The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-04-12

II not greater advantages than under ex
isting laws, Other articles, the rates or
which are so TO be reduced, as cotton
yarns, threads and coaraer cotton cloths
and sugar, are now dutiable ct unneces'
SRrily and unreRaonRbly high rates. These
will find compensation in the burdens oi
taxation South to bs removed for reduG-
ions for greater than any proposed BY the
bill. We get from duties on cotton goods
so, 100000 The rates on goods from
which We collect $50 100, 900 Of the amount
are slishtly reduced while the rates on
which we collect the other s, 500, 900 are
unchanged. Sugar with the present low
price Ia left at the high but revenue rate,
equivalent to Go per cent, AT the
present higher rate We collect on sugar
more than ne.touEth OF oil the revenue
derived from customs. With the still ex,
isting high II not unWArrantAble scale Of
current ordinary expenditures and the
one-half Of the money obligations
Of the late civil war yet to
BE- paid q high rats Of taxa.
ton must be long maintained, and In
submitting the proposed bill efecting the
cost Of shelter, Of part OF the food and ol
all the clothing Of the people It has been
the effort OF your committee 10 adopt such
rates OF taxation as will bs permanent and
Is will only need TO be disturbed by un-
lorseen national emergencies and at the
same time to exempt necessary articles
from taxation and thereby promote do.
mestic industries, In the bill herewith
submitted some OF the endorsements
suggested by the Secretary Of the Treasury
(in his letter to the Speaker oil February
10th last, are sought TO be removed and
whenever 1t 10 formulated for this purpose
has received his approval.
THE WORK or THE COMMITTEE,
Itis.not pretended, however, r,thatthscom'
nittee has dealt with exhaushvely with
the evils which have secured the condsm-
nation both Of the mercantile classes and
Of the officers whose duty 1t Is TO enforce
the law, Solongas the present complicated
tariff shall exist and duties are imposed
upon more than four thousand articles
largely subject to Rd v9lorem rates these
evils will continue, All that Congress
can do In the absence Of ageneral revision
Of the tariff with new and simple
Classihcations is to provide for
each cause OF complaint as II
arises. In the bill proposed the most
pressing and prominent Of the grievances
are dealt with, In addition TO the set
tlement OF such Controverted questions an
attempt has been made 10 relax the pro.
vision o. the law which interferes with
the freedom Of exchange, more partiC-
ularly with reference to the warehousing
OF goods In bond and their withdrawal for
consumption. or transportation. A pro.
vision has also been inserted for an al
lowAnCe Of drawbacks 10 the full ex.
tent Of the duty paid upon
any important materials which have en-
tered into the production Of articles ex-
ported. The object OF this provision is to
remove an impeachment TO the growth Of
our foreign commerce. In order 10 relieve
both the merchants and customs officers
from annoying exactions and unnecessary
labor 1t was proposed TO abollsh all oaths
and fees and to substitute In lieu thereof,
as in other commercial countries, the i'm.
porter, but preserving the same penalties
as are now imposed by law for false
statements. 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 arriving In the United
States from abroad, This provision taken
In connection with the proposed sections
making 1t crime either TO give or receive
any money for the passage OF baggage
through the Custom House will, II Is be-
lleved, bring to an end q great abuse In
regard to the excessive amount Of baggage
brought In free In competition with the
merchandise otimportets who have to pay
duties.