Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1888-03-14
RANDALL'S IDEA
rhe Tariff Bill He VIII Introduce To-Day
tn Cut Down Tobacco and Spirit Taxes
and a Few Other Incidentals.

'
completed his tariff bill, and will introdut
if in the House tomorrow. In explanatio
of it's terms and scope he makes the 70
Lowing statement: The bill repeats the il
terpal tax on tobacco and OF fruit brar
dies. 1t also repeats the license tax o.
wholesale and retail liquor dealers, leavin
these as recommended by Jefferson, s.
that State authorities might adop
Them" 1t makes alcohol used in the art
free, and reduces the tax on whisky to fit,
cents per gallon. On tariff the bill is
careful and complete revision of the who'll
tariff system. 1t carries to the free list
large number OF articles now paying duties
and which enter into competition either as
raw material or otherwise, and in the
production of which there is no
COMPETITION
between this and other countries. In re
vision of the tariff the aim has been in,
trIigrntly to apply consistent principles tc
all branches OF industry, and in SO doins
our industrial system has been considered
as a whole, and differing from other indus
trial systems in the important fact that
labor in this country receives a larger
share of the annual products of labor and
capital combined than in any other coun-
try. This important advantage to the
labor interests Of the United States this
hill aims to preserve throughout, while at
the same time, in fairness to all intere SITS,
AZ stated in the Chicago platform, to re-
ducc aud cQuaIize duties or imports. The
principles applied to a revision OF the tariff
in this bill are, First, that the difference in
the cost OF producing commodities in this
and other countries, where there is no eli
matte or other natural causes why they
cannot be produced abundsntly in this
country, has been studied and everywhere
adhered to, as
A CARDINAL PRINCIPLE
10 he enforced in any revision OF the tariff.
IN such a scheme Ill industries, Of course,
shouId stand on an equal footing and in no
instance should the powers of Go vernment
be used to elevate one above another. Ia
other words, our industrial system must be
considered as a whole, in which all who par
ticipatc in it share its benefits wi ether
IleN dif NIlSieNH III 'Il| llIUubtIJ " OLE
other. One principle OF great importance
has been krDt constantly in view and that
rs the line which marks the difference in
cost OF producing commodities here and
abroad, in other words, the line of COM
p~etitiOn is alW avs q necessarily above
the point of maximum revenue. Conse-
quently to
REDUCE THE TAX
on auy commodity, the line of difference in
cost which, as stated, is the line o. even
competition, until the line of minimum rev.
eDue is reached, necessarily increases the
revenues; on the contrary, to raise duties
from the line of maximum revenue by less
ening impOrtations, reduces revenues. This
principle has been kept in view throughout
the bill through adjustment. To deter
mine lust where the line Of difference in
cost falls is OF course in many instances
difficult. But it may be safely assumed
when the impOrtatiOns in any line OF COM
mudities are large and increasing, and no
good reason appearing why things cannot
as well be produced here, that such duties
arc below the cost line, and hat the ad-
vantage is with the foreign producer. If
production in the same line is diminished,
or suspended altogether in this country, it
Dt' oIutc PIONl IOCiOlNC "hoO
ADVANTAGE is TOO GREAT
to be overcome without REIMBURSEMENT of
duties. In such cases, embracing, however,
but few articles, there has been no hest
fancy in preparing this bill to raise duties
so as to permit these industries to take
their place abreast with others in the coun-
try. Where importations are light and de-
~Creasing it may consistently be assumed
that the duties are quite high enough and
in some cases may be safely reduced, and in
case the industry is of such a nature as to
permit trusts or combinations OF any kind
to raise prices above the level of prices or
profits in other industries, then it becomes
important that the cost line should be
closely adhered to, aud that has been the
aim in this bill to industries where
TRUSTS OR COMBINATIONS
are supposed to have such power. 1t is
less Important, of course, to apply this
rule rigidly where prices are regulated
through free competition. In such cases,
under well-known economic principles, the
tendency is always to a general level in
profits, wages and prices in any industrial
system. In working out the details Of the
bill under these principles the aim has been
to pare closely and adjust carefully the
different schedules with the object always
III view to lower duties wherever possible
and reduce revenues, being careful at the
same time to hurt no established industry.
The estimated reductions under this bill
will be on internal taxation repealed $7O,-
00O, 900; estimated reduction on tariff
schedules, $25, OOO, 900. The rates will not
suit many engaged in manufactures, but
are deemed a fair and proper response to
the
Man FOR RATES
in our tariff laws. The bill is fully twice
as long as Mills bill and relates to many
subjects. The following are some OF the
more important provisions: Take on
manufactured tobacco, snuff, cigars, che
roots and cigarettes and special taxes re-
CURED by law to be paid by manufacturers
Of and dealers in leaf tobacco, retail deal
ers IN leaf tobacco, dealers in manufactured
tobacco, peddlers OF tobacco, snuff and
cigars and manufacturers OF snEff and
cigars are repealed after July l, and all
stamps issued shall be redeemed. All laws
imposing an internal revenue tax upon
spirits distilled from apples, peaches or
other fruits are repealed from the first day
Of July. All laws which impose any special
tariff upon manufacturers stills, wholesale
and retail liquor dealers and wholesale and
retail dealers in malt liquors
ARE REPEALED
from the first of July. The Secretary OF
the Treasury shall grant permission to
any firm, individual or corporation to
withdraw from bond alcohol or any splr-
Its containing alcohol subject to internal
revenue tax in specified quantities OF not
less than three hundred proof gallons,
without payment of internal revenue tax
on the same, or on spirits from which IT
may be distilled for the sole purpose OF use
III sach industrial pursuits as shall be
'pecItled in the permit. Penalties are pro-
W,ied Tor a violation of the above provls'
ION, where the intention is to deiraud.
weiss beer containing less THAN
- per cent. alcohol shat
not he subject to internal rev
enue tax. The tax on distilled
spirits shall be 50 Cents a gallon, and re-
Dates are allowed to that which has paid
me IN present tax out of the Treasury.
There are
MANY REDUCTIONS
III the chemicals section. The chief earth