Butte semi-weekly miner., 1888-04-04
THE rARIFr REPORT.

THE TARIFF REPORT.
The majority report Of the Committee
on Ways and Means accompanying the
tariff bill presents plain statement OF
the reasons why the existing rate of tax
alton should be reduced. Examined in
the light of reason, and freed from the
absurd cIamor Of protectionists. it shows
how ridiculous is the attempt toobstruct
reform by the cry Of efree trade The
revenues are now over a hundred mill
ions per annum In excess of the needs OF
the Government. As the report says,
there are but two ways of preventing the
continuation of this excess of taxation
needlessly tying up money in the Treas
my--by reducing taxation or increasing
expenditures. There is no legitimate
way in which the latter can be accom-
pIished. The public debt cannot be re-
duced at present without paying about
$125 for every 800 worth of bonds.
Launching out into vast projects for
National works would be certain
to be accompanied by jobbery and
corruption on the part of contract
ors. A reduction of the internal revenue
and tariff taxation to the requirements
of honest administration of the Govern
ment is the only natural and sensible
course to pursue. The report says: I'm
the progressive growth Of our manufac-
lures, Eve have reached point where
the capacity to produce is in excess OF
the requirements Of home consumption.
AS a consequence many mills are closed
and many are running on short time
Many of the manufactures of this coun-
try are excluded from foreign markets
by the high tariff placed on raw mate
rials which enter into their production.
With wider scope for these manufac-
lures, mills can be run on full time,
"give constant employment to labOrers
with steadily increasing wages and
create an active and constant demand for
raw materials required in manufacture
ing, which will stimulate, promote and
reward the wool grower and producer of
cotton, hemp, fax, hides, ores and other
raw materials" They have therefore
transferred to the free list articles en-
which the revenue now received amounts
to over twenty-five million dollars. The
principal part Of this comes from the re-
ductions effected on wool and tinplate.
As to the latter, it is in NO sense defenci-
BILE. The tax on it is complained of by
the canning Industries Of the country
east and west. 1t increases the price of
canned goods, and as these have entered
into universal consumption, the burden
is universal. As to wool, it is enough to
quote from a showing made in the Fort
Benton Free Press the enormous profits
enjoyed by wool-raising to show that it,
OF all raw products, is capable of endur-
ing reduction.
The firm of Clark Brothers are located
in the vicinity of Choteau. Four years
ago they began sheep-raising by purchas-
Ing ranch which they stocked with g.
800 sheep Of which 1880 were ewes. Next
year they added SOC ewes. With these as
a commencement they have now 1920
head of sheep and in the four years have
butchered or sold 1000 wethers. Their
increase this year they place at about
$500 lambs. Beginning with 1900
pounds of wool the first year they have
steadily increased their clip until it
amounted to $4,000 pounds last year
which will, Of course, be proportionately
increased this year. They accomplished
this result by careful breeding and intel
ligent attention to their business. The
River Press says: "Itwas the legitimate
product of intelligent, well-directed effort
iii business that, with ordinary atten-
tion, pays large profits" This is not an
exceptional case. The talk about COM
petition with Australian and other
cheaply produced woods is absurd. The
ilUlllG al bAClC Ikttc W UC Wltu lOl-
eign woods, which are Of different text
ure, in the manufacture Of goods.
Previous experience in this country
shows that in times Of high tariff wool
has invariably brought lower prices
than during periods of low tariff, and
flocks have decreased. After twenty
years Of high protection, fine wool
decreased from % to 26 cents, me-
dium wool from 8 to IL cents, and
coarse wool cents pound. That
is. prices current in Boston for the same
grades were that much lower after hav-
ing enjoyed twenty years. protection
from the present high tariff. In the face
of such showing the sympathy for the
laborer of the report will be more gener-
ally appreciated when they say wool has
been put on the free list, SO that the
American laborer may get employment
in wo0llen manufactures instead Of i'm
porting foreign woollens, and that the
consumer may have woollen goods
cheanar