Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-10-05

WASHINGTON, Oct. 1.-The majority re-
port on the tariff bill declares a demand
for careful and thorough revision of the
revenue laws is imperative. First, to re-
duce national revenues, which are now ex-
cessive; second, to protect honest importers
and domestic producers from the dlsas-
trous consequences resulting from fraudu-
lent undervaluations of imported mer-
chandise, on which now ad valorem duties
are levied; third, to remedy the defects,
anamolies and incongruitieS which have
been from time to time discovered in the
tariff schedules, or which have been Great
ed by erroneous decisions of the treasury
department.: fourth, to secure proper re-
adjustment and equalization of tariff rates
rendered necessary by modified business
conditions and improvement in methods Of
production, radical changes in prices or
by the new elements or sources of COM
petition; fifth, to give protection to many
Industries now suffering on account of in
adequate rates levied on competing pro-
ducts.
The public demand for reduction of
revenue, the majority says, is more urgent
on account of the ineXcusable retention in
national treasury or on deposit in national
the amount required to pay current de-
mands upon the treasury and to meet the
maturing obligations of the government.
This sum, with additions which will ac-
crue within four months and before any
legislative action reducing revenues can be
effective, it declares to he sufficient to pay
in full the outstanding A. per cent
bonds that will become due in 81
S221, 100000 This accumulation, it
insists, could and should be protitably
avoided and the probability of business
disaster also avoided by the prompt return
of money collected from the people to the
channels of trade through purchase of
United States bonds that could at all
times be obtained Mt prices which to the
government would be unequal to the in
vestment of otherwise Improbable funds
at rate of interest of not less than per
cent.
The majority expresses its conviction of
the inadequacy of the house bill as
remedial measure for the following rea-
sons: First, it would probably increase
instead of reducing the revenue;
second, it provides no remedy for
differentiation, but, on the contrary,
invites and gives immunity to fraud by
substituting ad valorem for specific duties,
and third, it does not remedy any Unequal
tiles or anomalies or cure any defects of
the existing law. If foreign manufacture
=,
channels made IN the cotton and wool
schedules secure one quarter of the market
now held by American manufacturers and
this, ii thinks, is very conservative esti-
mate the additional duty would reach at
least 500, 000,000. An expansion of imports
1t declares, would also follow reduction
rates on china, porcelain, coiored window
Of glass, manufactures of iron and
steel, flax, jute, hemp and many
minor minor manufactures. with greatly
augmented revenues. 1t declares such a
bill perpetrateS the existing intrmities
created by its obScuritieS and faulty con-
struction, doubts and antiquities, which
must multiply indefinitely. The present
confusion, however, the majority says,
which would flow from the figures of the
bill as a corrective measure would be much
less disasterous to the material interests
of the country than those which must
surely follow the adoption of its vicious
affirmative propositions; features which
most clearly indicate its purpose in the
proposed substitution OF ad valorem for
specific duties. This could have no other
result than change of rates now protect
i've for others which would not protect
Promoters of this bill must have been IA
miliar with the testimony submitted
TO congress by Secretary Manning disclos-
ing enormous frauds upon the revenue and
honest merchants through ad valorem
only by the experience of every CONNER
cial nation of the world but by the iudg-
ment of those who have been intrusted
with the responsibility of customs admin
istration aud by honest importers and
merchants as well as by intelligent politi-
cal economists and legislators OF every
shade of economic belief. IL it is de-
sirable that sliding scale of duties should
be adopted sales should increase as for
eign prices diminish. The proposal TO
apply this principle to all manufacturers
of wool would be unsatisfactory and de-
structive. The rate proposed in the wool
schedule would prevent the importation
of low grades of fiannels, blankets, and
hats of wool, and all low and medium
grades of cassimeres and other cloths. |
which enter into the clothing of our great
mass of people, but would be insufficient
upon all finer classes of dress goods and
cloths for mea' wear. The majority saws
that with the exception OF silks, wines,
liquors, tobacco ana sugars, every tariff
schedule is invaded by alterations made
with the hostile spirit which prevades the
house bill aud that nearly all our indus
tries would feel the bliChtlng effects of the
changes which are either inconsiderate or
purposely destructive
The majority further says: The free
trade tendencies. hardly concealed in these
propositions TO cripple or destroy numer-
Gus industries. are clearly brought into
view by an examination of the list of ar
ticles which it he's been proposed to place
upon the free list.
The report enbodies list of about fifty /
manufactured articles from which duties /
O r.yofaoSad To fsa yar,anra1 b1- tho Mills ]