The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1888-10-05
FOR PROTECTION.
Majority Report of the Re-
publican Senators.
WE PROSPER: WHY mrRxrRs
Tarin Reform Imperative. and n
Proper Measure is Presented-T The
Mills Bill Vicious in Principle.
Faulty In Cheap
Goods Means Cheap Labor-Sagar
Costs More Than Bread.

WASHINGTON. Oct. 4-The majority re-
por1 on the tariff bill declares that the
demand for careful aud thorough reyis-
ion Of the revenue laws is imperative:
FIRST. TO reduce the national revenues
which are now excessive; second. 10 pro
tees honest importers and domestic pro-
dueers from the disastrous consequences
resulting from the fraudulent undervs sln-
alton OF imported merchandise on which
ad vsioFeln rates OF duty are levied; third,
TO remedy the defects which have been
from time 10 time discovered in The tariff
.e,le.,uIes. or which have been created by
cr4ane0us decisions OF the treasury depart
fA.ans; fourth, 10 secure a proper adjust
Hsc - and equalization Of tariff rates rea-
eese.i necessary by modified business con
1itions, Improvements IN methods of pro
dHetion, radical changes in prices, or by
new elements and sources of competition:
fifth, TO give rtlief and protection 10 many
industries now suffering on account of the
inadequate rates levied on competing
products
HEArISG uP THE sURrITs
The public demand for a reduction Of
The revenue, the majority says, Is more
urgent on account Of the inexeasahlc re-
post in Ntional hanks, of United States
money in excess Of the amount required
10 pay current demands Rpon the treasury
and 10 meet the maturing obligations OF
the government. This sum, with the ad
ditious which wiz accrue within the next
four months aud before any legislative ac-
ton reducing the revenues eau be effective
viii, IL declares, be sufficient 20 pay in fun
the outstanding per cent. bonds due IN
issf. This accumulation. II insists, could
aud should be pEofitabiy avoided. and the
possibility of business disaster averfed. by
the prompt return OF the money collected
from the people 10 the ehsuueis of trade
through The purchase OF United States
bonds that could at all times be obtained
for prices which ~ the government would
be equal To the investment of otherwise
Improbable funds at a rate of interest vi
not less than per cent
THE HOUSE BILL No REMEDY.
The majority expresses the conviction
of the iaadequsey OF the house bill as
aedial measure, for these reasons First.
~ aould probably increase, instead of re-
duce, the revenue; second, il provides no
remedy for underyaluaiious, but, on the
contrary, invites them. giving immunity
To fraud by substituting al vaiorem for
specific duties, and third, 1t does not rem
edy any inequalities or anomalies or cure
any defects Of the existing law.
n
says. should through the changes made in
the cotton and wuolen schedules secure
quarter of the market now held by Alneri-
can manufactures, and this II thinks
very conservative estimate, the additional
duty would reach at leas; s600oo,00o. An
expansion Of imports, il declares, would
also follow reduction OF the rates on
china, porcelain, common window glass
and manufactures of iron and steel, jGte
Il sIap and many minor manufactures. with
greatly augmented revenues. II declares
that the house bin peTpetnates existing iu-
hrmitics and creates by its obsearlt;cS and
faulty construction doubts and antiquities
which must multiply Indefinitely the pres
ent confusion. The results. however, the
majority SAYS. which would follow from
the failures of the bin as q corrective meas
nre. would be much less disastrous TO the
material interests of the country than
those when must surely follow the adop-
ton of its vicious Affirmative propositions.
AD vALoREM DUTIES 4 sIfpISG SCALE.
