New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-10-05

|
ing TO the statement furnished by the Committee OF
Ways and Means and printed with the bill, was s2lo
S Vpy IN 1ss7 ' OF equivalent to 541s
| per cent ad valorcm The same articles II imported
under the provisions OF tho proposed bill would haze
paid. according TO the same statement duties 10 the
amount OF $50 6oO0J7. adj valorem rate Of 346I
par cent. The resulting reduction IN the amount o.
duties collected under the House bill on the mpOr-
tatlons OF 1887 would be $40 24o or percentage
OF reduction OF 1896 cent, instead Of 90 per cent
as claimed by the friends OF the bill.
TO ascertain however, the effect of the bill upon
projected Industries, should eliminate from this COM
nm NJ on the amount collected from the revenue duty
imposed upon sugar Ii we deduct tho value OF The
mportatlons and amount OF duty collected from sugar
IN 1887, should then have the value OF all imported
which the duties collected in 1887 amounted to $7s.
O7z, $50 The duties which would have been col
would have amounted TO $50 1928 7eD, showing per-
cenagc OF reduction OF duties and rates upon all ar
ticlca named IN the BILL exclusive OF sugar of 49.37
per cent These articles paid an average al vaoren
rate 1887 under the present " OF Al 46 per cent,
aud would have paid under the provisions of the House
lii 22.5l per cent Instead then. Of retaining on
average al val0rcm rate upon all articles enumerated
I'm tho bill OF 42.75 per cent it would actually retain
The alleged conservative character OF that bill dis
appears under this examination. and we find that tho
twice great any which have heretofore been pro.
posed by tho most courageous revenue reformer
The majority argues I'm refutatlon Of the assertion
that the rates Of duty retained by tho House bin must
be sufficiently protective to the labor employed in our
various manufacturing industries as these rates on all
paid In each case for labor IN producing the article
II says the extravaganza Of the assertion and the
fasii5 of the deduction made from It arc apparent
when II considered that the percentage OF labor
cost IN each Is based upon the amount paid for
labor ut single stage Of the long process Of man
ufac'urc
In the ultimate analysis the cost Of production of
manufactured article is the cost OF the labor services
of man. The cost Of the original elements In their
natural state before they arc advanced In value by
prodasob We should exclude the sums paid for taxes
Insurance, Interest and retained for accrung profits
and serv Co.'S and which together would rarely amount
TO 10 per OF the entire cost should then find
the tool expenditure.
GENERAL FEATURES OF THE SUBSTITUTE.
Halt dozen pages are devoted in conclusion to
an explanation in general terms OF some Of the
purposes which inspired the majority in the work
of framing its substitute, in the of which 1t
says:
The excessive duty of from to 3 1-o cents per
pound now Imposed upon sugar adds considerable
sum to the daily Of living of every family in the
nted States where. In mos cases, the cost OF sugar
greater than the cost OF bread. The high rates OF
duty which have been levied upon this important
article Of food have not successfully developed INC
sugar producing inaustry o. inc uhea 81 cane
sugar IN the tropical ISLANDS have over those OF th
ted states preclude domesie composition upon eln r
ercstcd I'm the production Of sugar from sorghum or
Rirs % IN bs United nj ' sae the would
recommend sull greater reduction IN the rate OF
duty upon sugar as The a1yanage OF nm ns @ no"
which could he made I'm orr tar,h schedule .
cldc isie lutte butts. ssal grass manila and other
crude materials not produced IN this country whose
free admission would benefit both both ,t the rToaI,s
Tho PROV sIons of the substitute which allow me
use Of alcohol 10 the industrial arts free rom toXa" 81
important manufactures. Alcohol IS used In the pro,
ducon Of more than 300 chemical and ah @
dusrial arts, and It's is all these directions would
be largely extended II the onerous tax should he
abolished. The heavy tax upon alcohol unnecessarily
increases the price OF many manufactured products.
with no corresponding benefit except the resulting
Your committees have considered numerous sugGcs
tIons for the repeal of all internal revenue taxes and
the abolition OF the ertc Internal revenue system but
they deem the adoption Of this at present both
mpraccabls and unwise not only because the lepeal
Of these taxes would create large annual deficit but
for the further that the taxes leviei on dis
TILED spirits used as beverage and on beer should be
retained and the leg station 10 protect American dairy
products from fraudulent limitations should DO en-
forced.
COMMENTS OF THE MINORITY.
The minority report is about of equal length
with that of the majority. The principal feat
ures are given below;
The essential difference between the House blll
in the matter of revenue The one is framed in the
rtcrcst OF the whole people the other in the interest
reduce both Government revenue and taxation, The
taxation especially which bears heaviest on me neces
revenue indeed but to maintain private revenues by
Increasing and retaining taxation on all the neccS-
The minority think safe to say that the, chief re
ductions In tariff taxation as provided by the supst
few other unlmportan articles put upon the free list
while there IS an increase Of duties imposed upon me
that the whole people arc compelled TO use. ,..
The substitute relieves the nonneceSsary tobacco
In al lis FORMS except cigars chcroos and cigarettes.
from Internal taxation. and gives free alcohol to the
arts Practically II offers TO the people free whiskey
toi viii the
Cotton ties the majority emit by name, but include
in new classification. that instead Of 50 per cent,
il must pay, according to tho valuation Of 1881 over
100 per cent adding nearly quarter mliion doiiaS
tax on Tie imported ties alone, all OF which Is loss
In the cotton schedule medium yarns are raised
cents Per pound they are already paving about -
per cent tax Cotton yarns pay about 80
per g pay o' Ter ceD D' while 0 the clothing
ready made from this cloth must pay 40 per cent.
worth % cents per do1gn s pay 100 90 pe sa pGr
but after they reach SO per dozen I'm value the
q ic 81 the Old rate Collars are raised from 80 per
cent 10 FER and upward on the cheaper Kinds
rho substitute not only retains duty on wool,
but Increases the duty from 10 to / cents pound On
clothing and combng wool, and the existing duty Is
The duty ON lumber is practically left undisturbed.
and an aggravated tax thus continued on me who, whole
and settlers whose shelter must be brought from great
8uI, salt. which Is now dutiable at nearly so per
cent Is continued IN the substitute at the same rate
Why a tax should be imposed article Of such
prime necessity and universal use Is not shown. Tho
existing law gives free salt 10 the fishery interests OF
New England and taxes salt 10 the farmer and dairy
man The House bill makes salt free Of lax to all
no MENTION, THOUGH. OF THE SUGAR TRUSTS
Tho present tariff Is the nursing mother OF trusts.
The provisions Of the substitute favor them greatly
and will serve encourage their formation In stu
other branches Of manufacture.
The minority devnie several pages 10 answer the
occusation .nai tho House bill means " free trade
tho ruin Of Industry and the degradation or Auer-
con labor and cndeavor 10 show that placing an
article on the free list benefits both employe and con-
sumcr
A PLAINTIVE CRY FOR FREE WOOL
Az regards free wool, the minority are firmly con-
vIrced that by placing wool upon tho
FREQ list no class will suffer, but that
each will reap his share of the benefit with con-
sumpt!on Of GOO 600 pounds of wool in 1887
and population of GOOOOO0O the average per capita
consump tion Is easily reckoned at ten pounds, or fifty