Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1886-04-17

burden of which must be borne by the
grower of other farm products whose
surplus in foreign markets forces his
price at home and to the increase of
which his wool growing neighbor coll
iributed nothing. The price of wool
has been downward for many years. 1t
declined when the tax vas highest and
protection greatest. From the state
ments of the Ohio and other wool grow
ers associations, it appears that the mar
ket price of wool is not three-fourths of
the cost of production; that with the
existing protective rate of 10 cents on
the pound the price is still 10 cents be-
low the price at which it can be grown
in the great wool growing states of
Ohio and Pennsylvania. 1t appears,
therefore, that the attempt to make
wool growing profitable by the use of
the taxing power has not been success
full, while the tax has been a great
national hlndrance to the wooden man.
ufacturing industry, as we'll as a most
%grievOus burden upon all buyers OF
WOODEN clothing.
SHEEP RAISING o A SUCCESS.
cit has been already shown by the
statements of wool growers that the
wool duty imposed by Gen. Garfield's
associates, successors and school of
economy did not promote the growth
of sheep husbandry, and it is proposed
to remove it. For the last year this
duty OIL imported wool was $780,
295 SO. The specific duty imposed on
wooden GOODS said General Garfield,
of the tariff commission
scheme, as near as possible equal to the
duty put upon the wool which entered
into the manufacture was S11,5OO, 600.
This, with the SO, 164, 295 So equivalent
is to be removed and a duty CT
% per cent. ad valorem on wooden
goods, as a protection to the manufac-
against foreign competition, re-
mains and will yield a needed revenue.
In some of the schedules wherein
rates are proposed to be reduced, especl-
ally wooden, hemp, jute or linens,
there are substantially some, if not
greater advantages than under existing
laws. Other articles, the rates Oh
which are so to be reduced, as cotton
yarns, threads and coarser cotton cloths,
and sugar, are now dutiable at unnec-
essarily and unreasonably high rates.
These will find compensation in the
burdens of taxation sought to be re-
moved for reductions far greater than
any proposed by the bill. We get from
duties on cotton goods SIC, 900 900.
The rates on goods from which We col
lect So, loo, 900 of this amount are
slightly reduced, while the rates on
which we collect SIS, $780, 900 are UNI
changed. Sugar, with its present low
price, is left at a high but revenue rate
to &C per cent. AT the
present higher rate we collect on sugar
more than one-fOurth ofall the revenue
derived from the customs,
MAKING THE TARIFF JUST.
"With the still existing high, if not
understandable scale of current ordinary
expenditures and One-half of the money
of the late civil war yet to
be paid.a high rate of taxation must be
long maintained, and in submitting the
proposed bill affecting the cost of shell
ter, of part Of the food, and of all the
clothing OF the people. it has been the
effort of your committee to adopt such
of taxation as will be permanent,
and as will only need to be disturbed
by unforeseen national emergencies and
at the same time to exempt necessary
from taxation and thereby pro-
mote domestic industries.
"In the bill herewith submitted some
of the embarrassments suggested by
the secretary of the treasury in his let
ter to the speaker, of February 10, last,
are sought to be removed, and what
ever is Formulated for this purpose has
received his approval. 1t is not pretend
ed, however, that the committee has
dealt extensively with the evils which
have exacted the condemnation both of
the mercantile classes and Ofthe officers
whose duty it is to enforce the law.
So long as the present complicated
tariff shall exist and duties are imposed
upon more than 1000 articles, largely
will continue. All that congress u
do in the absence OF a general revision
of the tariff with new and simple CLASH
ticatiOns, is to provide for each cause
of complaint asi it arises.
elm the bill proposed the most press
ing and prominent of the grievances are
dealt with. In addition to the settle
ment of such controverted questions all
attempt has been made to relax the
provisions of the law which interfere
with the freedom of exchange, more
particularly with reference to the ware
housing of goods in bond and their
withdrawal for consumption or re-ex-
%portation.
SEVERAL CHANGES PROPOSED.
ga provision has also been inserted
for the allowance of drawbacks 10 the
full extent of the duty paid upon any
imported materials which have entered
into the production of articles exported.
The object of this provision is to remove
an impeachment to the growth of our
foreign commerce. In order to relieve
both merchants and customs officers
from annoying exactions and unneces-
sary labor it is proposed to abolish all
oaths and fees and to substitute in lieu
thereof, as in other commercial conn.,
tries, the declaration of the importer,
but preserving the same penalties as
are now imposed by law for false state
ments. A limitation of$500 has been
imposed upon the value of wearing APP
parel and other property which may be
brought in free of duty by a passenger,
excepting tourists arriving in the
United States from abroad. This pro-
vision taken in connection with the
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