New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-10-04
THE SENATE TARIFF BILL.

The Finance Committee of the Senate has
reported bill which is believed to represent
substantially the opinions of the thirty nine Re-
publicans who now sit in the Senate. The COM
mttee. after long and patient investigation,
and after the attentive hearing which the ma
jority of the House refused to workingmen and
employers in many branches of industry re-
ports against the Mills bill which was passed
by the Democratic majority in the House, and
ON the issue thus made the Republican party
throughout the country is ready to support the
Republican Senators.
The country does not expect that any tariff
bill will be passed this year. Therefore, it
accepts the issue which President Cleveland
and the Democratic majority in the House have
chosen to make, and will gladly listen to the
reasons which the Senate has to offer for re-
fusing to pass the Mills bill. The people will
observe with satisfaction that the Senate does
not intend to kill off wool growing in this conn
try, but instead of putting wool on The free
list, sligl0y raises the duty on the finer grades
of WOOL and aims by notifications of the law,
TO prevent the fraudulent admission of man.
ufactued wool under the name Of waste"
-
worsteds as if they were not manufactures Of
wool. The people will observe with satisiac-
ton, Also that the Senate does not propose to
adopt free trade in lumber or salt, or to agree
with the Democrats Of the House in deprivng
the American farmer Of the meagre defence he
now has in duties on meats, poultry. beans and
peas or vegetables. 1t does not consent to kill
the borax industry of California, or to help
French copper ring by placing that ore on the
free list
Neither does the Senate's committee consent
to cut off 40 per cent of the present duty on
woolen goods, for Senators seem to be aware
that this great industry, already much embar-
raised, could not bear the fearful reduction of
duties proposed in the House bill. Nor has the
Senate's committee consented to help the Brit
ish combination Of tin-plate makers by placing
that article on the free list, and thus arresting
the effort in this country to develop that man
ufacture. But details are unnecessary. The
Senate's committee fatty refuses to break down
American industries after the fashion of the
Mills bill, by removal or reduction of duties,
and so the issue goes to the people just as
Mr.. Cleveland and the Democratic House have
presented it.
1t is of practical value that the Senate bill
shows how a reduction Of ~ 900, 600 in the
revenue can be made without destroying the
defences of home industry. THE TRIBUNE
does not perceive the proprety of some reduc
tions which Senators propose. ard it fails to
see why it is proposed to take off part Of the
duty on sugar instead Of repeating the whole
duty and substituting a bounty to domestic
producers But with only the changes con-
templated by the Senate's committee, out
81 100000 of the revenue would be cut of,
nearly $28, 900, 900 on sugar and S24 100000
on tobacco, 81 600, 600 on alcohol used in tho
arts, S6, 5000 600 by additions to the free list,
and So. 900. 600 by reduction Of customs duties.
There is no occasion TO discuss the eXpedlency
of these proposed changes, for no Senator eX-
poets that the House would accept the bill as
reported, if the Senate should pass ii, though,
in view Of the eXtravagant appropriations made
by Congress, in acts which President Cleveland
has signed it is serious question whether so
great a reduction Of revenue should be made
as the Senate bill would effect. But it is
shown-and therein lies its value-that all
the decrease Of revenue which can be rea-
sonabIy advocated, and perhaps more than
would be safe. is entirely practicable without
breaking down the defences behind which
American industries have for quarter Of a
century been organized and developed, and 10
which they owe a most marvellous prosperity