New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-08-10
THE SENATE TARIFF BILL.
DIFFICULTIES TO BE OVERCOME.

EFFECT OF PREFERABLE TREASURY RULINGS
DEMOCRATIC DUPLIcrTY EXPOSED.
fBY TELEGRAPH TO Tux TnrsuSE1
Washington Aug. 9-The Senate Suo-Oom-
mittce on Finance to-day heard the representatives
Of the Journeymen Hatters' Association winch
numbers about Il, 900 members in Connecucut
New-York, New-Jersey and one or two other oos'e''
They submitted strong statement put'resScu o'
facts to show that under the present law rs con-
strucd and administered by the Treasury Depart
ment American hatters are virtually deprNeu Va
the protection which the law was designed TO al
ford and that the existence Of the INDUSTRY III
which they are employed is seriously threatened by
the advantages accorded to foreign manufacturers
and importers by Treasury decisions. For eA-
ample, hats completely manufactured except as
TO bands or Innings, or bindings are
admitted as unfinished goods az ~
Der cent ad valorem on an lnVoicc
valuation which is far below the actual val
ne Of the goods imported. This pracuce' inc
matters AFFIRM is stimulating importatlons 10 su'n
all extent that fully one-half the hats Sou on"
worn in the United States the coming year Will oo
Of foreign manufacture, while the domestio III
dustry will be crippled in corresponding uesio'
They also represented that silk, the lawful rue
of duty upon which is 80 per cent ad valorein, Is
coming through the custom houses by the Hiinon
wards under the name Of trimmings al al au
valorcm rate OF 90 per cent on underVaiueu IN
voices This, also it was stated, is done ny VIZ
tue of q Treasury ruling which dlscriniln"'e' !"
favor Of the foreign manufacturer ana inPo,
One Of the papers presented was petuon "ii0n
heors the signature of every journeyman halter
in Bethel Conn, SAL in all irrespective OF party
PRAYING for protection from ruihou'
nd
Treasury rulings The statements OF the
matters made strong impression on the suo-com-
mittee They were followed by representatives. OF
| tho Merchant Tailors Association. who argucu
| that the difference between the duty on WOODEN
| cloths and manufactured clothing is not grea'
enough TO afford sufficient protection to the manu-
| facturers OF the latter They want the rates III
| creased on ready-made clothing
| The Republican members OF the subcommittee
| stick to their task with cOmmendable PLUCK anu
persistcncy despite the hot weather. Ot course
| they are beset by many difficulties whlch INC
action OF the frcc-trade majority in the House "n'
raised in addition to those which are inherent
| II is not surprising, therefore. to ma u""O INV
| subcommittee is still unable TO fix time VIM"
tho revision will he ready TO he submitted to the
| full committee. 1t may be ready IN "ech-
and the probability lies in that direction Ii IS
onen-notablv those Of wool. lumber and sugar
| resrcctinr each OF which a very small minority
| NJ the Senators show disposition 10 hold ouO
against the views of an overwhelming MAJORITY
| An early adjustment OF these difficulties among
the friends OF the protective system Is hopcu LOT
and expected, because they are not resarucu do
radical causes Of disagreement
Aside from them, however. there remain to oa
considered and settled some important matters
respecting which more information may be ncedcu
10 reach satisfactory conclusions. The House ma
iority contributed nothing whatever to the st)ch
Of information needful in framing an mtelllg'h'
revision Of the tariff schedules and the Republican
members of the Senate committee have received
the benefit Of no suggestions or information IroA
the Democratic members TT" f,rmcr have Decn
compelled. therefor to collie AL the facts and
conduct all the arches a. well as to dlses'
and apply the information received.
The frcc-traGc rc.e,lstrcrs have taken up the
cry first raised 10y Premier Mills and his
frce-tradc associates in the House, that tho
Republican raembers OF the Finance Committee
in the Senate have adopted Dark Lantern
ulctncds and are engaged in the preparation Of
Dark Lantern" substitute for the House bill
/ The charge that Democratic members OF the
subcommittee or OF the Finance Committee nave
been excluded from the hearings and other pro
cecdings has been reiterated until good many
persons have been induced to believe It, IL l.
, absolutely groundless. The plain fact IS tha
, Democratic Senators have absentcd themselves
on their own motion and they have explained t'
republican Senators that they do not attenu lh'
meetings simply because they have determined
to stand by the House bill ana therefore lee
no interest III the substitute which the majority
Of the Finance Committee Is trying TO frame.
Whether the determination Of that majority u
bring substitute forward for consideration Dy I'M
| = II
already evident that the Democrats are trllnI
. to score n point in their own favor =, Inc Tree
trade leaders in the House who dawdled over
tariff bill which was not sent 10 me 0en",
until the session nearly eight months o'
o are now grumbliug because the Senate COMMITTEE
u did not dis pose OF the subject IN fortnight o
= midsummer weather. They profess 10 deplOre IN
prospect OF a session extending far into September
Il But the grumblnS on either score Is a sll'il9'
! and false prctence The fact Is, that from TN
dav Carlisle was reelected speaker the maIorlt
= in the House has deliberately wasted time whic
must be counted b. weeks 1s,o9 ana IN nion roo
/ | faith all Of the general appropriate
. bills would have been sent TO the Senate ION
: ! enough before the end Of the fiscal year. so INA
IL would not have been necessary to provide fund
p bv temporary resolutions TO carry on the Govern
It mcnt But, If by prccohcerted ARA ~
- ! held back week after week and month ate
. month and the tariff debate during the iaSD II
: weeks Of the fiscal year was mao pre'cH ,o ~
d holding them back still longer Every one
( thcn might have passed in the House by June
o As is two of the bills have Yet to pass the ous
~ while one is still III the hands OF conlercnc
comm tee and the House Committee on Ap ropri
II tons is considering the Senate amendments 10 III
IS Snndry Civil bill. ihe fifth deficiency PM
p tho session the General Deficiency Dill, Wa
y rnnorfcd 70 the House 50 late as July I and Wa
It not considered all until Juy 2o.a week ai' e
81 no and il * still pending III the House thong
il WAS reported more than three weeks ago. -
Fortifcatons bill still hangs, untouched upon II
g House calendar Days and weeks and mont
3 hn,.n hocn wasted over unimportant measures
IS hiis 81 local or individual importance only, WIN
n the Appropriation bills have been held IN ape!
le once and other matters OF general Importance ia
hnon nostnoned until after the Presidential ele
!. ton. or smothered by the Administration ana
% instr Iments in the House H.. 4. =,
ID Uo"se In the Senate also ii has been one