The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-10-09
THE TWO REPORTS
ON THE SENATE SUBSTITUTE FOB
THE MILLS BILL.

mort upon the senate tariff bill is in docu-
hnent of fifty printed pages, exclusive of volu-
minous tabular appendices. The minority re-
port makes" twelve printed pages or
about five thousand words, and Mr.. Beck's
statement embraces about one thousand
words.
The majority declares that the demand for
q careful and thorough revision of our revenue
laws is imperative.
l. To reduce national revenues, which are now
excessive.
: To protect honest importers and domestic pro-
ducers from disastrous consequences resulting from
the fraudulent underyaluatiOn of imported mer.
chandse on which ad valorem rates of duty are
levied.
eruites which have been from time 10 time dseov-
cred in tariff schedules which have been created
BY erroneous decisions of the treasury department
T. To secure proper readjuStment and equaiza-
fon OF tariff rates rendered necessary by modified
business conditions Improvements in the methods
Of production radical changes in prices or by new
elements or sources of competition
g. To give relief and protection to many indus
uuate rates levied on competing products
The majority expresses its conviction of the
inadequacy of the house bill as remedial
measure for reasons:
l. That it would probably increase instead Of re-
q That 1t provides no remedy for undervaluations
but, on the contrary, invites and gives immunity to
fraud by substituting ad yalorem for specific duties;
s. That it does not remedy any of the inequali-
ties anomalies or cure any OF the effects of the
The pnbiic demand for O reduction of revenue.
the majority says is more urgent account of the
inexcusable retention III the national treasury or
on deposit i'll national banks of vast sums of money
in excess OF the amount required to pay current
demands npon the treasury and to meet the matur-
ing olligal ions of the government This sum, with
additions which will accrue within the next four
months and before any legislative action reducing
the revenues can be effective it declares, will be
sufficient 10 pay IN iuil the outstanding "A
600. This accumulation, it insists could
and should have been proIitably avoided and the
possibility of business disaster averted by the
prom 1t return OF money collected from the people
The channels Gftrade through the purchase of United
States bonds that could at all times have been obs
tanned for prices which to the government would
have been equal to an investment of otherwise un-
profitable funds at rate of interest not less than
two per cent per annum.
1t has been the evident purpose, the report SAYS
of those who have controlled the policy of the party
In power 10 delay action TO magnify causes for un-
the people of the country should impera-
lively demand relief, and then to assume
which we are suffering are necessary Incl
dents OF the protective SYSTEM and that relief can
that system. The known attachment of the great
OF wage carriers of the country TO the system
which has been productive to them of unexampled
prosperity prevented the adoption OF policy of
open attack and made it necessary that some plaus
IDLE reason should be found for the stealthy accom-
piishment OF their destructive design.
FOREIGN COMPETITION.
Referring to the house bill, the majority says If
foreign manufacturers should through changes in
the 60 ton and wooden schedules by the house bill
secure quarter CT the market now held by Ameri-
can manufacturers, and this it thinks very
sentative estimate, tue additional duty would reach
at least sixty millions An expansion OF imports 1t
declares would also follow reduction of rates on
CHINA porceiain common window glass, manufac-
turers of iron and STEEL flax, jute, hemp and many
minor manufacturers with greatly augmented reve-
nucs. 1t declares that the house bill
perpetuates existing lnlrmities and creates by
Its obscure les and faulty constructions doub's and
smbiguities u Itch must multiply indefinitely the
present confusion
The report makes reference, for Illustration to its
appendices, citing large number of paragraphs Of
the existing law OF doubtful meaning which the ma
jority claims the house bill fails to remedy and to
paragraphs of the house bill any probable interpre
tation of which it thinks would increase the exist
ing confusion. The results, however the majority
says, which would flow from failures of the bill as
corrective measure, would be much less disastrous
which must surely follow the adoption of its various
affirm i've propositions feature which most clear
ly indicates its purpose is the proposed substitution
of ad valorem for specific duties. This could have
no other effect than change the rates now protect
i've for others which would not protect. The pro-
of this bill must have been familiar with the
testimony submitted to congress by Secretary Man
ming, disclosing the enormous frauds upon revenue
and honest MERCHANTS through the use of ad.
valorem rates. The frequency and notoriety of
these frauds and widespread decentralization result
ing from them should have prevented any attempts
to extends the system.
COTTON AND COTTON CLOTHS.
In illustration of the effect of house bill to in
crease lmportationS und break down domestic pro-
ducers, cite the application of ad valorem rates
to the manufacture OF tine cotton cloths. The spe-
cifc rates now leyiea upon cotton cloths furnish no
reasonable grounds for adverse criticism, either by
the producers or consumers of cotton manufactures
The inevitable effect of substitution would be to
largely increase the importation of ali the finer and
more expensive classes of these goods and to pro-
uuee dlSo lnIzaton ana depression IN TINS lmpor-
tant industry. The uniform rate of 40 per centum
proposed bears very unevenly upon the various
grades ofgoods 1t would be- if collected upon
honest valuation protective upon coarser and COM
mon K. ndS which are largely consumed by all
classes of our people, but it would encourage the
importation, without restraint of these fine fabrics
which may be properly designated as luxuries.
The proposal to apply tins principle to all manu-
and destructive. The rate proposed in the wooden
schedule would preN eat the Importation of low
grades of fannels, blankets and hats of wool and
all low and medium grades of cashmeres and other
cloths which enter in the clothing of
the great mass of our people, put would
and cloths for mems wear. All articles in both
the schedules which could be classed necessares
of life, ana which worn by our workingmen
and women would be protected by the rates pro-
posed to the extent of exclusion of the foreign arti
Gle, while upon all finer and more expensive pro-
ducts, which are in the nature OF luxuries and
purchased largely by the rich the rates would place
nd restraint upon mportations and would furnish
no protection to the American producer.
The majority says that with the Exception ofsilks,
wines, liquors and tobacco and sugar, every tariff
schedule is invaded by alterations made with the
hostile spirWhich pervades the house bill and that
nearly all of our industries would feel the bghting
eHoc OF the changes which are either inconsiderate
or purposely destructive.
The free trade tendencies, the majority says,
which partly concealed i'll these propositions to
cripple or destroy numerous industries, are clearly
brought into view by en- examination of the list of
the articles which the bill proposes to place upon
fhe free list. OF the one hundred and four items
from which duties are removed. nearly one half,
torty-eight in number, manufactured
articles, sixteen agricultural products, eeyen
are articles which are now free Of duty without
commercial importance, and twenty-one arti-
Giles which now pay small revenue duty, but which
are of such character that the removal of duties is
uno 5iectonable.
THE CHARGE OF FREE TRADE.
The report here embodies O list of about fifty man
ufactured articles from which duties are proposed
to lie removed by the Mills BILL referring to which
list the majority says This is free trade in the
concrete ana the list furnishes conclusive evidence
of The intent of the house bill, which cannot be
neuralized by the eleventh hour disclaimers of It's
supporters In q considerable number of cases the
admission of important manufactured products free
of duty while the duty is retained on material.
would not only extinguish the industry directly
affected but would ehectually destroy important
collateral industries. In many cases the duty is
moved not only from materials but also from man.
uiactured products in various stages as we'll
The majority continues its citations in illustration
OF this branch OF It's report great length declaring
that in the house bill every correct principle Of
tariff construction have been violated in selecting