A feature which most clearly indicates
its purpose is the proposed substitution Of
ad val0rem for speclfic duties. This eould
have no other result than 70 change rates
which are ROW protective for others which
would not protect. The promoters OF the
bill must be familiar with the testimony
submitted to congress by Secretary Man
ming, disclosing enormous frauds upon the
the use of al valorem rates. The use OF All
valorem rates has been condemned by the
experience Of every commercial nation in
the world hy the judgment of those who
have been entrusted With the responsibility
Of customs administration. and by
honest importers and merchants a
wei as by intelligent political eeono-
of economic belief. When business is de
pressed and foreign prices are ahnormaliy
low, aud when foreign competition is most
TO be feared and when defensive barriers
are most needed by domestic productions,
then ad yaiorem rates arr reduced and the
depression is intensified. ON the other
hand, when foreign values are highest,
these rates are highest and the restriction
eularges TO prohibition. II il Is desirable
that n sliding scale OF duties should be
adopted. the rates should increase as
foreign prices diminish. The proposal to
apply this principle 10 all manufactures
OF wool would be unsatisfactory and des-
truciive. The rate proposed In the wool
would prevent the importation Of
low grades Of iianneis, blankets and hats
of wool. and all low and medium grades of
cassimcres aud other cloths which enter
into the clothing OF the great mass of our
people, bur would be insufficient upon ali
auer classes Of dress goods and cloths for
mems wear.
ANALYSIS or THE MILLS BILi-
The majority says that with the excep-
,ion of silks. wines. liquors and tobaccCs
and sugar every tariff schedule Is invaded
by alterations made with the hostile spirit
which peryades The house bill, and thar
nearly all our industries would feel the
blishting effect of the changes, which are
either incoasiderafe OF purpOsely dcsirue-
i've. The majority says. The free trade
tendency partly concealed in these propo-
,itlons 10 cripple or destroy the numerous
industries j. clearly brought into view BY
an examination of the list OF articles Nh!ch
he hill proposes 10 place on the free Hist
III the lRs items from which duties are re
moved, nearly oBe-half, = in number, are
articles. Is are agricultural
products. II are article noy free of duty OF
y ighouf commercial Importance aud =
are articles which now pay small reNe-
sue duty. hut which are ~ Anch q eaafae-
er that a removal Of duties = objection
able
The report here introduces e lis, oi
about 30 manufactured articles from which
ihs duties are proposed TO be rsEaoHed by
.he Mills hin. referring to u hlch the ua.
.oT.fy SAYS This is free trade, aud the ilst
furnished Is conclusive evidence cf the
latent Of she house bill. which rsnuoi DC
hy eleventh hour disclaimers
af its supporters Tpoa Investigation y
win be found that With The exception oi
In plates the supply 81 the above articles
for ceusumtifiof at home l. now fur
nisae,! 20 great exient by domestic pro
turers, u hose business would be In most
instances NJ once destroyed by tae aGop-
lion Of this hill. The majority report esfi-
mates al iessi S8o,oo.eo cVpiial. and
3go. .ooc workmeu are n0w So cInploFeG.
afaEfNe DEVEcrs.
II declares tn nany cases where HaHu-
fscfursa articles are placed on The irce last.
the duty 4 retained on the materials ffps1
Which they arr manufactured. and ihsf
ms Discrimination would act A. = prohi-
.sitioa upon their production IN tAss coun-
try. The provision admitting German
lgsok ing glass plate free the majority be
lleves i the frst attempt which has been
made Ia aa American tariff 10 discriminate
h,etvFseu the production Of TaTions foreign
stsis.S. ard !; thinks u can be safely as
surned that the pro3ucers % France
BeYsfum and England would bot consent
"a thss discrimination ia favor OF German
raauufarsurerx Ia several cases ARTICLES
az frs-e under one desc r3TtieR ard dHt able
nader auGsher IL . great nuufbeF q in
sfsnesss materials gsNd by the manufacturer
ar susiable =; oae rste- while the anIs'aed
pFo,iuci i daslabie a. 4 loser rate
FEEg WOOL
w. have Aeeu resscufiy advised - the
yry-Ss,segif 6. she Cuiie,l states thas iu 81
fargsT revision slch reliance Hgzau the Trrs-
ems revenue srrarSeIc-af a. has heca "a.
e.a5lrs -ea shnai3 ts fairly and Jssssly ~
s-sr.lcs and assured fhaf, is the reforms IN
( aeizrasesi - Bis party friends, ahssYi And
ssss3eai cA4n~ss y alrn UllE1f eIlsMn-
ss.ea fss.erssrz s.s and .t iNr5o;1siy affect i1e
fst.s-sssf af lalss- z rcfatie II us1l their ssfF
esss snG ceutiuussstz a-e rsflt r, rsrsE isssf5
.-.--yss T7fr--a cam - ~, L.. 81 = fss- 81