New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-03-12
MR.. RANDALL'S TARIFF BILL
HOPING NOT TO UNsErrLE INDUSTRY
A REDUCTION OF SEVENTY MILLIONS or DOLLARS
IN THE INTERNAL REVENUE - PROPOSED
CHANGES IN THEIMPsRr DUTIss-coM-


PARTsoN WITH THE MILLS BILL
WASHINGTON. March 11.-Mr. Randall has COM
pleted bis Tariff bill and will introduce it in tho
House tomorrow. In explanation fits terms and
scope. he makes the following statement:
"The bill repeals the entire internal tax on to-
bacco and on fruit brandles. It also repeals tho
license tax on Wholesale and retai liquor dealers,
leaving these. recommended by Jefferson, so that
the State authorities might adopt them 1t makes
alcohol used IN the arts free, and reduces the tax
on whiskey to fifty cents per gallon
"On the tariff the bill is careful and complete
revision Of the whole tariff system. II carries to
the free list large number of articles paying
duties which onter into consumption either as
raw material or otherwise. and in the production
Of which there is no injurious competition between
this and other countries In the revision Of tho
tariff the aim has been in!ellgcntIy to apply con-
sistent principles to all branches of industry and
in so dong. industrial system has been consId
cred as WHOLE and differing from other industrial
systems in the important fact that the labor IN
this country receives larger share Of the
annual products of labor and capital COM
bined than in any other country. THIS
important advantage to the labor int rests of the
United States the bill aims to preserve throughout,
while at the same time. in fairness to all in-
terests' as stated in the Chicago platform. to
reduce and equalize the dutb on imports.
1.-THE principles applied to the revision of the
tariff in this bill are, first. thae the difference IN
cost of producing commodities in this and other
countries. where there is no climatic or other
natural causes why they cannot be produced abun.
dainty tins country, has been studied and every
where adhered to as the cardinal principle to be
enforced in any revision Of the tariff In such
scheme all industries of course, should stand
equal footing, and IN no instance should the powers
of the Government be used to elevate one above
another In other WORDS our industrial system
must he considered as a whole, IN which all who
participate in 1t share its benefits whether they
are engaged In one industry or another
lone principle of great Importance has been
kept constantly in view, and that is that tine line
which marks the difference IN cost Of producing
commodities here and abrOad-in other words, tho
line of far competiton-is always and necessarily
above the point of maximum revenue. Con.
sequently to reduce the duties on any commodity
below the line of difference in cost. which as stated
is the line of even competition. until the line Of
maximum revenue Is passed. necessarily Increases
the revenues On the contrary, 10 raise duties
from the line of maximum revenue. by lessenng
iInpOIt afOns reduces the revenues. This prIncl.
pie has been kept in view throughout the Dill IN
the adjustment Of duties. 10 determine Just where
the line of difference in falls 49, Of course. in
many instances difficult. but it NAV be safely as
sumed, when lmpOraIIOns IN any Iinc OF colmodi-
ties Is large and ncreaslng-and no good reason ap
bearing why the things cannot as well be producet
herethaJ such duties ara below the cost line, and
that the advantage is with the foreign producer.
If production the same line IS diminished OF sus
pended altogether this country, 1t becomes proof
positive that the advantage too great to he over
come without n reaGjusfment OF duties In such
cases--embracing, however, but q few artlcles--
there mas been no hesitancy, III preparing this bl,
to raise duties as to permit these Industries TO
take their place abreast OF Others in the country.
"Where impOrtatiOns are hight and increasing 1t
may consistently be assumed that the duties are hgh
enough. and IN many cases may be safety reduced
and in case the industry is of such nature as to
permit trusts aud combinations of anv kiud to raIso
prices above the level of prices or profits IN other
industries, then it becomes important that tie cost
| line should be closely adhered to. aud that has
been the aim III this bin IN the Industries where
trusts or combinations are supposed 10 have such
power. It Is less important, Of course. 10 apply
thus rule rigldy where prices are eeuated through
free competition In such cases. unuer well-Anown
economic principles, the tendency Is always loa
general level in profits, wages and prices In any in-
dusriai system. In working out the details OF the
bill under these principles. the aim has been TO
pare closely and adjust carefully tae different
schedules. with the object always IN view to lover
duties wherever possible and reduce the revenues,
beng careful at the same time to hurt no estab.
lished industry ~
"The estimated reduction under this bill will be:
On internal taxation repealed, $7OOOO,OOO; on
tariff schedules. $25. 100000.
1.-The bill the result Of great labor and IN:
dustry, and Is framed after the fullest inquiry and
conference with those directly Interested. lhe
rates will not suit many OF these engaged IN manu-
4
spOlse to the demond tor reduced rates Ill our tafu
| laws"
CUTTING DOWN THE WAR TAXES.
The bill is twice as long as the Mills bill. and
relates to many more subjects 1t is entitled, "A
bill to reduce and equaIize duties on imports. to
reduce Internal Revenue taxes and for other pur-
poses' The sections relating to the Internal Rev
enue are as foOws:
Section THAT all laws now In force whereby farn
and producers of tobacco restricted In the sao
and disposition Of the same and "a laws and parts OK
laws far the relate TO the Internal revenue
taxes herein specified, be, and the same are hereby
repealed to take effect the first day of july 1885,
namely The taxes on manufactured tobacco, snuh,
cigars cheroOts and cigarettes and The special iaAe;
dealers in leaf tobacco all dealers In leaf tobacco,
dealers in manufactured tobacco, pedlers OF tobasco
cigars si sn Poydea, % That on ali original and nnbrocn
factory packages OF smoking and manufactured t9bac
manufactures factors jobbers dealers at the tme
such repeal shall into effect upon which the tax
factor iobbcr dealer, other owner Of
said tobacco snuff cigars and cigarettes to she
claim cI W has ' not been presented within ninety io
no s claim aas shall be- @
five and any M stamp o s gorss
of the special tax year nnexpred at the tnlc OF th9
sResS no se ss han Se and
satisfy claims under this act shall be paid out o any
and Il shall be the duty Of tho Secretary of Tho Treas
nry to adopt such rules and regulations and TO pre-
scribe and furnish such blanks and forms aS may DO
! necessary TO carry this section into effect
section 2.-That all internal revenue laws limiting
restricting regulating the manufactnre SALE or ex-
poitation OF tobacco SNUFF cigars cheroofs ana cigar
eftcs are hereby repealed to take OBJECT on the first
day July, 1888 and that there shall Be- no
allowed upon any such articles which shall be entered
for export on or after that date Provided, That all
laws now shall remain and havc full force and
effect In respect to all offences committed, liabilities
incurred or rights accruing accrued prior to tho
date when tho repeal Of tho taxes specified In this
act shall take effect.
Section 3.-Tha all laws and parts OF laws imposing
an internal tax upon spirits distilled from
aDples peaches, other fruits hereby repealed
10 take effect the first day Of Jny 1888 Provided,
That no person or persons shall be allowed to
facture or dIst spirits partly from fruits and partly
from grain or other substances without the payment
MANUFACTURE OF spirits distilled from grain: and any
person violating the provisions Of this section shall be
dnsd not more than five hundred dollars imprisoned
not more than year, o. BOTH at the discretion Of
tho court Provided, further. That upon all unbroken
packages kegs barrels Of such fIuit spirits ihere