The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-03-20

RANDALL'S TARIFF BILL.

Mr.. Randall makes the following statement
about his bill, which he introduced in the house
on Monday:
The bill repeats the entire internal tax on tobacco
and on fruit brandes. 1t also repeats the license
tax on Wholesale and retail liquor dealers, leaving
these, as recommended by Jefferson, SO that the
state auth lrities might adopt them. 1t makes alco
hol used in the arts free, and reduces the tax on
whisky TO fifty cents per gallon On the tariff, the
bill is careful and complete revision of the whole
tariff system. 1t carries to the tree list large num-
Der OF articles now paying duties. and which enter
into consumption, either as raw material, or other
WISE and in the production Of which there Is no in
furious competition between this and other coun-
tries In the revision of the tariff the aim has been
inelligently TO apply consistent principles to all
branches of industry, and in doing, our industrial
system has been considered as q whole, and
differing from other industrial systems in the impor-
ant fact that the labor in this country received
larger share of the annual products of labor and
capital combined than in any other country. This
important advantage to the labor interests of the
United States the bill aims to preserve throughout
while at the SINE time in fairness to all interests
stated III tie Chicago platform, ito reduce and
equalize'' the duties on imports.
The principles applied to the revision of the tariff
i'll this bin are, first, that the difference in cost of
producing commodities in this and other countries
where there is no climatic other natural causes
why they can not be produced abundantly in this
country has been studied. In such q scheme all
industries ofcourse should stand on equal footing
and in no instance should the powers Of government
be used to elevate one another. In other words
| our industrial system must be considered as
whole, i'll which all who participate In it share its
| benefits whether they engaged in one industry
| or in another One principle of great importance
has been kept constantly in view, and that IS that
| the line which marks the difference in the COS t
| of producing commodities here and abroad-n
| other words the line of far competition-is always
| and necessarily above the point of maximum rev.
| enue. Consequently to reduce the duties any
| commodity below the line of difference in cost
which, as stated is the line of even competition, un
til the line OF maximum revenue is passed, necessa
rly increases the revenues. On the contrary to
| raise duties from the line of maximum revenue, by
| lesscning importatCns reduces the revenues This
| principle has been kept in view throughout the
bill, in the adjustment of duties. 70 determine just
where the line Indifference in cost falls is of course
| in many instances, difficult; but it may
be safely assumed, when importatons in
| any line of commodities is large
and increasing and no good reason
| appearing why the things cannot as well be pro-
duced hercthat such duties are below the cost line
and that the advantage is with the foreign pro
| Queer REPRODUCTION in the same line is diminish
ed or suspended altogether in this country, it be-
comes proof positive that the advantage is too great
| to lie overcome without readjustment of duties
In such cases embracing, however, but few art-
CleS--Leie mas Deel no preparing TINS
bill to raise duties 10 permit these industries to
take their place abreast with others IN the country
Where mportations are light and increasing it may
consistently be assumed that the duties are quite
high enough and in many cases, may be safely re-
duced' aud in case the industry is of such nature
as to permit trusts and combinations ofany kind to
raise prices above the level Of prices or profits in
other industries, then it becomes important
that the cost line should be closely adhered
to; and that has been the aim IN this bill in the in
dustries where trusts combinations are supposed
10 have such power II is less important Of course,
20 apply this rule rgidIy where prices are regulated
through free competition; in such cases. under well
known economic principles, the tendency is always
to general level in profits wages and prices in any
industrial system In working out the details Of
the bill under these principles the aim has been to
pare closely and adjust carefully the different sched-
ules, with the object always in view TO lower duties
wherever possible and reduce the revenues. being
careful at the same time 10 hurt no established in
dustfy.
The estimated reductions under this bill will be:
On internal taxation repealed $40 O00O 0O estimated
reduction on tariff schedules, Sl5C0J,OOO The bill
is the result Of great labor and industry and Is
framed after the fullest inquiry and conference with
those directly interegtedp