New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-02-18
THE UyKYOWABLE TARIFF BILL.

THE UNhNOWdDLE TAHITI BILL.
One thing may as well stop without further
delay. Frienl is and opponents of the Morrison
tariff bill are talking about the precise amount
of reduction which it will make in taxation, as
if ANYBODY could guess whatits effect would be.
The Only thing certain about such bill is that
no man living can say whether it will reduce
the revenue or increase il. 1t would certainly
sacrifice all the revenue now derived from
articles which it puts on the free list. care
full examination proves that the amount OF duty
derived from such articles last year was
So, 60 973 But it is altogether probable that
the increase of revenue on other articles, on
which duties are reduced with intent to invite
larger importationS, will exceed that amount.
At first glance members Of Con Eress may i'm
agine that they ought to know and do know
what part of the duty proposed reduction
would remit But take the simplest case con-
ccivable the proposed removal of just one-iilth
of the duty on sugar. The amount of such
duties paid last year was 500, 100000 anu 1t
might be supposed that the change would
lessen the revenue by Sl3,SOO, 900, but 1t Is
quite certain that it would not. One has only
to look az the official table showing the qGantl-
ties of sugar of different grades imported, and
the rate of duty ON each, to see that change III
the rate of duties would certainly alter the pro-
portion of the different grades imported. Thus
about half of the duty now paid is on sugar
which pays just two cents per pound duty, Il
single narrow grade above 50 and not above so
degrees test by polariscope. OF that small
grade 1,223, 692.77l pounds were imported
last year. and the duty paid was S2i.413, 500.
1t is perfectly obvious that the enormous III
pOrtatiOn of this grade, and not OF sugar one or
two degrees higher or lower. was because AT
that point the duty was two cents per pound.
But change Of one-ffth in the duties would
make the rate only two cents on the quality oil
sugar which now pays 2.2l cents, namely all
sugar not above 90 degrees test, and of the %
and 96 degrees sugar quite large quantities are
even now imported. Were the duty on them
reduced TO less than two ccuts who can tell
whether they would not be imported as largely
as the 9O-dcgrces sugar is now1 If so. the
revenue would not be reduced at all. But then
comes in a proviso, the effect of which nobody
can possibly forecast. This reduction ia to be-
imperative as to all sugar from countries
which impose an export duty. II II is possible
To determine just what countries now have IN
force export duties on sugar, it is not possible
To detern inc what duties of that sort may be IN
force next week or next year, for any nation
may at any time impose or remit duties.
If Mr.. Morrison had spent all his sixty years
of life exclusively in an effort 10 contiivc n
measure which should create the greatest posi-
bic amount Of confusion and uncertainty about
the duties on imports and the revenue OF the
Government, it IS hard to believe that he could
have done worse in that respect than in the bill
now submitted. lie has sense enough 10 know
that he cannot tell within many millions, nor
can anybody else, how his bill would affect the
revenue or the imports of foreign products But
he does know that it would sacrifice the
81. 200 now derived from duties on
articles which he puts into the free list, and
that he may imagine will at any rate go to the
benefit of consumers. Even that is very uncer-
tain We imported 100000 tons of iron ore
last year, with duty of rs cents per ton, but
produced in New York, NewJersey and East
ern Pennsylvania probably eight times as
much. If these mines should be closed by
foreign competition. would foreigners sell
5000 900 tons of ore as cheaply as they nov
sell 4OO0O07 Everybody knows they would
not. Prices at foreign sources OF supply would
rise, so that consumers would not gain the
difference of 70 cents in duly. But some East
ern mines which have especial fac tiles, or can
import cheap foreign labor, would be able to
sell ore at a lower price aud keep their market.
Mr.. Morrison would help foreign producers
largely, and a small part of American con-
sumers "a little, but wOuld throw away revenue
of $3OO,O would drive from employment n
great number of miners in Eastern States, and
would compel others to work at starvation
wages or to see their places taken by imported
foreign miners. Does he really think that
would help the county as a whole
TRi ING IT AGAiN
When Speaker Carlisle looked about him