beginning Of June nearly all the mills referred to trolling
mills OF Pittsbmg and the WesD closed by gen
eral strike which continued until the last of September
when wOrl, resumed upon the scale of wages which
had previously prevailed. During the strike OF four
months the prices OF rolled non did not advance, not
wilhStanding the stoppase of so many mills fact
this form of iron had again. as in the pauic years exceed
been in advance Of the consumpye wants of the country
which afforded by the strike 1850 was no sense
calamity TO the manuacurers' II IS believed that |
the condition OF the iron and steel industries. and !
Cb,.r5 WGl c 1sI2 'n' fbt i noc4
ohe Industries is not unlike and deTs oniy in GeqrSd
from iron and 3tcel that the calamity OF frequent recuIr-
~eparable from the cnormtes Of protective system.
and that the calamtics of such system always fan upon
the bl to reduce import duties war tariff taxes with
the recommendation that It be passed as measure of
partial relief 10 the people from unnecessary taxes AS
measure Justice TO consumers" and conducive TO
the general industrial pro perty."
THE MINORITY REPORT.
The minority report, which was prepared by Mr. !
Mckinley. is as follows
The mdcr,i- ned dissenting from the views OF the /
majority OF the Committee the TdTt bill be- leave
present the Glowing objections to It's passage: The last
Congress made general revision OF the tard. securing
important reductions of the duties upon imports. In
few the reductions were below the point OF |
necessity wisdom; AMI in other cases. believed
touched the lowest limit OF safety There had been no
general revision OF the taun laws since 1864 . These
laws had been LETT practically undotutbcd for nineteen
n