Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-04-12
REVISING TARIFF DUTIES
REPORTS OF THE WAYS AND
MEANS SCOMMITTEE READY.

and Reducing the Burdens of Tax
ation-Criticisms of the kcpubli-
can Minority.
WASHINGTON, April u.-Chairman
Morrison and Mr. Hewitt, Of the Commit
tee on Ways and Means, have completed
the report of the majority Of the commit
tee to accompany the tariff bill, which
will he reported to the House tom Orrow
The report saws: The rate of duty or tax
on imported goods subject to duty is as
low as . per cent. on some and higher
than 200 per cent. on others. The average
rate for the fiscal year 1885 little ex-
ceeded Al per cent. or SAT tax on 500
worth of imported goods. This is the
highest rate paid in any year since 1868
and above the average rate Of the war pc
riod from 1862 to 1868.
THE EXPENDITURES.
The expenditures for the fiscal year
1880, including pensions ana the legal re-
quirements of the public debt, were $780,
S30,9T0. Neither E'the actual needs OF an
economical administration OF the govern
ment." nor the patriotic expectations of
the people justify any increase OF this
enormous annual expenditure, and we
nav safely estimate the annual surplus
to exceed $50. 600, 600. The reductions 10
result from the proposed bill are within
this estimated surplus, and a little eN-
ceed S2i. .000, 900, on the basis OF last years
impOrtatiOns. 1t is the purpose OF the
bill reported TO correct some OF the classi-
fcatiOns, rid the custom laws Of cOmpii-
cations, and SO change these laws for the
better THAI they viii be capable Of being
administered with imparuahty TO all our
merchants.
OBJECT OF THE BILL.
The duties intended TO be removed by
the bill are chiefly those which tax arti-
cles used by our own manufacturers, |
which now subject them TO hopeless COM
petition at home and abroad with manu- |
featuring nations, none of which taxes
such materials that our own manufacture
ers may successfully compete both at
home and abroad with the manufacturing
nations which do not tax such materials, !
thus securing markets for the products of
hands now idle for the want Of WORK 10
do. Some Of the materials upon which
great industries are built, such as wood,
salt, hemp and wool are placed on the tree
list.
NO ADVANTAGES DESTROYED.
The report gives at considerable length
the reasons of the majority for making
the above named articles free, and say
that in some Of the schedules wherein
rates are proposed to be reduced, espe-
cially wOolen and flax, hemp, lutte or linen,
the industries are lett with substantially
the same, if not greater advantages than
under the existing laws. OJner articles,
the rates on Which are so to be reduced,
as cotton yarns, thread, and cOarseU cot
ton cloths, and sugar, are now dutiable
at unnecessarily and unreasOnabIy high
rates. These will find compensation n
burdens of taxation sought 30 beremOyed,
for these reductions are far greater than
any proposed by the bill. We GET from
duties on cotton goods $i0,3JOOO0, the
rates on goods from which We collect
k2,l00,C00. or these $l0,900,00O are slightly
reduced, while the rates ON which we col
lect the other S., 800, ,00Q are unchanged.
THE RATE ON SUGAR.
sugar with the present low price, is left
al a high, but still revenue rate, eqva-
lent TO 66 per centum. At the present
high rate we collect on sugar more tnaa
one fourth OF all the revenue derived from
customs. With the still existing nigh, If
not unwarrantable, scale of current OrdI-
nary expenditures, and the one hali of the
money obligations of the late civil war
yet to be paid, a high rate Of taxation
must be long maintained, and in submit
ung he proposed bill affecting the cost of
shelter, Ot part of food and of ali the
clOJhing OF the people, it nas been the
effort OF your committee to adopt such
rates of taxation as viii be permanent and
as will only need to be disturbed by an
unforeseen national emergency, and at the
same time 10 exempt necessary articles
from taxation and thereby promote do
nestle industries.
The bill contains numerous provisions
providing for a more efficient adminlstra-
ton OF the customs laws, which the
majority believe viii simplify very much
the complications when nave caused
general dissatisfaction as well among She
uucers Of customs as merchants whose
business has been deranged by the un-
certalntes of construction incident 10 the
existing statutes.
THE MINORITY REPORT.
The report OF the Republican minority,
Which has been prepared by. Representa-
1--WE Mckinley, OF OliO, begins with
statement that the substitute agreed
upon by the majority is a new creation,
ana embodles little matter tnat was IN
rlGded Ia the original bill as introduced
by the chairman.
The majority assert that in the year 1855
n the average rate OF duty upOn imported
goods a little exceeded ~ per cent, but
tuls only means tnat prices and values
were unusually low, and furnishes no
lustlncation for this bin. WHAT the aver
age al FalOrem duty viii be under our
larih laws, n amended by this bin, is lett
10 conjecture To base a reduction of
'Hu duties upon the present business
condition and present low values and un-
pontaole prices, les 10 assume that tue
present unsatisfactory condition IS TO
continue, and ought TO. fhe majority
says; "Ihe rate OF duty on imported
goods subject 90 duty Is as low as on
some and higher than 20O per cent. on
ltgers"
LEFT UNCHANGED.
Us 10 not remarkable fact after this
Iaiement that the bill OF the commit
lee does not correct these glaring inequal-
Iles' out leaves articles dutiable at 200
pen cent. where 10 huds them, and OF those
airing lower rates of duty. some are
.actu upon The iree list, while others are
ently reduced. There is no attempt in
W. nll 20 equaiIe the duties upon im-
loiled goods on any Just principle, or 20
Nahe equitablet throughout the
'IIu list. fthe 81 or more articles du-
lao.e at from 100 10 3jS per cent, not one
dealt with in this Dill, while other ar
'.es upon which is imposed a duty from
W '1 200 per cent. are cut down or trans
erred TO the free list.
ATTACKING THE FREE LIST
me minority report severely criticises
lne free list agreed upon by the majority,
hna says that IL rs peculiarly an assault
pom the agricultural interests OF the