Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1886-04-17
TIE TARIFF BILL.
The Ways and Means Committee Have
Completed the Bill and will Report
It This Week.
A Minority Report VIII Accompany the BIZ
The Average Rate Assessed Last
Year Exceeded Forty-Seven
per cent,-wool Tax.
ppnyISIoNs OF THE BILL.

Dill and VIII report IL 10 lDe HouSo carly
this week. The majority and minority re-
ports to accompany the bill were made
public last night. The committee is divided |
politically for and against the bill to be
reported, the eight Democratic members en-
dorsing the majority and the five Repub- |
lican members the minority. The majority
in their report say the tax on imported goods
Is as low as five per cent. on some and
higher than POO per cent on others. lhe
average rate for the current fiscal year eX-
ceeds forty seven per cent, or S4I IN TAX on
500 worth of imported goods. This, they
say, is the highest rate paid in any year
since 1868 and above the average rate OF the
war period from 1862 to 1868. The Teduc-
ton in the revenues proposed by the Dill,
the committee think, will amount to S24,-
600, 900 for the year
This estimate is based on the importa-
tions Of last year to meet an estimated sur
plus of $50, 600, 900. 1t is the purpose OF
the bill, the majority say to correct some OF
the classifications, rid the customs laws OF
the complications of which the Secretary of
the Treasury complains, and so change
these laws for the better that they will be
capable Oh UbluR duillllI'clciNN 'iei' '"f"'
tia ty to all our merchants.
The duties intended to be removed by the
bill are chiefly those which tax articles used
by our own manufacturers, which now SUD-
ect them to hopeless competition at nome
and abroad with the manufacturing nations,
none of which tax such materials, that our
own manufacturers may successfully com
ppte both at home and abroad, with manu-
factpring nations which do not tax such
materials, thus securing markets tor the
products Of hands now idle for want OF work
to do. Some of the materials upon which
great industries are built such as wood, salt
hemp and wool, are placed on the free list.
Of the tax on wool, the majority say:
.Tbe price of wool has been downward for
| many years: it declined when the tax was
| highest and protection greatest, and the at
| tempt 10 make wool growing prolilc by the
| use Of the taxing power has not been sue
| cessful. while the tax has been the great
national hindrance to the wOolen manu-
| featuring industry as well as most grievous
| burden upOn all buyers of wOolen clothing.
| I'm some of the schedules, where 1t is pro-
posed to reduce rates especially wooIen and
| fax hemp iute or linens. the Industries,
| the majority say, are left with substantially
the same. if not greater, advantages than
under existing laws. These, they say, will
Gmd connansatian in the burdens of taxa.
tion sought 10 he removed for reductions
far arooter than any proposed by the bill
Smror With the nrespnt low price. Is left at
! tIe hicb hut still revenue rate. equivalent to
eivtv s,v Nor centum"
I'm CONCLUDING, that norton of the report
relating to tariff taxes. the majority say:
.sWnh the still existing high, if not un.
varrantablp. scale of current ordinary ex-
nenditure and the one.half of the money
ohligations of tha late civil war vet to be
n,id Lirh rate of taxation must be long
maintained and in submitting the proposed
hill atfacting the cost of shelter of mart of
the food and all of the clothing of the peo-
nile il has been the effort of your committee
In adont surh rates of taxation as will be
permanent and as will only need to be dis
turbed nv unforeseen national emergency
and at the same time to exempt necessary
articles from taxation and thereby promote
domestic industries"
The bill TO be reported will contain
numerous provisions relating to the admin
istration of tine customs laws. On this sub
iect the majority say. some of the embar
, rassmpnts suggested by Secretary Manning
are sonrht to he removed, and whatever i
formulated in the bill for this purpose ha
received the approval Of the secretary. Tn,
majority however donot pretend to hav,
dealt exha,lstively with the evils which hay,
7 avcitnd the condemnation both of the mer
1 camille classes and of the officers whose duty
II is to enforce the law, So long. they say
Q rs the present complicated tariff shall eXs
, and duties are imposed upon more than fOu
thousand articles largely subject to a,
!, valorpm rates these evils will continue. Al
, that Congress can do in the absence of
general revision of the tariff. with new AM
simple classification, is to provide for eac
cause Of complaint as it arises In the bill
; IN he reported the most prominen
grievances are dealt with. In addition I
: fine settlement of such controyerted Ques
l tions an attempt has been made to relax th
, provisions OF the law which interfere wit
r the freedom of exchange, more particular
: with reference to the warehousng of good
o in bond and their withdrawal for cOnsumI
: tion or re.eyrortation. A provision has ais
a been inserted for the allowance Of draw
, hacks TO the full extent of the duty pal
:, unon onv imported materials which hay
=, entered into the production of articles e,
u nnrted The object of this provision is
: remove an impediment TO the growth of OF
: foreign commerce.
u The provisions of the bill relating TO ii
S iuties upon coverings and packages. whc
t. has been the subject of innumerable proteS
IS and many thousands of suits, and whiC
70 was partially adiudicated in the case
% ObertrutFer against Robertson. has had III
+ careful consideration of the committee an
a. the favorable scrutiny of the Officers of Il
treasury. and will simplify very much Ii
compIications which caused general dissati
/ faction among customs officers and me
II chants
IS Mr.. Mckinley will submit the views
n the minority. signed by himself and h
le four Republican associates on the commi
d tee. The minority, dissenting from the I
IT mort of the majority, say the bill to be I
# no,ted from the committee differs wide
a from the bill introduced by Mr.. Morris,
last February, II is, they say, a new ere
ton and enbodies little that was in Il
n original bin. The assertion of the maior
d. ,hat the average rate of duty upon import,
m gools exceedS forty seven per cent, tn
:, cav only means that prices and values we
$ unnecessarily low. and furnishes no iustihC
tion for the bill What the average ad v
4, loren rate of duty will be under our tar
= laws, if amended as provided by the majC
ie itv. is left to conjecture, for the majori
rs rerort does not discuss even an estlmat
Of hut whether il will be higher or lower III,
tha p,esent will depend upon values. No,