Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1888-03-07
The PrAnnsea NAw Tariff BIZ.

labor and thought by the Democratic ma |
iority of the Ways and Means COMMITTEES,
of which Mr.. Mills of Texas, is Chairman,
was reported last Thursday to the full COM
mittee. The committee then adjourned to
Tuesday to give time for the Republican
members to examine the details of the bill.
It may be somewhat modified by the full
committee before it viii be reported to the
House, aud some time may be consumed
in this way by the objections OF the Repub-
lican members of the commit ee. 1t is a
good bill as reported by the Democratic
majority of the committee, and it is hoped
that it will be, if at all, but slightly modi-
fed either in the full committee or in the
House
As the bill stands now it reduces the Gus
toms duties about $50, coo. 900. The repeal
of the tobacco tax would make another re-
duction of about $40, 900, 600, SO that the
aggregate amount Of taxation Of which the
country would be relieved would be about
SIS, 900, 900,
Great care was taken in making up
the free list not to interfere in any way
with the industries of our people, and
where any foreign country laid tax upon
any specific article the present duty on that
article was preserved.
The task Of the committee was a Iabori-
Gus one, and the problem they had TO solve
a difficult one. but they have succeeded
much better than was generally expected.
The problem they had to solve was how to
relieve the people Of millions Of unnecessary
taxation without doing injustice to any Of
the varieus Industries IF the cougtry-how
to cheaper products to TIE consumes with
out inj1ripg the business Of the lnanufac-
turer.
This seemingly impossible problem has
been solved By taking the dnty off such
materials as are used III The manufacture,
which will enable the manufacturer TO sell
his goods at a lower price TO the consumer
without Diminishing bis profits, as the
cost of manufacture is less; and as he can
manufacture at less cost, he will be able to
compete with foreign manufacturers, and
will be able to sell his goods abroad; and
having a more extended market, he will
manufacture more, and consequently there
will be more and steady work for the oper-
atives, with better prices for their labor.
Thus not only the consumers, but the man
ufacturers and their employees. will be
| benefited.
Manufacturing Interests will be stimula
ted and increased; laboreTs will be in great
er demand and gel, better prices; and the
consumers will get cheaper goods both
foreign and domestic, for the duties on the
foreign will be reduced and the domestic
will be made at less cost; more wool will be
consumed in m anufac'ures, hence a great
er demand aud a better price; and the
great mass OF the people of the country
will be relieved of millions of unnecessary,
and hence unjust taxation.
The New York Herald says, the bill pro-
poses in the main wo tlngs:-
'tFnst-T0 make raw materials used in
the great manufacturing industries of the
country duty free. This will be an IN
doubted and very great advantage to the
manufacturers. and still more to their
worknep. What is saved By the manufac-
turer in duties on his raw material enables
him on the one hand to pay his workmen
better wages, and on the other to sell his
surplus product in foreign markets, and
) thus keep his works and workuen Dore
steadily employed. If the bill becomes a
law it will secure this great boon of a
| i i
: the great branches of manufacturing in this
country, and bg enabling our manufacture
ers to expert their surplus will prevent
those frequent gluts of the home market
which have been so luxurious TO workmen,
and will at the same time revive our foreign
commerce.
, Secoad-With free raw material duties
on manufactures can be lowered without
Injury to employers or vorkinen; aud this
is SO jndiciously and carefully done in the
present bill that many manufacturers will
find to their surprise that the actual "pro-
tectiou' in the bill for them is greater than
that they now enjoy. Here again the en-
ployer and his workmen are guarded, while
at the same time the consumers, the mass
of the people, will get their goods cheaper
than before"
The mining interests of Virginia and
other Southern States, about which there
has been such Unnecessary apprehension,
are not at all affected By this bill, as the
duties on coal and iron. ore have not. been
changed.
Ia speaking Of this bill, the Bait Sun
says
"The new tariff bill is constructed for the
most part in accordance with the two demo-
cratic ideas-that articles used by the poor
should be taxed less heavily than those
consumed by the rich, and that the raw ma
terials of manufacturers should pay no duty
at all. There is considerable reduction of
duties, for example, upon the cheaper sorts
Of WOODEN and cotton goods, carpets, earth
enware, glass and sugar, such as the poor
buy, while high priced grades, such as only
the rich can well afford. are made 10 pay a
high tax. The free list has been enlarged
in the same spirit. While most Of the arti-
Giles included in it are Of Importance chiefly
as law materials of manufactures, still
there are many, such as salt timber, wage
tables, fruits and meats, that enter at once
into consumption. Articles in this list
worth special mention are: Tin-plAte, a
necessary material Of our canning industry
cotton ties, salt fax, wax, liquorice, borax,
blue vitriol, copperas, dye stuffs, needles,
dates, figs, plums, prunes, cuTrants, beans,
milk, cocoa, paper pulp, mineral waters
aud books in foreign tongues. The reduc
ton effected by the enlargement of the free
list is $22, $500 Sugar of grades not
above No. Is Dutch standard is reduced
from 40 and 2.15 cents per pound to LIS
100 cents per pound; sugars of the highest
grade from $50 to 800 per pound 1t is
: provided, however, that these reductions
shall not take effect upon sugar coming
from countries that impose an export duty
on sugar. Bichromate of potash is reduc
ed from to p cents per ponnd. On plain
china there is reduction from IS TO 80 per
cent, al valorem. Ths sax on pig iron is
reduced TO So per ton; on steel rails and
railway bars to $l1 per ton. There are re
auctions On many manufactures of iron and
steel. The lover rate is most noticeable in
> the cases of certain kinds of WOODEN and
cotton goods, glass, ready-made clothing,
writing paper, envelopes, toys, matches,
common umbrellas, rice, wood screws,
nails, wire, iorgings chains, common china
and earthenware, ground spices, medicinal
preparations and proprietary medicines.
The reduction Of revenue expected from
wooden goods is S12. 000 600; chemicals,
| &7SN nm.