Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1888-03-16


wrought-iron pipes is left to con-
lecture. Hoop iron is made dutia-
BILE, as in the present tariff, but
cOttOn.ties made therefOrm are put
in the free list. Tlnplates are also
in the tree list. but the sheets from
which they are made are in the
dutiable list. Structural iron and
steel are subjected to a much lower
rate OF duty than ordinary bar iron,
which is absurd and Malicious
The duty on "slabs and billets of
steel" is fixed at 81 per ton, while
the duty on steel blooms and bars
valued at less than one cent a
pound is fixed at $500 per tom
OF course the virtuOus importers
would never under this bill import
any slabs or billets by these names /;
they would be called blooms or
bars, and the equally virtuous Gus
tOm-hOuse officers would wink at
the deception.
This bill is a fraud. The pre-
tense of Mr.. Cleveland and his free
trade advisers has been that we
must have tariff revision that will
reduce duties on "raw Materials
80 that the cost of manufacturing
will be cheapened, but the duty
on coal aud iron ore is maintained
at the old rate, while duties on fin.
ished iron and steel products, in
+ the manufacture of which coal and
iron ore are essential, are generally
! reduced. II is fraud also in the
pretense that it will reduce the rev.
enues if it becomes law, whereas,
by increasing impOrtatiOns, it
would most certainly increase the
revenues.
This is a heartless bill. Numer-
Gus small industries, as well as
large ones, would suffer serious in
jury If it should become a law,
while others would be literally de-
strOyed. Our small farmers who
raise small flocks of sheep would
cOnspicuOusly suffer. Manufactur-
ers of cOttOn-ties would have to
abandon their business. Public
advertisement is made that we
shall have no tinplate industry
Our salt industry and our strug-
Cling jnte industry would be ruin
ed. At duty of 81 per ton our
steel-rail mills would be closed one
after another. and with them would
be closed coal mines and irOn-Ore
mines by the hundred. What, then,
would avail the sectional duty on
coal and iron ore If the demand for
these "raw materials should fall
off and England should make our
steel rails ? In all our industries
the inevitable effect of this bill
would be to reduce wages by max
ing competition with the Old
World more severe than it now is.
Mr.. Mills may az well frankly ac.
knowledge this.
1t is very plain that the Mills
bill has been moulded upon the adj
wee given by the present Secretary
of the Treasury, Mr.. Fairchild, in
his annual report of December last
-"RcdUce dUtieS upon erery dutid-
bite article to me Iorcst point posi-.
bIe." Mr.. Mills has zealously done
this, except IN n few instances of
sectional or other favOrtism, some
of which we have mentioned.
Clumsy as many features of this
bill are, it is, nevertheless, the
work of experts who are familiar
with custom-hOuse operations and
commercial nomenclature. and who
have been very near to New York
importers and have tenderly cared
for their interests. 1t is essential.
" an importers bill. 1t is not a
bill to promote the welfare of our
own people.
This English bill must be de.
feated. Farmers, manufacturers,
workingmen, and all patriotic citi-
zens must protest against it--earn.
eStly, vigorously. and Immediately.
The Ways and Means Committee
should be asked to give a hearing
TO those whose vital industrial in
terests the secretly .cOncOcted bill
Of its majority so rnthlessly assails.
Every member Of Congress should
he deluged with letters and tele.
graphic dispatches protesting
against this bill. There is danger
that it may pass. 1t is an Admin
lstration measure, and the whole
power Of the President, personal
and official, will be brought TO bear
in It's behalf. The country should
be aroused a. once to the danger
that confronts it, and we hope that
It will be.