St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-04-12

however, that the committee has
DEALT ExHAUsTIvELY
with the evils which have excited the con-
demnation both OF the mercantile classes and
OF the officers whose duty IL is TO enforce the
law. So long as the present complicated tariff
shall exist and duties are imposed upon more
than 1000 articles largely subject TO ad
valorem rates, these evils will continue. All
that congress can do in the absence OF a gen.
eral revision of the tariff with new and sim
pie classihcations is TO provide for each
cause Of complaint as IL arises. In the bin
proposed the most pressing and prominent
OF the grievances are dealt with. In addition
10 the settlement OF such controverted Ques-
tions an attempt has bcen made to relax the
provisions of the law which interfere with
the freedom OF exchange, more particularly
with reference TO warehousing OF goods in
bond and withdrawal for consumption or re-
exportation. A provision has been inserted
for the allowance OF drawbacks TO the full
extent OF the duty paid upon any imported
materials which have entered into the pro-
duction of articles exported. The object OF
this provision is TO remove any impediment
10 the growth of our foreign commerce. In
order To relieve both the merchants and the
customs officers from annoying exac actions and
unnecessary labor IL is proposed TO abolish
all
oATHs AND FEES
and to substitute in lieu thereof, as in other
commercial countries, the declB ration of the
as are now imposed by law for false state
ments. A limitation OF $500 has been imposed
upon the value of wearing apparel and other
property which may be brought in free of
duty by passenger, excepting tourists ar
irving IN the United States from abroad.
This provision, taken in connection with pro-
posed sections making il a crime either to
give or receive any money for the passage
of baggage through the customs house, will, il
is believed, bring 10 an end great abuse ia
fVrd
hRought in (, e In competition with the mer-
chandise Of .porters who have topay duties.
THE MINORITY REPORT.
The minority report is made by Repre-
sentative McKinsey. Referring to the wool
industry il SAYS:
The wool growers OF the country were led
to D.. e &C from the bill first before the COM
mittee tnat no adverse action would be had
touching their interests. They have there
fore not been before the committe in any
Official way, and those who were heard, spoke
Tor tie restoration OF the duty of 1867 with
out declaiming that the inadequate protec-
ton they now enjoyed was TO be swept away
from them and their vast interests left 10 the
mercy OF q competition with wool growers in
Australia, New Zealand and South American
states, where the principal cost of production
is the herding required by sheperds,
where labor is cheap and where feeding.
either in winter or summer, does not enter
effort, therefore, in the direction or free
trade is aimed at the unorganiZed farmers OF
the country. who, moved from the centers OF
trade, busy on their farms and plantations,
unused % meeting committees OF congress
and unadvised that their interests were TO be
dealt an unfriendly blow, they are TO be the
first victims OF the British policy through the
agency OF the American congress.
A RAPID INCREASE.
In 1850 the sheep in the United States
numbered a little over -, ,0OO, 900. In 1853 the
number had increased TO 5O,600, 900. In 1850
there was 60,2O0,0OO. In 1888 it reached
32U, 600, 600. The duty OF 1867, which
gave 10 wool growers its greatest encour-
agement and induced thetfarmers TO increase
their fiocks and spend their means for the
finest variety of sheep, and for their care
and Improvement. and which finally made
the American wool the best in the
world, adapted to all the nse of manufactures.
has added nothing TO the cost of wool TO the
/ manufacturer or consumer. On the contra
ry, that cost mas been greatly cheapened. In
1867 the price was 81 cents; in 1870. 46 cents:
| ic 1875. 43 cents There has been steady re-
| duciiOn until now IL is so low as 10 be tempo
rarily Improbable. The decay OF sheep hus-
bandry in the United States would be a na-
| tional calamity. 1t would place our manu-
! tacturers at the mercy OF the foreign pro-
| ducers. This is an industry which cannot be
! built up in a day. IL has required years of
I
ment, and sound policy demands its continu-
ance and encouragement The minority en-
deavored 70 meet the reasonable expectations
of this large class of their fellow citizens and
restore the duty Of 1867 on wool, but were
prevented by the
VOTES OF THE MAJORITY,
and from the same cause are liable to main
| tain even the existing rates We couldn' {
believe that the majority would take from
the dutiable list wool, which has been kept
there since 1924 and which even the free
trade law of Robert j. Walker, framed In
| 1886. had not made free. but the majority of
the committee has done il so far as il can,
and nothing is left for this great interest
which enriches every state in the Union but
to appeal TO congress and TO the country 10
repudiate the work OF the committee. The
! fax-growers and spinners of America protest
! against the unjust aud unreasonable action
OF the committee in taking fax from the
dutiable list, and at a convention held in
Chicago in February, lSs6, declared that a
reduction of duty on foreign fabrics would
| be disastrous 10 domestic industry. In the
| judgment of the minority it will increase
rather than diminish our customs receipts.
that il will answer no sentiment for a reduc-
ton OF the surplus. II will help no Amer
lean interests. 1t will cripple, If not destroy.
all IL touches.